• Track Record: Conor O’Brien (Villagers)

    August 29, 2016 - By 

    As featured in the current issue of our physical magazine, Villagers’ Conor O’Brien handpicks a selection of records that have left an indelible imprint on his music and life, including Nina Simone, Bill Callahan, Fela Kuti, Julee Cruise and Mos Def. Photo by Loreana Rushe. Bill Wells Trio – Also In White I don’t really know anything about Bill Wells except that he’s a Scottish musician with fantastic eyebrows and I didn’t even know that when I starting listening to this album, which made it all the more magical. All I can say it that it leaves a proper mark on your soul…

  • Playlist: 20 Irish Acts to Catch at Electric Picnic 2016

    August 29, 2016 - By 

    For all its kaleidoscopic, genre-spanning variety, there’s no denying choosing which acts to catch (and those artist to regrettably miss) at Electric Picnic can be a bit of a headache. Sure, Clashfinder is a big help (seriously, we’d be lost without it) but let us help you out if you’re EP-bound this weekend: from Girls Names, our current cover stars SlowPlaceLikeHome (above) and Saint Sister to Hilary Woods, Rusangano Family and The Altered Hours, here’s the 20 Irish acts to catch at Electric Picnic 2016.

  • First Electric Picnic Stage-Times Unveiled

    August 29, 2016 - By 

    Set to make its annual return to the 600 acre Stradbally Estate in Co. Laois this weekend, the first stage-times for this year’s Electric Picnic have been unveiled. With times for the likes of Cosby, Little Big Tent, Electric Arena and more yet tom be announced, start planning your weekend for the likes of the Main Stage, Body and Soul Main Stage, Rankin’s Wood, Other Voices and more below. Friday Main Stage 22.30-00.00 The Chemical Brothers 21.00-22.00 The 1975 19.30-20.30 Nas 18.15-19.00 Abc 17.00-17.45 Ryan Sheridan Body And Soul Main Stage 02.45-03.30 Whilk & Misky 01.30-02.15 Mothxr 00.00-01.00 Flexfab 22.30-23.30 The Altered Hours…

  • Download: Fixity – FIXITY 2 & Live In What Used To Be A Church

    August 29, 2016 - By 

    Cork drummer maestro Dan Walsh AKA FIXITY likes to keep himself busy. From his work and creative endeavours with The Great Balloon Race, Cork Improvised Music Club, jazz night Blue Note and many musical projects, there’s a forward-moving momentum to his multifaceted musical trajectory to date. With his first, self-titled album as FIXITY released via Cork tape imprint Kantcope in July, Walsh has just released two new releases: FIXITY 2 and Live In What Used To Be A Church, the latter released featuring Emil Nerstrand, Kevin Terry, Fortune, Declan O’Shea and Dan Walsh. A restless, six-track release, FIXITY 2 is a perfectly…

  • Other Voices Make Open Call For IMRO Open Room

    August 26, 2016 - By 

    Having offered the likes of Villagers, James Vincent McMorrow and Rusangano Family a platform over the years, the annual call for applicants for the IMRO Open Room at Other Voices 2016 has been made. In December last year, the IMRO Other Room was filmed in front of a live audience as part of the Music Trail for the first time. This July an hour long special on the Other Room aired on RTÉ 2, featuring performances from Saint Sister, Talos, 2015 Open Call winner Saramai and others. To apply to play the IMRO Other Room in December 2016 go here.

  • David Lynch Season @ Lighthouse Cinema, Dublin

    August 26, 2016 - By 

    David Lynch Season. Are there three better consecutive words in the English language? Running from September 28 to December 4, Dublin’s Lighthouse Cinema will pay tribute to the legendary American director, artist and bona fide auteur with screenings of his filmography to date, including Blue Velvet, Eraserhead, Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Organisers said, “David Lynch’s films, whether big-budget sci-fi, gentle Oscar-nominated drama or noir-ish conduits of his own internal dream logic, are pure cinema. As film lovers, we owe ourselves the opportunity to experience his visions on the big screen. It pleases me immeasurably to…

  • Premiere: Scenery – Howlin’

    August 25, 2016 - By 

    Early days though it is, Derry’s Scenery have already established themselves on the live front as an act that won’t likely be slotted into a neat box any time soon. With a sound confidently traversing progressively-minded rock, soul, jazz and blues, the Stephen Whiteman-fronted band’s debut single ‘Howlin” is a feverish effort weaving wanton sax and vocals over a creeping chord progression that burrows deep. For a band proudly wearing throwback sounds on their collective sleeve, it’s a first gambit that edges into forward-looking, decidedly urgent territory. Taken from their debut EP, Far Out, exclusively stream ‘Howlin” – and check out forthcoming Scenery…

  • Premiere: Carriages – Moving Parts

    August 24, 2016 - By 

    Dublin duo Harry Bookless and Aaron Page AKA Carriages aren’t an act to shy away from idiosyncratic process. Following on from the stellar ‘Like a Child’ – released back in March – their latest single, ‘Moving Parts’, began life as a recording of Harry’s nephew Alex, who was 3 years old at the time, singing as he played with some percussion instruments. According to the pair, “A short loop was cut from the recording and a chord sequence was written around it and this became the basis for the song. Aaron wrote the lyrics and melody around Alex’s singing and the main hook…

  • Creative Rubbish: Meet Dublin artist Rob Crane

    August 25, 2016 - By 

    One of many Irish creatives being championed by our friends at BeKreativ, Rob Crane is a Dublin based artist working in various mediums but particularly with found objects such as cans, creating unique one-off pieces of sculpture art titled ‘pissheads’ and what he describes as ‘original creative rubbish’. He chats to us about what drives his artistic processes and his plans for the future. How did you get interested in art and where did it begin? I became interested in art and stuff mainly from 80s and 90s cartoons and movies. I would draw the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters…

  • Girls Names Announce Remix EP, stream ‘Zero Triptych’ (Mikey Young Remix)

    August 24, 2016 - By 

    Ahead of a new string of live dates that sees them zig-zag around European from the end of August to early October, Girls Names have announced Revisionism, an EP of remixes featuring the likes of Total Control’s Mikey Young, Broken English Club, Shift Work, Group Zero and The Horrors’ Tom Furse. The first track to be lifted from the release, Young’s re-workin of the band’s 2016 single ‘Zero Triptych’ is a blissed-out effort that re-frames frontman Cathal Cully’s words in a new guise. Revisionism is set for release via Tough Love on September 16. Check out forthcoming Girls Names dates, the artwork for Revisionism and…