• Watch: The Wood Burning Savages – Boom

    September 29, 2014 - By 

    The follow-up to their breakthrough single, ‘America’, Derry quartet The Wood Burning Savages have only gone and released a video for ‘Boom’ – and what an skilfully urgent effort it is. Shot and edited by Fiachra O’Longain at Derry’s Playhouse, the video nicely mirrors the song’s lyrical content, not least via black-and-white archive footage of the Troubles. The song itself is a surging, Motorik-driven live favourite, and the title track of the band’s forthcoming EP, also released today. Stream Boom in full and watch the video for the single below. Boom EP by The Wood Burning Savages  

  • Gigs of the Week: The Thin Air Magazine Launch, Hidden Agenda, Joshua Burnside, Hard Working Class Heroes, Madball, Red Rock

    September 30, 2014 - By 

    With the new semester back in full swing, the old gig calender has suddenly become a lot busier than usual. This, of course, can only be a thing. Whilst some of us are still lamenting the unexpected loss of two much-loved Irish acts in UNKNWN and Adebisi Shank, the future remains very bright indeed – something we feel is perfectly illustrated in our Gigs of the Week for the next few days. Dig. The Thin Air Magazine Launch Party: Not Squares, Kab Driver, Hot Cops @ Bar Sub, QUBSU – Saturday, October 4 Biased, us? Seriously, though, Not Squares (pictured) remain one…

  • Album Stream: Sea Pinks – Dreaming Tracks

    September 29, 2014 - By 

    Nine months in, Neil Brogan’s Sea Pinks have unveiled what could well be contender for our favourite Irish album of 2014: Dreaming Tracks. Going one better than 2012’s superb Freak Waves – a feat in itself – the album conjures brooding, sun-split coastal trawl imminent Autumnal solipsism via ten tracks of cello-lined melancholia and masterfully blithe jangle-pop. According to the band, “This a record about disorientation, ambivalence, and the overlapping of past, present and future that can happen in dream states as well as in waking life.” Dreaming Tracks is available as a Limited Edition Shell Pink 180g 12″ vinyl LP, which can…

  • RBMA Interview: Ryan Vail, Noel Watson & Boxcutter

    September 24, 2014 - By 

    Nothing short of a downright unmissable four-day mini-festival, Belfast will host its first ever Red Bull Music Academy Weekender at the weekend. Ahead of the showcase – set to take in a whole host of workshops, screenings, lectures, live shows and DJ sets – we talk to three of the acts set to perform from Thursday, September 25 to Sunday, September 28: Derry producer Ryan Vail, shapeshifting electronic maestro Barry Lynn AKA Boxcutter and House pioneer Noel Watson. Check out the full schedule for the Weekender, as well as our chat with the trio below. Go here to buy tickets. So, your set to play…

  • Adebisi Shank announce split

    September 24, 2014 - By 

    Ahead of their two final Irish shows tomorrow and Friday night, Adebisi Shank have announced their split. Writing on Facebook, the band said: “THIS IS THE END OF A BAND CALLED ADEBISI SHANK Dear friends, We hereby announce the end of a band called Adebisi Shank. From the three of us to all of you, thank you for coming with us on this crazy journey. To Cathy and the Sargent House crew past and present, thank you for believing in us. Life and music moves on – Lar is making music in All Tvvins, Vin is producing/mixing, working on video…

  • EP Download: The Altered Hours – Outskirts

    September 23, 2014 - By 

    Currently out of action for a few weeks due to injury, Cork psych-rock conjurers The Altered Hours have unveiled a three-track mini EP, Outskirts. Speaking of the release – recorded at different times in different places – the band’s frontman Cathal Mac Gabhann said, “We just wanted to share it as its a particular psychedelic feeling to all three that work well together.” And that they do: cushioned by the swelling ambience of ‘Joy’ and ‘Outskirts’, the two-chord swoon of ‘I’m On a High’ hits home, proving a super-stripped-back masterstroke evoking the likes of Galaxie 500, Yo La Tengo and…

  • Bruiser presents: Cabaret @ The Mac

    September 22, 2014 - By 

    From September 16 to October 4, Bruiser Theatre Company present an all-new co-production of the Broadway smash hit musical Cabaret at Belfast’s The MAC. A unique theatrical adaptation that delves into decadent but decaying world of 1930’s Berlin, the production will see the MAC transformed into the infamous Kit Kat Klub for an unforgettable evening of music, dancing and the riotously risqué. Go here to buy tickets, starting at £19.50.

  • Premiere: BeeMickSee – We Took a Dive

    September 22, 2014 - By 

    Ahead of its official launch on September 27, we’re happy to present an exclusive first listen of ‘We Took a Dive’ by Belfast-based rapper Brendan Seamus AKA BeeMickSee. Featuring Seamus’ best friend and colloborator Paul Danver, the track – telling the “tale of my harrowing relocation to Belfast in the mid 90s” – will feature on the forthcoming BeeMickSee album, The Belfast Yank. Seamus will launch ‘We Took A Dive’ at Queen’s Student’s Union, Belfast, with a full band in tow, on Saturday, September 27. Support on the night comes from Aggressors BC, The Late Twos, Hot Cops and a Wonder…

  • Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me @ QFT

    September 22, 2014 - By 

    On Thursday, September 25, Queens Film Theatre, Belfast will host a one-off screening of Nothing Can Hurt Me, Drew Denicola and Olivia Mori’s 2012 feature-length documentary tracing the origins and history of legendary Memphis band Big Star. While mainstream success eluded them, Big Star’s three albums have become critically lauded touchstones of the rock music canon. A seminal band in the history of alternative music, Big Star has been cited as an influence by artists including R.E.M., The Replacements, Belle & Sebastian, Elliott Smith and The Flaming Lips, to name just a few. With never-before-seen footage and photos of the…

  • Red Bull Music Academy Weekender

    September 22, 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) Friday, September 26 – 9.00pm SKREAM, Chez Damier (Balance) & Special Request…