• Watch: R.S.A.G. – Meet You There

    April 6, 2017 - By 

    Kilkenny’s Jeremy Hickey AKA R.S.A.G is an artist that has always kept us second-guessing. From the likes of his debut Organic Sampler to 2010’s Be It Right of Wrong, the multi-instrumentalist has always struck a strong balance between familiar and forward-thinking, which is something he has yet again achieved with his new single ‘Meet You There’. Featuring visuals by partner in AV crime Paul Mahon AKA Geppetto, it’s a masterfully propulsive, perfectly danceable slice of electro-pop by the virtuoso drummer. We have this one on repeat.

  • Premiere: Rebekah Fitch – Another Show

    April 6, 2017 - By 

    We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: we’re not above straight-up pop music here at The Thin Air. For us, a killer chorus and gleaming production can easily be as potent as the the heftiest riff or most left-of-centre experimentalism. And why should it be any different? Steadily established herself as an artist who is honing her strong penchant for hook-heavy pop, Belfast singer-songwriter Rebekah Fitch is a perfect case in point in the defence of music that fully embraces its strengths. Launched at Belfast’s Pavilion tonight (with support from Brash Isaac and Amy Montgomery) her new single, ‘Another Show’, sees commanding vocals…

  • Track Record: Steve Caffrey (Destriers)

    April 5, 2017 - By 

    Studio Manager of Sound Training Productions & Temple Lane Studios and vocalist/guitarist in Dublin experimental punk band Destriers, Steve Caffrey reveals some of his all-time favourite records, including The Locust, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Minor Threat and At The Drive-In. Photos by Colum O’Dwyer. Destriers’ debut 7″ Cynosure will be out soon on Distro-y Records. They play The Poor Relation in Cork on Friday with Bailer, Parthalon, Horse and Ilenkus, as well as The Roisin Dubh in Galway on Saturday, April 8 with Rest & Ilenkus. At The Drive In – Relationship of Command This album came out at a time when Rage Against The Machine, Nu Metal…

  • Stream: Beach – Bram Toker

    April 5, 2017 - By 

    In the best possible sense, Dublin five-piece Beach – one of our featured 17 for ’17 acts – have always been one to pin down. Marrying left-of centre psychedelia with the imprint of electronic, Krautrock and indie rock influence, their increasingly earworming craft caught our ear and then some at the tail-end of last year on single ‘Ono Noh‘. With its Goat-like incanted psych, propulsive groove and sub-bass sorcery, its follow-up, ‘Bram Toker’, goes one further, confirming the band as an act to be considered alongside fellow Irish sonic diviners The Altered Hours and Elastic Sleep.

  • Body & Soul Reveal New Acts

    April 4, 2017 - By 

    In just over 11 weeks, Body & Soul will return to Ballinlough Castle for its annual three-day summer solstice festival. Having already announced the likes of Metronomy, Lambchop and Sleaford Mods, today the festival have revealed a host of new acts set to appear at the Co. Westmeath event across June 23-25. As well as genderqueer performer, activist and poet Mykki Blanco, Austra, The Moondlandingz, Sinkane, Æ Mak, Mario Batkovic, BARQ, Shookrah, Le Boom, Katie Laffan and Sing Along Social will also perform. Elsewhere, Reckless In Love, Homebeat and more will also join those taking care of things as proceedings edge into evening across the weekend. Check out…

  • Watch: Elder Druid – Rogue Mystic

    April 4, 2017 - By 

    When it comes to doom and sludge metal, the island of Ireland more than holds it own. Staking their claim in such a healthy scene is Ballymena five-piece Elder Druid, a band who formed in early 2015 via a mutual love of riffmasters general Black Sabbath, the impossibly heavy Electric Wizard, desert masters Kyuss and the almighty Sleep. Lifted from the band’s latest EP, Magicka, the band have unveiled the video to their pulverizing new single, ‘Rogue Mystic’. Featuring suitably warped, arcane archive imagery courtesy of Gryphus Visuals, the six-minute effort conjures the fuzzed-out, hazy heft of everyone from Down at their most vengeful, Come My…

  • Irish Tour: Run The Jewels w/ Gaslamp Killer

    April 3, 2017 - By 

    The mighty Run The Jewels kicked off their current European tour with shows at Belfast’s Limelight 1 and Dublin’s Olympia Theatre. Photos by Colm Laverty and Mark Earley. Limelight 1, Belfast Few acts can get away with kickstarting a sold-out show by strutting on-stage to the equivalent of a homecoming welcome soundtracked by Queen’s self-congratulatory anthem par-excellence ‘We Are The Champions’. The mighty Run The Jewels are one of those acts. Doubling up as the first leg of their current European tour, to call their appearance at Belfast’s Limelight 1 tonight a masterclass would be a towering understatement. Backed by DJ Trackstar, the globetrotting, genre-defining…

  • Track Record: Josh Guyett (Ilenkus)

    April 2, 2017 - By 

    Josh Guyett of Galway metal/hardcore band Ilenkus and tireless promoters FEAST Presents reveals and waxes lyrical about some of his all-time favourite records, including Dillinger Escape Plan, Girl Band and giveamanakick. Photos by Sean McCormack Ilenkus play the following dates to mark the release of their new Hunger 7″. April 7: The Poor Relation, Cork (w/ Bailer/Horse/Partholon/Destriers) April 8: Roisin Dubh, Galway (w/ Rest/Destriers) April 13: Live Video Recording, Dublin (limited spaces available) April 14: Voodoo, Belfast (w/ Unyielding Love/Molarbear) April 16: Dolans, Limerick (Siege Of Limerick) Miss Machine – Dillinger Escape Plan I first heard this record back in ’05 and I literally couldn’t…

  • Watch: A Lilac Decline – Mountain Rages

    March 31, 2017 - By 

    The anagrammatic musical pseudonym of West Coast-based Swedish visual artist and dreamfolk musician Cecilia Danell, A Lilac Decline’s debut album, The Mountain Rages, has just been released via Galway imprint Rusted Rail. Having come together during sessions in the spring and the wet summer of 2016, the album was recorded via one microphone and a selection of borrowed and found instruments in a Galway attic room and a remote cabin in Norway. Melding Danell’s brittle ruminations with  ‘gazey soundscapes, check out the title track – and its video – from the album below.

  • Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival 2017 Programme Launched

    March 30, 2017 - By 

    At a time when the very heartland of the city’s creative community is under threat, Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival is an even more vital annual proposition of first-rate arts and culture. Set to take over the quarter from April 27 to May 7, today saw the launch of the typically-eclectic programme for this year’s outing, featuring everyone from Booker T Jones, K-X-P and Richard Herring to Brix & The Extricated, The Divine Comedy (pictured) and New York avant-garde master William Basinski. Split between music, comedy, words & ideas, theatre, visual arts and more, you can check out the full line-up and…