• Premiere: Gnarkats – Running From You

    November 7, 2016 - By 

    Having been popping up on bills left, right and centre in North of the country over the last while, Belfast-based quartet Gnarkats are set to unveil a new EP, Waves Collide, on December 2. Produced and mixed by Mojo Fury’s Michael Mormecha at Millbank Studios in Lisburn a couple of months back, the four-track release – not least lead single ‘Running From You’ –  captures a band that continue to flesh out their own brand of earworming, fuzzed-out alt-rock. Ahead of their appearance at Spectrum Festival at Belfast’s Elmwood Hall this Saturday (November 12), have an exclusive first listen to ‘Running From…

  • Gigs of the Week: Teleman, Peaches, Buzzcocks, Saint Sister, Sarah Neufeld

    November 3, 2016 - By 

    Teleman Limelight 2, Belfast/Workman’s Club, Dublin Friday, November 4/Saturday, November 5 Having released their first-rate, second studio album, Brilliant Sanity, back in April, London indie-pop quartet Teleman stop off at Belfast’s Limelight 2 and Dublin’s and Dublin’s Workman’s on Friday and Saturday. Total newcomer? Well worth checking out on a whim. Peaches w/ Cut Once The Academy, Dublin Sunday, November 6 Supported by Dublin duo electronic duo Michael Hefferman and Aisling Browne Cut Once, electro-pop Queen par excellence Merrill Beth Nisker AKA Peaches plays hands down the best show in the country on Sunday night at the Academy. Brought to…

  • Isolation and Release: An Interview with Arcade Fire’s Sarah Neufeld

    November 4, 2016 - By 

    Both in her solo output and work as a member of Arcade Fire, Sarah Neufeld has long established herself as one of the world’s most forward-thinking, consistently singular violinists. Ahead of the only Irish date of her current European tour at Belfast’s The MAC on Monday (November 7), the Canadian chats to Brian Coney about collaboration, virtuosity, writing on the road and what to expect from Arcade Fire’s forthcoming fifth studio album. Hi Sarah. Your second album, The Ridge, is a wonderful release. Congratulations. What was the writing process like for this release, especially compared to Hero Brother? Thanks! I wrote The Ridge in a more…

  • Stream: OneKnown – VΛV

    November 3, 2016 - By 

    Having been busy releasing straight-up house and techno material under his own name, Belfast producer and DJ Chris Hanna has released ‘VΛV’, a stellar, decidedly more downtempo new track under his alias OneKnown, a music-making moniker adapted from his once cryptic Unknown/UNKNWN titles. Speaking of the new song – hands down one of the producers strongest tracks to date – Hanna said, “I hadn’t made one of these sorta tracks in just over 2 years and out of nowhere just got a total itch to make more of it, felt slightly strange! As usual, made in bed on my laptop haha. Recorded…

  • Bonobo Set For Vicar Street Show

    November 3, 2016 - By 

    Having last played a headline show in the city back in 2013 at the Olympia Theatre, LA-based English producer and DJ Simon Green AKA Bonobo will play Dublin’s Vicar Street on February 27. Tickets for the show go on sale next Friday (November 11) at 9am. Coinciding with the show announcement, Green has also just revealed details of his sixth studio album, Migration. Set for release on January 13, it’s the long-awaited follow-up to 2013’s The North Borders. Green said, “My own personal idea of identity has played into this record and the theme of migration: is home where you…

  • Festival Mixtape: Metropolis 2016

    November 3, 2016 - By 

    Set to bring the veritable cream of the sonic crop to Dublin’s RDS this weekend, Metropolis is undoubtedly one of those festivals worthy of being doubly filed under “must-attend”. Ahead of the three-night blitz of sight and sound, stream our twenty-track Metropolis Festival Mixtape, featuring DJ Shadow, Moderat, Girl Band, Jessy Lanza, BADBADNOTGOOD (pictured), The Sugar Hill Gang, Novelist, Shura, Crystal Castles and the mighty Grace Jones, below.

  • Atlantic Sessions

    November 2, 2016 - By 

    Showcasing over 50 artists in over 30 venues across four days, the eighth annual Atlantic Sessions will take over Portstewart, Portrush and Portballintrae from November 17-20. With intimate venues and music trails at the heart of the festival, admission to all events and performances are completely free. This year’s festival is programmed by Snow Water Its director, Carolyn Mathers said “Northern Ireland is extraordinary in the richness of its talent and our artists are receiving international awards and acclaim. Atlantic Sessions will celebrate our incredible music scene, musical heritage, artistic excellence, hospitality, and with the backdrop of stunning coastal scenery and magnificent views. This…

  • First Acts Announced for Other Voices 2016

    November 3, 2016 - By 

    Set to return to Dingle from December 2-4, the first wave of acts set to play this year’s Other Voices have been revealed. With more than seventy acts set to perform across the three days and nights, Lisa Hannigan announced that Rejjie Snow, Pixie Geldof, Margaret Glaspy, Girl Band and Kojey Radical will perform exclusive eir Other Voices performance in Berlin. Speaking of the Other Voices announcement, Jon Florsheim, Chief Commercial Officer at eir, said: “There’s a really fantastic line up for the 2016 eir Other Voices Festival – definitely something to suit all musical tastes and with many more musical treats…

  • HamsandwicH @ Live at St. Luke’s, Cork

    November 2, 2016 - By 

    Well, that was the best mass I’ve ever been to. St. Luke’s, a former Protestant church just on the northside of Cork City, is quickly becoming one of the premiere live venues in the city. Having entertained with the likes of Lisa Hannigan, Villagers, and Lynched in recent times, the church is building a reputation as a unique host of essential Irish artists. Combine that with the fact that it is the Jazz Weekend, in Cork and you have the potential for quite a raucous evening indeed. Offering support for HamsandwicH tonight is acoustic singer songwriter Sarah Buckley. A local,…

  • King Kong Company Launch Remix Challenge

    November 1, 2016 - By 

    Hands down one of the country’s most singular acts, King Kong Company have launched their first annual remix challenge. According to the band: “Over the last few months a few people have asked if we’d be making any of our tracks available for remixing. The answer to this question is a resounding yes. Rather than just sending a few folks some stems, we thought we’d make things a little more interesting and have some fun while we’re at it. We’ve decided to give the best mix we hear €1,000. Fuck it, we’d rather give it to you than the taxman. Here’s…