Having recently been in the studio recording new material, Belfast five-piece R51 will release a blitzing new single, ‘Heavy Friends’ and a b-side titled ‘Vitamin C’ on May 23. A song “about the realisation that all your friends are depressed weirdos”, it’s another starry-eyed – almost celebratory – blast of gaze-drenched alt-pop from the band. Accompanied by a DIY video (which has become something of a forte for the band), check out our premiere of the single and its artwork below.
Having snuck a little preview, we are very excited about the release of This Heart, the debut EP from Irish/Sierra Leonean artist Loah. A release of extraordinary finesse and inimitable pop sway, it was recorded a 6 month period with a fine array of some of Ireland’s most eminent jazz, African, and classical musicians, including Brazilian drummer Andre Antunes, saxophonist Michael Buckley, Congolese guitarist Niwel Tsumbu, percussionist Eamonn Cagney, a string quartet of musicians from the Crash Ensemble, and Loah’s sister Fehdah on backing vocals. Talking about the release, Loah said: “This is a collection of tunes that all deal with similar…
As part of a lengthy tour, U.S. noise rock masters Swans will play their final Irish show with the current line-up at Dublin’s Button Factory on Tuesday, May 30. A last-minute show, support on the night comes from Little Annie (Crass Records/On-U Sound). Tickets will go on sale today here.
Primed to release his debut album, Metal Alligator, at Belfast’s Voodoo on May 24, Northern Irish artist Aaron Shanley now has a full band in tow in the form of the excellently named Horrortongues. Ahead of that, we’re pleased to present a suitably tripped-out live video for ‘My Mind Ain’t Pretty (At The Minute)’, a track we said was “a really tidy, very promising taste of things to come from the wanderlust-smitten artist” upon its original release back in 2015. Filmed at Millbank Studios in Lisburn, the well-honed, scuzzed-out lo-fi aesthetic of Shanley and the Horrortongues is laid bare in fine fashion Pre-order the stellar…
With Orbital, Aphex Twin and Bon Iver headlining the main event, the first acts set to play Forbidden Fruit By Night have been announced. Taking place over the June Bank Holiday weekend of June 3-5, the likes of Maceo Plex, Booka Shade, Kink, Snakeships, Hot Chip (DJ Set) and Denis Sulta will play various Dublin venues until 3am across the weekend. Forbidden Fruit by Night are ticket only events. After-party tickets are only valid with a Forbidden Fruit Festival Saturday, Sunday, Monday or Weekend tickets. The festival will also be running a bus from Kilmainham each night. With more acts to be…
This Saturday (May 20) Belfast’s the MAC will host a special event celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Velvet Underground’s seminal debut, The Velvet Underground and Nico. We speak to bandleader Donal Scullion about its legacy and what to expect on the night. Go here to buy tickets, priced £12.50-£25.00. Hi, Donal. How did the idea for this show first come about? Had been chatting to Stu Campbell (The MAC), he said they were thinking of doing the 50th anniversary of that album and would I be interested in playing or organizing it. It was always a big album for me…
Having released his eighth studio album, Common as Light and Love Are Red Valleys of Blood, back in February, Mark Kozelek AKA Sun Kil Moon will play Dublin’s Vicar Street on November 28. His biggest ever headline show here, tickets for the show – which will be fully-seated and come at the end of a European tour that will see Kozelek and his band play eleven countries in seventeen days – go on sale at 9am this Friday priced €29.80 including booking fee. Read Justin McDaid’s review of Common as Light… here.
Fast becoming one of the country’s finest alt-pop propositions, Co. Kerry’s RUTH caught our attention back in October with her single ‘Queen of the Con’. A few months on, new single ‘Off My Mind’ goes one further, proving a slick, synth-driven effort that perfect encapsulates her knack for a killer, FM-friendly hook. Be warned: this one burrows deep. Check out the track and its rather celestial visuals (courtesy of Ciarán O’Brien) below.
Set to return to Dublin’s Marlay Park across July 14-16, the bill for this year’s Longitude is yet another mix of hip-hop, pop and indie. Headlined by Stormzy, The Weeknd (pictured) and Mumford and Sons, the focus is on some big names, divvied by some more under-the-radar acts and some homegrown sounds. Ahead of this year’s outing, here’s our annual festival mixtape, featuring Tom Misch, JP Cooper, Milky Chance and more. Go here to buy tickets to Longitude 2017.
Ahead of teaming up with This Ship Argo to live score Carl Theodor Dreyer’s classic 1928 silent film The Passion of Joan of Arc at Belfast’s the MAC on Thursday, May 18, Belfast musician Richard Davis AKA Heliopause talks to Brian Coney about the process, impetus and collaborative drive underlying the project. Go here to buy tickets Hi Richard, first off – how did the project come about? What drew you guys to The Passion of Joan of Arc? I first watched the film a few years ago when working at The Duke of Yorks cinema in Brighton with my friend & co-worker Sophie,…