• The National to Headline All Together Now

    December 7, 2018 - By 

    Having had an extremely strong first outing this year, All Together Now has announced that the National will headline the festival next year. When it returns to Curraghmore House in Co. Waterford across the August Bank Holiday (2nd-4th) weekend, the festival will now boast 16 stages, featuring natural amphitheatres, the iconic Spiegeltent, secret woodland stages and the All Together Now Bandstand, across a 3000 acre setting. General and family tickets for next year are on sale now, priced at just €199.50 until December 31. Installment plan options are also available. Revisit our top 10 sets for All Together Now 2018…

  • Output Belfast To Return in February

    December 6, 2018 - By 

    The country’s largest annual music conference, Output Belfast will return to the city for its fifth outing on Thursday, February 21st 2019. Organised by Belfast City Council, as ever, the conference will include various panel discussions, music sessions, workshops and speed networkinge events from various artists, managers and industry figures. In the evening, there will once more be various free, collaboratively-curated showcases in venues right across the heart of the city. The line-ups for each – including a bill co-promoted by yours truly – will be revealed in the coming weeks. Go here to sign up and be the first to hear about…

  • The Skibunny Christmas Carol Announced

    December 6, 2018 - By 

    Having made their long-awaited return back in July, legendary Belfast DJ duo Tanya Mellotte and Mark Gordon AKA Skibunny have announced details of the forthcoming Skibunny Christmas Carol at Belfast’s Menagerie on Thursday, December 20th. Featuring a live set from the Skibunny house and friends, the following acts will perform: Robyn G Shiels, LARKS, Tom McShane, Mark Gordon, Tanya Mellotte, Bro Dougan, Joe Greene and Roisin Stewart from Documenta, Girls Rock School NI, Rocky O’Reilly, Richard Hill and many more to be announced. As ever, Skibunny DJs will close the night out. Few festive events have unmissable written all over them –…

  • Video Premiere: Squarehead – Always On

    December 6, 2018 - By 

    Strange, desperate times call for great, defiant music. Fighting their corner, and sounding the best they have ever sounded, is the re-emergent Squarehead. Comprising Roy Duffy, Ruan Van Vliet and Ian McFarlane, the Dublin indie-rock heroes are back after a lengthy, self-proclaimed “mental-health break” (always a good shout, busy artists) with a brand new album in the can. Featuring sometime fourth member, Ruadhan O’Meara (No Spill Blood/Magic Pockets) on keyboards and synth duties, lead single, the sublime ‘Always On’ sees “the boys now men with crippling responsibilities and a feeling of bewilderment at the world around them.” It’s quintessential Squarehead and a latecomer for one of the Irish singles…

  • Premiere: A Bad Cavalier – On My Side

    December 6, 2018 - By 

    It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Belfast’s A Bad Cavalier. The side-project of the Niall Kennedy – who has been busy once again this year zig-zagging across the world in And So I Watch You From Afar – went off the radar in mid 2016. Now, Kennedy is back with one beast of a  new single – the irresistible, pop-leaning, Weezer-conjuring alt-indie anthem, ‘On My Side’. Have an exclusive first listen to the single, and keep up to speed with ABC’s second wind via a quick Q+A with Kennedy, below. Tell us more about the writing of ‘On…

  • Another Love Story Announces Return

    December 5, 2018 - By 

    Hands down of the country’s finest small summer festivals, the incomparably scenic and always wonderfully curated Another Love Story will return to Killon Manor in Co. Meath across August 16-18 2019. Doubling up as its sixth edition, organisers have said they will “continue our commitment to delivering a festival experience at a scale that allows a sense of freedom, personality and an unparalleled attention to detail to shine through, and we want you there with us to continue the dream.” A self-proclaimed summer celebration of music, art, discussion, food, fun & frolics”, the festival’s line-up will be announced over the coming…

  • Stella Donnelly To Play the Grand Social

    December 5, 2018 - By 

    Fast-rising Perth singer-songwriter Stella Donnelly will play next year. The Wales-born artist – who will release her debut full-length album on Secretly Canadian next year – will play the Grand Social on April 29th. Tickets for the show are €15.00 and go on sale this Friday at 9am.

  • Chance the Rapper, A$AP Rocky, Future and More For Longitude 2019

    December 5, 2018 - By 

    Chance the Rapper, A$AP Rocky and Future are among the first names announced to play next year’s Longitude. Returning to Dublin’s Marlay Park from Friday June 5 to Sunday July 7, the festival have once pulled out the stops for a big first reveal. With more acts to be revealed, Brockhampton, Rae Sremmurd, Lil Uzi Vert, Juice WRLD, Versatile, Aminé, Denzel Curry, $uicideBoy$, Lil Baby, Sheck Wes, Clairo, Slowthai and Flohio were also announced. Weekend tickets – which are charged at €189.50 – go on sale this Friday from 9am. Day ticket info to come.

  • Watch: Rory Nellis – The Fear

    December 4, 2018 - By 

    By all accounts one of the highlights at Other Voices in Dingle at the weekend, Belfast-based singer-songwriter Rory Nellis is riding a real wave of momentum at the moment. It’s something that’s just been underscored with his new single, ‘The Fear’ – a track that doubles up as arguably the songsmith’s most assured – and inspired – single effort to date. Now, the song comes pair with a sublime and wonderfully stripped-back video, courtesy of Belfast photographer and videographer Joe Laverty. Also featuring songwriter and Nellis’ fellow sonic conspirator Philip Watts d’Alton, you can watch it below. On Thursday night, Rory…

  • New Order and Paul Weller to Play Dublin’s The Summer Series

    December 4, 2018 - By 

    The first names set to play The Summer Series in Dublin next summer have been announced New Order will close the run on Sunday, July 7th, while Paul Weller top the bill on Thursday, July 4th. More acts are to be announced. Tickets for both shows – which take place at Trinity College in Dublin – go on sale this Friday, December 7 at 9am, priced €60.45 for New Order and €49.90 for Paul Weller.