• Lisa Hannigan Set For Irish Mini-Tour

    September 20, 2017 - By 

    Having played a string of festivals in the Summer – as well as a short set at Sounds from a Safe Harbour in Cork last week – Lisa Hannigan has announced an Irish mini-tour in October and November. With tickets on sale at 9am this Friday, Hannigan will play the following dates, which include three earlier, all-ages shows: October 25: Wexford Spiegel Tent Festival (5pm All Ages Show 9pm Night Show) November 1: Glór, Ennis, Co. Clare November 2: Dolan’s Warehouse, Limerick November 4: The Duncairn, Belfast (3pm All Ages Show/ 8pm Night Show) November 11: Live at St. Luke’s, Cork (3pm All…

  • Video Premiere: John Blek – Salt In The Water

    September 18, 2017 - By 

    More than many of his peers and others of his ilk further afield, Cork songsmith John Blek is a master of subtlety in realms of folk-informed pop. Set for release on October 6, his third studio album, Catharsis Vol. 1, is a release that – as its title duly attests – stems from some personal hardship. Speaking of the release, Blek said: “I spent much of the early part of 2017 in and out of hospital with some mysterious illness that was intent on wasting my now 30-year-old body. My energy was at an all-time low and all that gave me…

  • Death From Above Set For Dublin Show

    September 18, 2017 - By 

    Having last played the city back in 2015, Toronto punk rock duo Jesse F. Keeler and Sebastien Grainger AKA Death From Above will play Dublin’s Olympia on March 14, 2018. The band – formerly known as Death From Above 1979 – released their third studio album, Outrage! Is Now, earlier this month. Tickets for the Dublin show – which features support from the mighty Le Butherettes – go on sale on Friday, September 22 at 9am priced €30 including booking fee.

  • Shortlist Revealed for Northern Ireland Music Prize 2017

    September 14, 2017 - By 

    The shortlist for this year’s Northern Ireland Music Prize has been revealed. Set to take place at Belfast’s Mandela Hall on Saturday, November 11, the following twelve albums will vie for the annual prize, as voted for by more than 70 people from the Irish music industry and media: Arborist – Home Burial Arvo Party – Arvo Party Bap Kennedy – Reckless Heart The Divine Comedy – Foreverland Gross Net – Quantitative Easing Hannah Peel – Awake But Always Dreaming Invaderband – Invaderband Joshua Burnside – Ephrata Malojian – This Is Nowhere Our Krypton Son – Fleas & Diamonds Robocobra…

  • Irish Bands and Artists, Here’s Your Chance to Play eir Other Voices Festival

    September 13, 2017 - By 

    Supported by RTÉ 2fm, Other Voices have launched their Open Call for Irish acts and artists to apply to play the festival when it returns to Dingle across December 1-3. With Perfume Genius, Songhoy Blues, Áine Cahill and Katie Laffan amongst the acts already confirmed to play eir Other Voices, you can throw your or your band’s proverbial hat into the ring right here. Entries close at 6pm on September 22. The winning applicant will be offered a coveted chance to play the IMRO Other Room in front of a live audience in Dingle. Applicants must apply with an original piece of…

  • Stream: Ryan Vail – Shadows

    September 13, 2017 - By 

    Having released one of the finest Irish electronic albums of 2016 in For Every Silence, Derry’s Ryan Vail is back with one of his strongest single efforts to date, ‘Shadows’. Released via Belfast imprint Quiet Arch, the track’s warm synth lines and glitchy textures forge strong bed for Vail’s words to hit home with masterfully restrained force. Released via Belfast imprint Quiet Arch, the track’s warm synth lines, glitchy textures and subtly propulsive beats create a quietly rapt bed for Vail’s words to hit home with typically restrained force. Sealing the deal is an outro blending the aforementioned with cello courtesy of Laura…

  • Stream: Just Mustard – Tainted

    September 13, 2017 - By 

    Dundalk five-piece Just Mustard are a band whose cloistered craft mines influence from noise, trip-hop, electronic and lo-fi sounds. With their debut album set for release in early 2018, new single ‘Tainted’ – which was self-produced, recorded by Chris Ryan and David Noonan, mixed by Noonan and mastered by Tony Fitz – is a  ‘gaze drenched effort whose repetitive, smoggy swoon and tremolo-armed spell marry to propel a track made for soundtracking solitary, stoned night walks reflecting on what needs to be done. We’re fans. Tainted [single] by Just Mustard

  • Fifth Hit The North Festival Announced

    September 13, 2017 - By 

    Returning for its fifth year, Hit The North will return to the streets of Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter across September 21 and 22. Established by Seedhead Arts and the Community Arts partnership back in 203 as a response to vacant spaces along North Street, the free street art festival has been the biggest event of its kind on the island, bringing together some of the biggest and best names in the field from home and much further afield. This year is no different: from Manchester duo Nomad Clan, Dan Kitchener and Irony to KVLR, Friz and JMK, amongst many others, this year’s…

  • Honesty and Conviction: An Interview with Dave Hanratty of NO ENCORE

    September 11, 2017 - By 

    The country’s self-proclaimed “pre-eminent music podcast” NO ENCORE will once again take to the stage at Whelan’s on Thursday, September 28. Taking place as part of the inaugural Dublin Podcast Festival, the event will see hosts Dave Hanratty, Colm O’Regan and Craig Fitzpatrick record an episode live alongisde musical guests Overhead The Albatross, Daithi and Elaine Mai. Ahead of what’s sure to be a stellar evening on Wexford Street, Brian Coney talks to Dave Hanratty about the podcast’s conception, present and future. Go here to buy tickets to NO ENCORE Live II Hi, Dave. Take us back to the very…

  • Fugue: Radio On @ Black Box, Belfast

    September 11, 2017 - By 

    Taking place as part of its Fugue Festival, Glass Eye Cine Club will present a screening of Christopher Petit’s seminal 1979 British road movie, Radio On, at Belfast’s Black Box on September 17. Bolstered by an exceptional soundtrack featuring the likes of Bowie, Devo and Kraftwerk, the film – shot in black and white by Wim Wenders’ assistant cameraman Martin Schäfer – is a trip through the late 70s by way of a road trip from London to Bristol, with Robert a DJ (played by David Beames) attempting to investigate the suicide of his brother. Following the screening, DJ Jon…