• Watch: Morning Veils – Hiveless Bee

    December 30, 2016 - By 

    Let it be known: we have a lot of time for Cork outfit Morning Veils. With their swirling, hazed-out dream-folk, the band – comprised of Aisling O’Riordan, Elaine Howley of The Altered Hours and Roslyn Steer – have commanded our attention from the get-go, despite maintaining a low-key presence online. But, as with others of their ilk, that furtive quality lends to the rapt quietism of their sound, not least on their single ‘Hiveless Bee’, which now boasts a suitably lo-fi video courtesy of Camila Sobral. Released a year ago today, the track is taken from the band’s Dan Walsh-produced Her Kind. Check that out…

  • Video Premiere: THUMPER – Lonesome Freak

    December 30, 2016 - By 

    With their collective Christmas tree still up, Dublin noise-pop band THUMPER have re-emerged at the very tail-end of the year with Stephen Patrick Allen’s video for their single ‘Lonesome Freak’. Featuring footage from some of the band’s favourite live gigs of 2016, including Other Voices, Electric Picnic, KnockanStockan, Whelan’s and more, it captures precisely the kind of thing that you’ll get if you pop along to the band’s show with Otherkin at Whelan’s tomorrow (New Year’s Eve) night. Have a first peek at the video below.

  • Watch: This Ain’t No Disco Episode 1

    December 30, 2016 - By 

    A new Irish alternative music program hosted by the tireless Donal Dineen, This Ain’t No Disco couldn’t have come at a better time. Directed by Myles O’Reilly of Arbutus Yarns, the show – which marries music, visuals, discussion and collaboration over 45 minutes – is produced with no budget or sponsorship, and is “powered only out of passion, musicians and crew who worked […] voluntarily.” Titled “Being In A New Place”, the first installment – unveiled on Christmas Eve – takes that implicit manifesto and runs with it in exceptional fashion. Featuring performances from Radie Peat of Lynched, Patrick Kelleher, Emmet Kirwan…

  • Premiere: exmagician – Desperado (Remix)

    December 22, 2016 - By 

    Rounding off a busy year that saw them unleash their stellar, Bella Union-released debut album, Scan The Blue, Belfast’s Daniel Todd and James Smith AKA exmagician have bookended 2016 with the release of a wonderfully simmering High Noon remix of STB highlight ‘Desperado’. Following on from Jacknife Lee’s sprawling 18-minute remix of single ‘Job Done’ and the band’s own sublime re-imaging of ‘Tear On Let Off Steam‘, the track – which sees harmonies and rhythmic patterns come to the fore – is stripped back to its skeletal core, bursting forth with a subtly propulsive electro swagger. Dig it below. Photo for the…

  • Lisa Hannigan @ Empire Music Hall, Belfast

    December 21, 2016 - By 

    Whether it’s the respite from the heady daytime rush or simply the nature of taking stock of the twelve months just gone, there’s something about this time of year that resonates so strongly with the deeply reflective craft of Lisa Hannigan. Having played a brace of fondly-recalled Christmas shows in the city back in 2011 and 2009, that association goes that little bit further for many in Belfast’s packed-out Empire Music Hall tonight where, comfortably edging into the realm of dewy-eyed, quasi-festive tradition, fans – both seasoned and new-fangled – assemble to bear witness to an artist unquestionably at the peak…

  • Deftones To Make Long-Awaited Dublin Return

    December 19, 2016 - By 

    Having last played the city back in 2006, Deftones have announced they will play Dublin’s Vicar Street on May 9 and 10. Posting on their Facebook page, the Sacramento alternative metal five-piece band said they were “finally returning” after “many years”. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 9am priced €50.00. Back in April, Deftones released their eighth studio album, Gore. Stream it below.

  • Irish Tour: Low – A Christmas Performance

    December 16, 2016 - By 

    A Christmas Performance from Duluth indie rock legends Low at Belfast’s Empire Music Hall and Kilkenny’s Set Theatre. Photos by Colm Laverty and Ian McDonnell. Empire Music Hall, Belfast Photos by Colm Laverty Set Theatre, Kilkenny Photos by Ian McDonnell

  • Output Belfast To Return In February

    December 16, 2016 - By 

    The country’s largest music conference, Output Belfast will return to the city for its third year in a row on Thursday, February 16. Organised by Belfast City Council in partnership with Generator NI, the conference – which takes place between the MAC and the Oh Yeah Music Centre – will include panel discussions, music sessions, workshops and speed networking events as well as keynote speeches from award-winning musicians and managers of globally-recognised talent. Later in the evening,  a series of free showcasing events will take place throughout the Cathedral Quarter, featuring bills curated by the likes of Smalltown America, Homebeat,…