• Slender Songs @ FILTER Cafe, Cork

    September 14, 2015 - By 

    A curious highlight in the programme of the inaugural Sounds From A Safe Harbour festival, Cork-based graphic designer, artist and co-founder of Fractured Air, Craig Carry will host a new exhibition, Slenders Songs, at Cork’s FILTER Cafe from September 16-October 16. Comprised of twenty prints based upon a selection of musicians taking part in Sounds From A Safe Harbour, the exhibition (see samples of the artwork above and below) is named after Seán Mac Erlaine’s sublime A Slender Song album. The exhibition launches on Friday, September 18 from 7.30pm-9pm with live music from Seán Mac Erlaine and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, as well as…

  • No Boundaries @ The Academy, Dublin

    September 14, 2015 - By 

    One of a string of stellar fundraising shows that have cropped recently to help aid those affected by the Syrian refugee crisis, The Last Mixed Tape and the Melted Lady will host No Boundaries at Dublin’s Academy this Friday night (September 18). A charity event to raise funds for the Irish Red Cross and their current Migration Crisis appeal, the line-up – taking place over two rooms – will feature everything and everyone from The North Sea, Buffalo Woman and Kormac (live) to DJ sets from the likes of Le Galaxie and Mother. Tickets are €15. Go here for the event’s Facebook page.

  • Us Against Us @ The National, Belfast

    September 14, 2015 - By 

    Almost a year on from curating BREED in the same venue (check out our gallery from the night here) music video and fashion film director Neil Kerr will launch a new group show at Belfast’s the National on Culture Night Belfast 2015. Running from September 18 for three weeks, Us Against Us will feature the talents of sixteen artists selected by Kerr. With themes ranging from the current refugee crisis to commercialism and police brutality, it is an exhibition that promises to be thought-provoking and inspirational. Works will be available for purchase throughout the exhibition. Artists exhibiting include the following: Leo Boyd Stephen Millar Kev…

  • Premiere: Cat Palace – Slime EP

    September 10, 2015 - By 

    Having positively kicked our ass (in the perfectly non-physical realm of being smitten) with the release of his ache-laced, quasi-mystical debut self-titled EP back in February, Dublin artist David Blaney AKA Cat Palace elicited the following rather grandiose words from yours truly:  “… an Irish singer-songwriter doing something very singular indeed.” In relatively recent hindsight, it transpires we were so on the money we may as well have been resting on a goldmine – a fact doubly confirmed with Slime, Blaney’s second, four-track EP. Whilst continuing in the generally hushed, lo-fi leaning vein of Pedro The Lion, Jason Molina and Bonnie Prince Billy, Slime sees Blaney’s decidedly…

  • Smalltown America All-Dayer: Carnivores

    September 10, 2015 - By 

    The first in a two-week series of videos capturing Derry label Smalltown America’s recent, hugely successful sixth All-Dayer, we very much start as mean to go on in the solid company of Scottish alt-rock trio Carnivores. Illustrious headliners at the eight-act showcase at the tail-end of July, the STA-signed band went one further and seized the opportunity to record their entire performance as a live album, the aptly-titled Live at Smalltown America. A self-proclaimed “glimpse of three men lost in a primal blur of musical electricity, swimming in seas of violent noise”, the nine-track release is available to download for two weeks…

  • Metropolis Announce New Acts, Day by Day Breakdown

    September 10, 2015 - By 

    Set to make its inaugural appearance at Dublin’s RDS across November 7 and 8, the bill for the inaugural Metropolis is something of a statement of intent. With the likes of Chic, The Roots and Jamie XX announced as part of its initial launch back in July, the festival have today revealed several new acts set to perform, as well as the full Day by Day breakdown over the two days and nights. Spread across six rooms, taking in live music, performance, discussions and talks from selected creatives, and installations geared towards transforming the RDS into an audio-visual playground, Hot Chip, Vic Mensa, Le…

  • Watch: Empty Lungs – Medicine

    September 9, 2015 - By 

    With its launch set to take place at Belfast’s iconic Empire Music Hall on Wednesday, October 7, alt-punk quartet Empty Lungs have unveiled the video for their new single ‘Medicine’. Revealing the band’s more saccharine side – and we mean that without any unfavourable connotations  – the Kev Jones-fronted four-piece once more fuse rousing refrains with an earnestness tempered with a keen balance of weight and restraint. Following the single launch at the Empire, the band will also play the following East Coast dates: October 07: Empire Music Hall, Belfast, Ireland October 23: Philadelphia, PA (Empty Lungs Acoustic) October 24: New York, NY October 26:…

  • Ensemble Music Expanding to Record Label

    September 9, 2015 - By 

    Home to the likes of Loah (pictured), Ensemble Ériu, Conor Walsh and more, Dublin’s Ensemble Music have announced that they’re to take the very brave next step in expanding into a record label. With an €8,000 goal in mind, the collective have also wisely launched a Kickstarter campaign in conjunction with the announcement. Speaking about the move, Ensemble said, “We feel that Ireland needs a new independent label with a fresh perspective. One that will support exceptional artists who have a lot of potential but aren’t necessarily seen as commercially viable. We didn’t want to rush into it, waiting for our artists to develop…

  • Watch: Ciaran Lavery – Shame

    September 9, 2015 - By 

    Having originally featured on his 2013 debut album, Not Nearly Dark, ‘Shame’ by Ciaran Lavery is on the verge of hitting 10 million streams on Spotify – a pretty mindblowing and fully deserved feat for one of the country’s hardest working and most naturally gifted artists. Shot in Dublin by ROC (also responsible for this wondrous thing) the song now has a suitably simple yet perfectly poignant video, once more managing to strike a faultless balance between heartfelt sentiment and droll humour. Ciaran Lavery plays the following UK shows in October. 16 Glasgow Nice N Sleazy 17 Newcastle Upon Tyne The Cluny 2 18 Leeds Games Room, Brudenell Social…