• A Guide to Culture Night Belfast 2014

    September 19, 2014 - By 

    The annual cornucopia of happening that is Culture Night Belfast is upon us once more and we are positively agog – nay, foaming at the proverbial – with sheer sweaty-palmed anticipation. As with every other year, the schedule is a suitably spectacular and brilliantly eclectic proposition; a kaleidoscopic patchwork of pop-up performance, exhibition and all-embracing artistic expression. Having sifted through everything happening throughout this year’s dizzyingly impressive schedule, here’s our top must-see/attend/observe/enjoy events happening throughout the evening. Go forth! Culture Night Radio – IMPRINT Sort Design (46 Hill Street) 15.00 – 22.00 The boundlessly tasteful guys behind the ImprintThisOnYourMind podcast will be delivering a live…

  • Stream: A Yes Playlist

    September 18, 2014 - By 

    Very obviously completely unrelated to anything that is happening, anywhere in the world, pertaining to politics, nationalism and all things in between, we’ve decided to compile a ten-track Yes playlist, featuring affirmatively-inclined tracks by the likes of Tune-Yards, Mogwai, Elliott Smith, Beck and Surfer Blood. Stream that below once you’ve finished admiring the strawberry above.

  • HWCH ’14 special guests announced

    September 18, 2014 - By 

    The special guests (or honourary “Heroes”) of Hard Working Class Heroes 2014 have been announced. Set to join an already extremely impressive line-up of new and emerging Irish musical talent, the MayKay-fronted Fight Like Apes (pictured), Meath indie rock five-piece Ham Sandwich and fast-rising Derry singer-songwriter SOAK will perform throughout Dublin from Thursday, October 2 to Saturday, October 4. The organisers of the annual festival of hotly-tipped homegrown music have also announced details of HWCH and the City – a music trail of free, all ages gigs in some of Dublin’s best and most unique shops, restaurants and coffee shops. Go…

  • Stream: Slow Skies – Bodies

    September 18, 2014 - By 

    The follow-up to the beguiling ‘Ice Field’ – released at the start of the month – Dublin dream pop duo Slow Skies have gone one better with ‘Bodies’, a wonderfully unravelling, reverb-soaked effort that lulls and summons in equal proportion. Delicate and funereal, the track – conjuring the likes of Hope Sandoval, Explosions In The Sky, Hanne Hukkelberg, Hope of the States and – teases with its perfectly plodding pace and Karen Sheridan’s increasingly beatific vocals. ‘Bodies’ will feature on Slow Skies’ forthcoming EP, Keepsake, set for release via faction on September 26. The duo play Donegal’s Balor Arts Centre on September 29, Dublin’s Sugar…

  • Creative Belfast presents Output

    September 11, 2014 - By 

    Northern Ireland’s largest ever one-day conference and showcasing event has been announced. Set to take place on October 16, Output, presented by Creative Belfast in association with Generator NI, will see a dizzy, impressive plethora of conferences, panels and showcases held throughout the city’s Cathedral Quarter. The daytime conference – taking place in The Mac and the Oh Yeah Centre – will see speakers including BBC 6 Music’s Tom Robinson, composer and cellist Peter Gregson and – wait for it – Andrew WK present panel discussions, workshops and speed networking events as well as opening and closing keynotes. Later in the evening, there…

  • Watch: Groom – Colours

    September 10, 2014 - By 

    Dublin band Groom have long had an uncanny, seemingly effortless knack for no-shits-given guitar-pop. Their latest single, ‘Colours’, carries on the tradition in fine fashion, brilliantly barbed guitar lines entwined with subtle, Pulp-esque keyboard lines and chord progressions. The video for the track is a suitably simple and rather sweet affair, daughters of band-members kicking back with paints and crayons; not the slightest care in the world. The second song on Groom’s new album, Bread and Jam, ‘Colours’ is released via Popical Island at Sweeney’s, Dublin on Saturday night. Check out the artwork and video for the single below.  

  • Stream: Matua Trap – Meander Thralls

    September 10, 2014 - By 

    Having very recently released their debut track, ‘Cleave’, Belfast alt-prog trio Matua Trap have followed it up with the equally impressive ‘Meander Thralls’ (see what they did there?) As with the first track, the song is propelled with exquisite harmonies, shifting rhythms and exceptionally imaginative guitar work. Comprised of members of Kasper Rosa and Affleck, the band will play their debut show at Belfast’s Voodoo on Wednesday, September 17. Check out ‘Cleave’ here and stream ‘Meander Thralls’ below. Meander Thralls by Matua Trap

  • Video Premiere: Hands Up Who Wants To Die – Dreft

    September 10, 2014 - By 

    Dublin noise-rock overlords Hands Up Who Wants To Die don’t as much beat around the bush as they tear right through it, an implacable beast steadfast in wreaking furious revenge. Over two years on from the release of their pummeling debut album, the brilliantly-titled Buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo, the Barry Lennon-fronted quartet will resurface with its highly-anticipated follow-up, Vega In The Lyre, in just a couple of weeks. First up, though: the video for its merciless lead single, ‘Dreft’. Directed by Sean Zissou and featuring members of the band ensnared in a brilliantly absurd, ever-so-slightly NSFW confrontation with – wait for it – Kriss Akabusi MBE, it is, without…

  • Watch: Speed of Snakes – Backbone of Night

    September 9, 2014 - By 

    Over a year on from first rearing their head, Dublin superduo Speed of Snakes AKA Rupert Morris of BATS and Vinny McCreith of Adebisi Shank have unveiled the debut video, a decidedly OTT hostage-themed mini-film directed by Stevie Russell and produced by Michael Donnelly V and Jason Foran. Starring Darren Costello, Dara O’Neill and blue-haired lead lady Teodora Sutra, the video is an ambitious visual accompaniment to the track, a dark, skittering, synth-and-effects-led electro effort, hinting at some very promising things in the making for the pair.

  • Getting To Know: Oh Volcano @ Oh Yeah Centre

    September 10, 2014 - By 

    The next installment of Getting To Know… at Belfast’s Oh Yeah Centre on Thursday, September 11 will see new-fangled electro-pop duo Oh Volcano perform and discuss their craft in front of an intimate audience. The pair, comprised of ex-General Fiasco members Owen and Enda Strathern, played their debut headline show in Belfast just last month. To date they have released two singles, ‘Oceans’ and ‘See No Evil’. Doors for the Getting To Know… session at the Oh Yeah Centre are at 8pm and admission is free. Watch the video for ‘See No Evil’ below.