• Low Amongst New Acts Set for Other Voices Live

    November 16, 2015 - By 

    Low are amongst a new wave of acts announced to play this year’s Other Voices Live in Dingle from December 4-6. Joining the Ohio slowcore pioneers are Jack Garrett, Keaton Henson, Glen Hansard and The Academic, whilst the acts set to play IMRO’s Other Room are Saint Sister, Talos, Gavin Glass Bitch Falcon and Hawk. Elsewhere, the following acts are set to play the free Music Trail across Dingle: Last week, Richard Hawley, Gaz Coombes, Gavin James, Lapsley and Otherkin were the first acts confirmed to play the annual showcase, which sees its 14th outing this year.

  • Robyn G Shiels Announces New Dates, Collaboration Album

    November 13, 2015 - By 

    When it rains for Belfast-based acoustic doom master Robyn G Shiels, it pours. As well as a downright unmissable “Alternative New Year’s Grieve Party” at Belfast’ Sunflower Bar with Hornby Ban Jovi AKA Hornby of The Continuous Battle of Order, Heliopause and a DJ set from Documenta’s Joe Greene,  Shiels will continue his excellently-titled November Reign Tour throughout November (see dates below), including a performance at the Jarman Award Whitechapel Weekend in London on November 21. Elsewhere, Shiels has teamed up with musician Steve Nolan to deliver an extraordinary, nine-track collaborative album titled sky drew near. Going under the dual moniker Rs.sN, Shiels…

  • Listening More Carefully with Somadrone

    November 13, 2015 - By 

    Ahead of the launch of his superb fifth album, Oracle, at Dublin’s Unitarian Church on November 28, Dublin musician and producer Neil O’Connor AKA Somadrone takes to Brian Coney about progression, abstract themes and the importance of collaboration. Hi Neil. Congratulations on the release of Oracle. It’s been said of the album, “This is music equally at home on the dance floor as in your earphones.” Was that your intention from the get-go? Thanks. I guess that’s true. It’s dance music I guess, but it’s not aimed at a contemporary dance music culture, so it does not play to its rules.…

  • Stream: Alana Henderson – Museum of Thought

    November 12, 2015 - By 

    Before globetrotting as a member of Hozier’s band, Dungannon cellist and singer Alana Henderson had established herself as one of the most promising Irish artists, masterfully meddling in the realm of alternative folk informed with a strong traditional presence. Almost three years on from her sublime Wax & Wane EP, Henderson has returned in her own right with ‘Museum of Thought’, a wonderfully stripped-back, lilting and lullaby-like track co-produced by Phil D’Alton of Master & Dog that positively confirms she has by no means abandoned her own craft and path. Watch the video for the track – featuring images courtesy of The British…

  • Reeling In The Year with Ciaran Lavery

    November 12, 2015 - By 

    2015 has been a real breakthrough year for Aghagallon singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery. Having zig-zagged across the UK and Europe over the last few months, he has been hailed far and wide as one of the most naturally gifted, utterly engrossing songsmiths of his generation. Touching on everything from life on the road, the weight (or lack thereof) of expectation and special Christmas shows “With Strings” at Belfast’s MAC, Lavery chats to Brian Coney. See below for premiere of Lavery’s ‘Little More Time’ With Strings. Hi Ciaran. It’s been a really busy 2015 for you. Looking back to the start of the…

  • Other Voices Reveal First Acts For Dingle 2015

    November 11, 2015 - By 

    Now well and truly an Irish musical institution after 14 years, Other Voices have revealed the first acts to play their return to Dingle from December 4 to December 6. With many more acts yet to be revealed, Richard Hawley, Gaz Coombes, Gavin James, Lapsley and Otherkin are the first five acts to be announced. Set to take place at St. James Church in the Co. Kerry town, tickets for Other Voices 2015 will be up for grabs via raffles soon.

  • Watch: VerseChorusVerse & David Lyttle – No Window

    November 10, 2015 - By 

    There’s inspired, seemingly pre-destined collaborations, then there’s Tony Wright AKA VerseChorusVerse pairing up with drummer extraordinaire David Lyttle to make a genre-warping release recorded over 2 channels over a total of 14 hours. Set for release on November 20 via Lyte records, Say & Do is an impassioned, nine-track tour de force, revealing both Wright and Lytle’s instinctive creative mastery in the vast realms of folk, blues and jazz. More than anything, though, there’s an almost touchable spirit and mettle to the release; something that comes across in the stripped-back video for the album’s jubilant lead single, ‘No Window’. Wright and Lyttle…

  • Stream: The Mad Dalton – The Little Belfry

    November 10, 2015 - By 

    Recorded with the likes of Michael Mormecha of Mojo Fury and Jonny Woods of R51 – and launched in style on the Belfast Barge at the weekend – The Little Belfry is the debut EP from Belfast-based singer-songwriter Peter Sumadh AKA The Mad Dalton. A five-track release of ruminating, Americana-tinged folk in the vein of Wilco, Pedro The Lion, Sparklehorse and Ron Sexsmith, it’s a wonderfully-realised release bursting with carefully-crafted pathos and soul. Here’s hoping release number two from Sumadh – an artist of Scots/Canadian heritage – doesn’t incur quite as long a gestation period. Stream/download The Little Belfry below. The Little…

  • Monday Mixtape: Neil Brogan (Sea Pinks)

    November 9, 2015 - By 

    Ahead of the release of their new LP, Soft Days, via CF Records on January 8, Neil Brogan of Belfast band Sea Pinks talks us through some of his current favourite tracks, including the likes of Robert Wyatt, Broadcast and Van Morrison. Little Wings – By Now I don’t buy vinyl very often because I can’t afford to, so when I do buy a record I either end up getting obsessed if I like it or bitterly resenting it if I don’t. Explains by Little Wings is one I bought a little while ago and thankfully it’s one I don’t hate. I like the…

  • EP Premiere: Maija Sofia – The Sugar Sea

    November 9, 2015 - By 

    Having moved to London last year, Maija Sofia wrote and recorded The Sugar Sea during a solitary few months that came as a result of independently relocating to alien city. Dealing with the universal traits of loneliness and anxiety – but lightened by juxtaposition with Sofia’s empirical, fairytale mannerisms – the tracks on the Galway’s musician’s debut solo EP makes for a bewitching, almost voyeuristic listen. Three of the songs (‘The Girl Who Pulled the Sun Down’, ‘Hail Mary’, ‘I Will Not Be Worth It’) were recorded in Mowlem Street Studio, Bethnal Green by producer James Hare (Women in Love, Milk White White Teeth) and he…