Internationally acclaimed and best selling Scandinavian author Jo Nesbo will hold a special talk at Belfast’s Ulster Hall on Sunday, September 15 in association with No Alibis Bookstore. Also a musician, songwriter, economist and ex-footballer, Nesbo will discuss his new book, Police – the tenth installment of his Harry Hole series. Tickets are priced at £7 and are available purchase here.
One of the best visual accompaniments that we have seen from an Irish band in quite some time, Dublin band The Hot Sprockets have unveiled the wonderful video for their new single, ‘Comin’ On’. A huge effort involving a case of colourful extras, the video was shot in one take by Little Beast Films at the rather beautiful Hazel Hatch House. The single itself is set for official release on September 20. Watch the video below!
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Lee McMahon, Belfast-based punk quartet Safe Ships have released a brand new track, the ever-so-slightly self-referential ‘Safest of Ships’. The song is the b-side to the band’s forthcoming new single ‘Fighting Fit’, which will be launched on Wednesday, October 2 at Belfast’s Voodoo. Support on the night comes from Past Victories, Bellos and Tied To Machines. Go here for more info. Stream the rollicking ‘Safest of Ships’ via Bandcamp below.
Set for release on September 7 for Cassette Store Day, Dublin noise-pop band September Girls are streaming their new single ‘Ships’. The band’s hand-crafted cassette will be available to buy from the Haus of PINS website for £5 from the date of release. September Girls play Distillation 04 at Belfast’s Oh Yeah Centre on Friday, September 20 alongside Sea Pinks and Affleck. Stream ‘Ships’ via Soundcloud below.
Co. Wicklow post-rock band God Is An Astronaut are streaming their sixth studio album, Origins, via Bandcamp. Their first album as a five-piece the album “cements their place as one of the world’s most intense, musically – and visually – inventive post rock bands”. It also sees the Torsten Kinsella-fronted band’s return to Rocket Girl Records, who released their debut album back in 2005. Check out the band’s new video for ‘Reverse World’ and stream/buy Origins below.
Our intrepid photographer Liam Kielt was in attendance at their third installment of Distillation at Belfast’s Oh Yeah Centre. Headlined by Hornets, the showcase also featured suitably blinding sets from Belfast-based three-piece PigsAsPeople and Dublin band No Spill Blood. The fourth edition of Distillation on Friday, September 20 will be a Culture Night special, featuring Sea Pinks, September Girls and Affleck. Go here for more information. Check out Mr Kielt’s from the third night below!
Taken from their incredible new album Don’t Try, Derry quartet Jetplane Landing have released the video to their new single, ‘My Radio Heart’. According to a blurb written to accomany the video: “reflecting on the life-affirming nature of music and its power to change our lives; from Jerry Lee-Lewis to Ian McKaye; Jetplane loves artists that inform the world in which we live and kick all our asses. “My Radio Heart” is about a love for music that never dies.” The video itself – directed by Jack Wilkinson and edited by Michael Barwise – was shot over a two day…
Galway native Olan Stephens AKA The Bedroom has unveiled the video to his new song, ‘The Big Up’. The latest audiovisual offering from the ex-Eatenbybears member The Bedroom produces, according to Stephens, “a distinct blend of experimental pop with an emphasis on bass and beat heavy hip-hop production.” Sounds about right to us. ‘The Big Up’ is Stephen’s second solo single, the wonderfully idiosyncratic video for which was directed/produced by the 21-year-old himself and filmed by Richard L Butler. Watch the video below.
Our photographer Alan Maguire was in attendance to capture Day Four of this year’s Belsonic which saw Colorado folk rock five-piece The Lumineers top a bill featuring BBC Sound of 2012 winner Michael Kiwanuka and Derry singer-songwriter SOAK. Check out his photos below!
Directed by Sam Fitzpatrick, Dublin-based singer-songwriter Liza Flume has unveiled the suitably quaint video to her new single, ‘Swords’. The track – a delicately soulful, superbly unravelling five minute tale – is taken from Full Steam Ahead, Flume’s bewitching debut EP released via Toast Office Records in January. Watch the video for ‘Swords’ below.