• Gig(s) of the week: Wallis Bird, Hornets EP Launch & Come On Live Long

    April 23, 2014 - By 

    Having wisely branched out to more than one must-see gig in our weekly preview of shows happening across Ireland each week, this week there was no shortage of gigs to choose from. Alas, we must still be in some ways selective, otherwise we’d be saying, “Go to everything”. And who has the money or time for that? So, looking towards the next few days, we figured the following three shows are more than worth checking out: Having released her debut album, Architect, back in 2012, Wexford folk-pop musician Wallis Bird returns to Dublin on Friday night (April 25) for a show at…

  • Ciaran Lavery Announces EP Details

    April 22, 2014 - By 

    Just over a year since the release of his exceptional debut album, Not Nearly Dark, Northern Irish singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery has revealed details of his forthcoming new EP, Kosher. Set for release on June 19 at Belfast’s Black Box as part of this years’s Open House Festival, check out the EP’s tracklisting and wonderful artwork by DMC and Ben Connolly of Angel and Anchor below. 1. ‘Left For America‘ 2. ‘Sophomore Rising’ 3. ‘Boxer’ 4. ‘A Ragtime Song’ 5. ‘Orphan’ While you’re here, feel free to stream the jubilant ‘Orphan’ from Lavery’s forthcoming EP via Soundcloud below. Photo by Cathal Goodwin

  • Castlepalooza Announces First Acts

    April 22, 2014 - By 

    An annual fixture at the breathtaking Charleville Castle in Tullamore, Castlepalooza have announced their line-up for 2014. With a handful of acts yet to be announced, Super Furry Animals’ main man Gruff Rhys (pictured), indie-pop duo Summer Camp and Franco-Swiss DJ Gilles Peterson top the bill of acts performing this year. Several Irish acts including Hurdles, We Cut Corners, The Clameens, TVVINS, Affleck and Ships also feature 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. Here’s the launch poster for the festival and…

  • Stream: A Plastic Rose – Someone’s Daughter

    April 21, 2014 - By 

    Currently making waves over in Nottingham, Northern Irish alt-rock quartet A Plastic Rose have unveiled the wonderfully eccentric video for their new single, ‘Someone’s Daughter’. Directed by Tom Coles and Benson Burrows, the video features a strange, friendly robot (related to Johnny Five from Short Circuit, one wonders?), who accompanies a couple of humans before an untimely demise in an abandoned tunnel. Pretty standard stuff, really. The second single from the band’s forthcoming second album Flickering Light Of An Inner War, the track was produced by Chris Coulter. Watch the video for Someone’s Daughter below.

  • Stream: Girl Band – The Cha Cha Cha

    April 21, 2014 - By 

    Quite possibly the shortest track released for this year’s Record Store Day, Dublin four-piece Girl Band have made the brilliantly abrasive burst of noise rock that is ‘The Cha Cha Cha’ available to download for free. Once again evoking the likes of early Pixies and Mclusky/Future of the Left, the twenty-five second track is a fairly accurate summation of the band’s back catalogue to date: frantic, frenetic, breathless and gloriously pulverising in equal proportion. Our only complaint? You guessed it – it’s just that little bit too short. All said and done, we think you should listen to this. So do,…

  • Stream: The Wood Burning Savages – Been Anywhere Lately?

    April 21, 2014 - By 

    Another highlight from this year’s Record Store Day was a rather unexpected single from Derry band The Wood Burning Savages. Having written and recorded it during last week, ‘Been Anywhere Lately?’ was released on Saturday for the annual celebration of independent music stores worldwide. The track sees the Paul Connolly-fronted four-piece jolting straight for the jugular, pounding rhythms and impassioned refrains propelled by dual harmonies and the aforementioned frontman’s rousing tail-telling. In all, yet another subtly seismic clenched fist from the fast-rising Derry act. Stream ‘Been Anywhere Lately?’ via Soundcloud below.

  • Interview: Old Fang

    April 18, 2014 - By 

    Ahead of its official launch at Belfast’s Menagerie on Thursday, May 15, we talk to multi-talented musical visionary of sorts Thomas Camblin, founder of new-fangled (ahem) record label OLD FANG. Endeavouring to “discover, develop, release and promote new and contemporary artists with a progressive vision” the label is already off to a hugely positive start, with various local artists and creative peers of the Camblin extolling what looks set to be an interesting and exciting project for all involved. Hi Thomas. First off, can you tell us how the label came about – has it been in development long and…

  • Stream: We Cut Corners – Blue (Daithí Remix)

    April 17, 2014 - By 

    “I am not a loner, I’m just alone.” Ahead of headlining our gig/club night, No Tomorrow, at Belfast’s Voodoo on Saturday, May 3, Dublin indie rock duo We Cut Corners have had their track ‘Blue’ masterfully contorted by Galway producer Daithí. Set to feature on We Cut Corners’ forthcoming second album, Think Nothing, the remix of ‘Blue’ is both structurally warped and vocally frenetic, resulting in a brilliant schizoid rendering of the original. Think Nothing is released on April 25 in Ireland) and May 12 in the UK. Believe it or not, our show with We Cut Corners on Saturday, May 3…

  • Output #5 @ The Stiff Kitten

    April 17, 2014 - By 

    Seeing its Belfast debut on Wednesday, April 23, at the Stiff Kitten, creative panel event Output will host a discourse amongst an array of electronic and dance music professionals. Presented by Generator NI, the organisers behind the event – featuring speakers including Rob Booth of Fabric/Houndstooth, Gary Curran of Japanese Popstars and Paul Hamill AKA Psycatron – stated, “Whether you’re a DJ looking for tips on your live set, or a bedroom producer wanting to build your network, this is your opportunity to find out from the experts how it’s done.” Sound like something you might be interested in checking out?…

  • Gig(s) of the week: Desert Hearts, Record Store Day & More

    April 15, 2014 - By 

    A year into our existence – hey, it’s been fun – we’ve decided that it’s both wise and opportune that we started expanding out horizons when it comes to our regular “gig of the week”. Ireland is a relatively big-ass country (the technical description for you, there), after all; one single show, exceptional as it might be, is simply not worth singling out at the expense of similarly awesome prospects in different areas across the city. And it is upon which note that we arrive, rather comfortably, at this week’s gig(s) of the week. The return of Desert Hearts Standing just…