• Brilliant Corners 2025 Announced

    January 21, 2025 - By 

    If you’re into jazz or just good music in general, you’ll hopefully already know that Brilliant Corners is one of the top festivals in Ireland – and year 13 is shaping up to be something special. Big shout-out to the legends at Moving on Music who’ve been making this happen year after year, pushing the boundaries of jazz and bringing a level of talent to Belfast that you won’t find anywhere else. It’s not just one of the best jazz festivals around – it’s straight-up one of the best festivals on the island, full stop. From 28th February to 8th…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 17th January

    January 17, 2025 - By 

    From every corner of the island, here’s the very best music of the week, featuring brand new Mantua, Chalk, BICEP, Joshua Burnside, Cruel Sister and more Mantua – high talk//swell divide high talk//swell divide by Mantua Chalk – Afraid BICEP – CHROMA 008 TANGZ Joshua Burnside – Climb the Tower Cruel Sister – XOXO Hotgirl – On The Brink Good Skin – On a Night For Lovers Ria Rua – I Love That For You

  • Track-by-Track: Leo Miyagee – VEIN OF FOLLY

    January 20, 2025 - By 

    VEIN OF FOLLY marks the first fully collaborative project from Belfast-based rapper Leo Miyagee and producer Eulogy, a release that delves into “the delicate balance between sanity and insanity that exists within us all.” This seven-track collection is a genre-pushing masterclass, drawing on influences from the late 2010s SoundCloud rap era, ambient icons like Clams Casino, 회사AUTO, and Burial, as well as UK rap and grime. The duo breaks down the writing and production behind each track, joined by Chris McKenna, a third member of their collective, who contributed to the project’s world-building, creative direction, artwork, and conceptual references—including inspiration…

  • Second Edition of Femme Fest Set for Róisín Dubh

    January 15, 2025 - By 

    Last July, Galway’s Shark School hosted the very first Femme Fest at Róisín Dubh. Alongside the garage rock contenders, the event – dubbed “a collection of the most badass, rockin’, female-fronted bands in the country right now” – made a strong debut, featuring Shark School, Cruel Sister, Affection to Rent, Vernon Jane, and Red Sun Alert. Now, six months later, Shark School have gone all out for the festival’s second edition. Taking place on Thursday, 27th February, it also serves as a stellar showcase of female-fronted bands from across the island, as well as some of the fiercest and fastest-rising…

  • Earth Set for Long-Awaited Irish Return

    December 18, 2024 - By 

    Earth, one of the most seismic and influential bands in contemporary music, are set to return to Ireland after more than a decade. The long-running sonic vision of Dylan Carlson – drone pioneer, rock sage, and genre-redefining master – Earth have shaped some of the most defining releases of the past 30 years. From the groundbreaking Earth 2 to their latest LP Full Upon Her Burning Lips, via classics like Hex and The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull, Carlson and an evolving lineup – currently joined by long-time drummer Adrienne Davies – have continuously transformed, securing their place…

  • The Thin Air’s Top 100 Irish Releases of 2024

    December 19, 2024 - By 

    We made it. Another year, another chapter in the ever-expanding story of extraordinary Irish music. At the close of last year’s list, we dared 2024 to rise to the challenge. Twelve months later, this island’s unstoppable scene hasn’t just answered the call – it’s once again shattered expectations. Emerging voices and seasoned icons, bedroom producers and global trailblazers alike have flipped the script, raised the bar and delivered a tapestry of sound as diverse as it is thrilling. In our 2022 round-up, we noted how Irish music seemed to channel the chaos of the world, and that urgency hasn’t let…

  • Adore w/ Theatre at Whelan’s, Dublin

    December 10, 2024 - By 

    Since co-founding The Thin Air back in the sands of time (2013) I’ve encountered my fair share of “guitar bands.” You know the type: bands wielding, invariably, at least one guitar and two members. Usually, there are four people, though sometimes there’s three. Historically, it’s just easier to think of these bands as guitar bands because sequestering them into little “indie rock” or “post-punk” boxes benefits no one. Of course, the latter tag continues to prove fortuitous – fiscally, at least – for certain PR companies on the mainland (read: England). Not to mention the ongoing quasi-fetishisation of white Irish…

  • Gang of Four Set for Dublin Show

    December 10, 2024 - By 

    Gang of Four have announced their first Dublin show in 18 years. The Leeds post-punk greats last played the capital back in 2006, packing out Tripod to underscore their status as one of the UK’s all-time seminal bands. Now, the current iteration of the band – Jon King on vocals, original drummer Hugo Burnham, bassist Gail Greenwood, and current guitarist, David Pajo of Slint, and many other formations – will play the Button Factory on June 26th 2025, courtesy of Foggy Notions and U:MACK. Coming five years after the sad passing of founding guitarist Andy Gill, the show is a…

  • Premiere: Various Artists – Hunger is Violence

    December 4, 2024 - By 

    Ireland’s creative community has long demonstrated extraordinary solidarity with the Palestinian cause, wielding art and music as powerful tools for activism. From protests to fundraisers, artists from all corners of the island have come together to support the struggle. Today, Hunger Is Violence stands as yet another significant contribution to this ongoing solidarity. We’re proud to present a first listen to this striking new compilation from Diet of Worms. Hunger Is Violence features fourteen diverse reinterpretations of Richard Berry’s iconic 1955 R&B track’, Louie Louie,’ with all proceeds going to the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC). This release is a…