• 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.  

  • EP Stream: Haüer – Esperbyte

    September 9, 2014 - By 

    Dublin electro wizard Haüer immediately grabbed our attention last week with ‘Merc II’, the lead single from his second EP, Esperbyte. “Cursed with a weakness for nostalgic 80’s music production and synth-based cinematic film scores”, the producer has concocted real retrofuturistic, synth-governed magic on the aforementioned four-track release – evoking everyone and everything from Perturbator to Geoff Barrow and Ben Salisbury’s Drokk: Music inspired by Mega​-​City One – set for release on Friday. Ahead of our interview with producer – as well as our review of the EP – stream the Esperbyte via Soundcloud below. Photo by Loreana Rushe.

  • Watch: Kerbdog – Electricity

    September 9, 2014 - By 

    Sixteen long years in the making, Kilkenny alt-rock heroes Kerbdog released a new track, ‘Electricity’. Accompanying by a straight-and-to-the-point video of the band recording the track – a seminal moment in itself, let’s be honest – comes ahead of the release of the quartet’s Pledge campaign-funded live album, Congregation, which is set for release on October 6. Cormac Battle and co. will also hit the road in November, playing the following Irish and UK shows. November 14: Dublin Academy November 15: Manchester Ritz w/ Amplifier, Nine Black Alps, Hawk Eyes, Hey You Guys! November 16: London Forum w/ Amplifier, Hawk Eyes, Jamie Lenman, Hey You Guys! November 17: Bristol Bierkeller w/…

  • Stream: SOAK – B a noBody

    September 9, 2014 - By 

    The follow-up to her breakthrough release ‘Blud’ – released via CHVRCHES‘ single imprint – Derry singer-songwriter SOAK has unveiled her new single, ‘B a noBody’. Titled in such a way to such suggest her keyboard still needs repaired, the track is a sparse yet impressively layered anti-call to arms. Reverb-ridden, edging towards a semi-inevitable crescendo, the track was recorded across a summer that saw the songwriter pen a deal with Rough Trade for her forthcoming debut album, which is currently being recorded. SOAK will play the following dates in November: November 5: London – St. Giles In The FieldsNovember 6: Manchester – The CastleNovember 7: Derry – Christ Church       November 8: Dublin – The…

  • Red Bull Music Academy Weekender

    September 9, 2014 - By 

    From September 25 to 28, Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter will host its first ever Red Bull Music Academy weekender. Set to see four days of concerts, club nights, talks and film screenings with some first-rate genre-defining, forward-thinking artists and musicians, German electro-classical musician Nils Frahm (supported by Derry’s Ryan Vail) at City Hall on Sunday, September 28 stands out as highlight. Check out the full line-up below and buy tickets here. Thursday, September 25 – 10pm The Juan MacLean, Timmy Stewart and Twitch The Bunatee, Queen’s University Student Union (Tickets £6) Friday, September 26 Workshop featuring BICEP Oh Yeah Music Centre (Free Admission)…