• Friday Mixtape: Owen Strathern (Oh Volcano)

    August 1, 2014 - By 

    In the first of a new weekly “thing” here at the Thin Air (sometimes “thing” sums it up perfectly, you know?), Oh Volcano’s Owen Strathern delivers the inaugural Friday Mixtape, featuring some of his all-time favourite tracks – everyone from Talking Heads to The Magnetic Fields. Stream the playlist and read Owen’s thoughts on each track below. Future Islands – Seasons (Waiting On You): “I saw this track on Letterman and pre-ordered their album right away. The guy is mesmerising and this song is incredible.” Caged Animals – Teflon Heart: “I heard this track a few years ago and just heard an instrumental of…

  • Watch: Oh Volcano – See No Evil

    July 28, 2014 - By 

    Ahead of their debut headline show at Belfast’s Voodoo on Saturday night (August 2), Belfast-based band Oh Volcano have unveiled their second single, ‘See No Evil’. Maintaining their tight-lipped presence thus far, the video – featuring stock footage and some nifty editing – was created by Edward Butler. The band, comprised of ex-General Fiasco members/brothers Owen and Enda Strathern released their debut single, ‘Oceans’, back in February. Watch the video below.  

  • Watch: Ghost Estates – In Your Dreams

    July 28, 2014 - By 

    Set for Castlepalooza at the weekend, Dublin quartet Ghost Estates have unveiled the rather filmic video for their single, ‘In Your Dreams’. Created by ultra-talented Second Frame Films, the visual accompaniment is like something out of a comic book, disjointed, dreamlike imagery melding with the song’s weaving tangents in fine fashion. Watch the video below.  

  • Watch: His New Atlas – His Young

    July 28, 2014 - By 

    Taken from his forthcoming debut EP, Torn Out Lungs, Armagh singer-songwriter Eoghan O’Hagan AKA His New Atlas has unveiled the video for his new single, ‘His Young’. Filmed and edited by Darren Lee of Maverick Renegade, the video is nautically reminiscent of ‘Can’t Make You Come Back’ by Our Krypton Son, ‘Cathedral Street’ by Feet For Wings and ‘Holy’ by Frightened Rabbit. You can buy the single (including a remix by Krimson) via Bandcamp here for £1 (or more) and watch the video below. Eoghan will also be playing the Belfast launch of ‘His Young’ on August 7, at his…

  • Stream: TOSKA feat. Aran Glover – Polyforms

    July 28, 2014 - By 

    Comprised of three members of defunct post-metal five-piece Annapurna, TOSKA have unveiled their debut track, ‘Polyforms’ Featuring furious vocals from Aran Glover of We Are Knuckle Dragger, the track – impressively clocking in at just under ten minutes – traverses progressive metal tangents, intricate instrumentalism and cyclopean down-tuned chords, reminiscent of the band’s previous incarnation. Stream the track via Bandcamp below. Polyforms ft. Aran Glover by TOSKA

  • Stream: Boxcutter – Shea EP

    July 28, 2014 - By 

    The fifth release on his own imprint, Kinnego Records, the chameleonic Barry Lynn AKABoxcutter has returned with a garage-tinged new EP, Shea. Currently based in London, the Northern Irish producer’s latest, three-track release is the culmination of its lead track being streamed early last year via Soundcloud. It features kaleidoscopic sleeve art by Nia at Star Fu and was mastered by Bob Macc at Subvert Central Mastering. Stream the EP via Bandcamp below. Shea EP by Boxcutter

  • Video exclusive: Arborist – Border Blood

    July 28, 2014 - By 

    Officially launched on Friday, July 18 at Belfast’s Flow Yoga Studio, we’re very pleased to present an exclusive first-look at the video for ‘Border Blood’, the new single by Belfast-based band Arborist. The lead single from the Mark McCambridge-fronted band’s debut album, Home Burial, the track was recorded by Ben McAuley – also a member of the band – at Belfast’s Start Together Studios. Several local musicians – including core members McAuley, Richard Hill and James Heaney, as well as the likes of violinist Luke Bannon and trumpeter Linley Hamilton – perform on the song. The video was shot and edited by…

  • Gigs of the Week: The Jesus and Mary Chain, Indiependence, Oh Volcano, Forfey, Castlepalooza

    July 28, 2014 - By 

    As much a blessing as it it is a curse (priorities, man), not one, not two but three of the country’s finest summer festivals take place this weekend. Speckled across the country, in some of the most scenic surroundings imaginable, Forfey, Indiependence and Castlepalooza all have something unique to offer, their respective aural and visual showcases, bolstered by goodwill and a light ale or two, certain to make the most of the abnormally glorious weather we’ve been enjoying right across Ireland lately. Here’s a brief rundown of the festivals in question, as well as a couple of unmissable standalone gigs for good measure. The…

  • Castlepalooza 2014

    July 27, 2014 - By 

    A highly-anticipated annual fixture at the breathtaking Charleville Castle in Tullamore, Castlepalooza 2014 will take place across the weekend of August 1-3. Super Furry Animals’ main man Gruff Rhys, indie-pop duo Summer Camp and Franco-Swiss DJ Gilles Peterson top the bill this year, with several Irish acts including TVVINS, Hurdles, We Cut Corners, The Clameens, Affleck and Ships also featuring in this year’s line-up. Buy tickets and check out full line-up for the festival – taking place across August 1, 2 and 3 – over at Castlepalooza’s official website and check out a live version of ‘Book’ by TVVINS below.

  • Not I/Footfalls/Rockaby by Samuel Beckett @ The MAC

    July 28, 2014 - By 

    From September 2 to September 6, The Mac, Belfast, will present three classic plays by Samuel Beckett, executed in just one-hour long, rarely performed, piece. Not I is an intense monologue, set in a pitch-black space lit by a single beam of light. A disembodied female mouth floats eight feet above the stage and delivers a stream of consciousness, spoken, as Beckett directed, at the speed of thought. Footfalls tells the moving story of May, a ghostly figure who paces back and forth like a metronome outside her dying mother’s room. Completing the trilogy is Rockaby – probably the most famous…