• Gig of the week: The Bonnevilles, Tied To Machines and more

    October 1, 2013 - By 

    Our gig of the week this week is the wonderfully-titled Oktobersesh, a four-band, riff-fuelled charity show at Banbridge Town Football Club on Saturday, October 5. Set to be headlined by Lurgan garage-blues duo The Bonnevilles, the line-up for the fundraiser also features the mighty talents of hardcore heroes Tied To Machines (above), Co. Down “experimental alternative indie” quartet AudioCavalry and Dromore post-rock band The King Said. Check out the poster for the event (overlooking Abandcalledboy, who had to pull out) below and go here for the event page.

  • Stream: Sorcha Richardson – Last Train EP

    October 1, 2013 - By 

    Released via German label Crosswork Records, Dublin folk singer-songwriter Sorcha Richardson is streaming her wonderfully understated new EP, Last Train. A five-track release of delicate, confessional folk including remixes courtesy of Lexer and Rauschhaus, it is the follow-up to the New York City-based songstresses promising debut EP, Sleep Will Set Me Free. Stream Last Train via Crosswalk below.

  • Stream: Sea Pinks – Exploded View

    October 1, 2013 - By 

    Set to feature on a forthcoming double A-Side, Belfast-based surf punk band Sea Pinks are streaming their new single, ‘Exploded View’. Primed for release via CF Records on November 5, the double-single is limited to 100 records and includes downloads of both tracks as well as two separate new songs. You can pre-order it here. Stream ‘Exploded View’ via Soundcloud below.

  • In Photos: Cut The Transmission

    October 1, 2013 - By 

    Our photographer Ciara McMullan was there to catch Northern Irish alt-rock heroes Fighting With Wire go out with a bang at Cut The Transmission festival in Derry at the weekend. A line-up also featuring Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, the incredible Future Of The Left a total wealth of local talent including And So I Watch You From Afar, LaFaro and More Than Conquerors the one-day event at the Venue made for a more-than fitting farewell party to one of our finest ever homegrown acts. Check out Ciara’s photos from the day below.

  • Watch: Sunken Foal – Cutty’s Advice

    September 30, 2013 - By 

    Taken from his forthcoming new album Friday Syndrome Volume 2, Dublin-based electronic producer Dunk Murphy AKA Sunken Foal has unveiled the video to his new track, ‘Cutty’s Advice’. The follow up to his debut album, Fallen Arches, the first volume of Friday Syndrome was released last July to a strong critical reception. Friday Syndrome Volume 2 is expected to be released at some stage in November. Sunken Foal will support Solar Bears at Whelans, Dublin on Friday, October 4. Go here for the chance to win a pair of tickets to the show. Watch the video for ‘Cutty’s Advice’ below.

  • Album stream: Crayonsmith – Milk Teeth

    September 30, 2013 - By 

    Ahead of its official release on the superb Out On A Limb Records on Friday, October 18, Dublin band Crayonsmith have released a stream of their highly-anticipated third album, Milk Teeth. Recorded between Cork and Dublin at Guerilla Studios over the last couple of years, the album “lyrically and sonically focuses on a number of themes such as loss, fear, acceptance, humility and the importance of the love of family and/or friends in order for us to be happy.” With new dates set to be announced, the band have three upcoming shows to promote the new record: Saturday, October 19:…

  • Exclusive stream: Levity Breaks – Maudlin EP

    September 30, 2013 - By 

    Ahead of its launch at Belfast’s Limelight 2 later this week, we have an exclusive first listen to Maudlin, the extremely accomplished debut EP by Belfast-based indie rock four-piece Levity Breaks. Recorded in Spring in their own studio facility in Portadown, the band described the recorded the recording process as having “carefully crafted a collection of songs, spending much time in the production stage as we endeavoured to recreate the energy, verve and tension of their our performance. The launch of Maudlin will be held at Limelight 2 on Thursday, October 2 with very special guests David C Clements and…

  • Breed: Katie and the Carnival, Myles Manley & Hannah McPhillimy

    September 30, 2013 - By 

    Belfast-based photographer Diarmuid Kennedy was in attendance at the latest installment of Breed at Belfast’s The Pavilion on Friday, September 28. The line-up featured fast-rising songstress Hannah McPhillimy, Dublin alt-folk master Myles Manley (above) and headliners, the ever-enchanting Katie and the Carnival. Check out Diarmuid’s photos from the night below!

  • Ciaran Lavery – Other People Wrote These

    September 25, 2013 - By 

    Having released one of the finest Irish albums of last year – his mesmerising debut full-length release Not Nearly Dark – Aghagallon-based singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery is an artist who clearly lives and breathes his craft. When he’s not honing and delivering his own uniquely longing brand of alt-folk he refers to the tales of others and revisits the sweeping imprint of influence that has helped shape his own wonderfully distinctive sound. A four-track manifestation of this, Lavery’s aptly-titled new covers EP, Other People Wrote This, offers a ideal opportunity to re-assess his talents from a totally new and interesting perspective. Starting…

  • Inbound: The Last Generation

    September 30, 2013 - By 

    Having released their terrific second EP Torann earlier this month, Mid-Ulster hard-rock four-piece The Last Generation have all but announced their arrival as one of the country’s most exciting and interesting riff-fuelled acts. Ahead of the Belfast launch of their latest release, we speak to the band’s lead guitarist Stephen O’Hagan about the band’s steady and well-deserved ascent. Hi Stephen. First off, could you tell us how you got together and about the early period of the band? We started the band around two years ago while still attending secondary school in Maghera. We where still very much cutting our teeth as musicians –…