• Irish Tracks of the Week – July 2nd

    July 2, 2021 - By 

    It’s been another big week for new Irish music, with tracks and albums coming from all over the country from emerging artists and established favorites. Dig into new releases from the Altered Hours, Aonair, Villagers, Maria Kelly, Zizou, Erica Cody and more. The Altered Hours – Radiant Wound Radiant Wound by The Altered Hours Aonair – Your Man Your Man by Aonair John Francis Flynn – My Son Tim Villagers – So Simpatico Maria Kelly – Good Enough Zizou – Piecemeal Pieces zizou band · Piecemeal Pieces Cubs – River of Amber​/​Frozen Waterfall River of Amber/Frozen Waterfall by Cubs Rónán…

  • Caribou Set For Vicar Street Return

    June 30, 2021 - By 

    Caribou is coming back to Vicar Street. The Canadian composer, otherwise Dan Snaith, will return to play Dublin venue on January 19, 2022. Marking the first Caribou show there since 2014 (and what a show it was), it comes a few months ahead of a date at Iveagh Gardens in the summer of 2022. Tickets go on sale on Friday (July 2nd) at 9am.

  • Monday Mixtape: smallmint

    June 28, 2021 - By 

    smallmint frontman Andrew Cameron-Braithwaite guides us through his all-time favourite songs, from Big Thief, Six Star Hotel, Pinegrove, Pedro the Lion and more. Pinegrove – Old Friends I saw Pinegrove play the Limelight in Belfast in 2016, on the recommendation of our drummer, who very correctly thought that they would be right up my street. I knew that night that they were one of my new favourite bands, and they’ve been a massive influence on me ever since. This song has amazing lyrics, beautifully weird guitar chords and just the right amount of a Country lilt. Big Thief – Mary…

  • Ireland’s First Music Festival in 16 Months Announced For Next Month

    June 22, 2021 - By 

    The country’s first music festival in 16 months will take place next month. Hosted by IMMA at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham on Saturday, July 3, the so-called pilot festival event will feature performances by Gavin James, Denise Chaila, Lyra, Sharon Shannon, Wild Youth and Wyvern Lingo. MCed by the 2 Johnnies, the 3,500-capacity event will be laid out in pods of six in order to maintain social distancing. Rapid antigen testing will also be a requirement of entry to the event. Catherine Martin T.D., Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media said: “I am delighted to announce this…

  • Low Set For Dublin Return

    June 22, 2021 - By 

    Low are coming back to Dublin next year. As part of a new world tour, the Duluth, Minnesota indie rock band will play Vicar Street on April 26, 2021. Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 25th at 10am. Accompanying the news is details of the band’s thirteenth studio album. Titled Hey What, it will be released via Sub Pop on September 10th. Check out the video for new single ‘Days Like These’ below.  

  • Premiere: Strange Boy feat. Hazey Haze – Hahaha

    June 17, 2021 - By 

    Back in April, we had the pleasure of premiering one of the Irish songs of the year so far: ‘Waiting’ by the fast-rising Jonen Dekay aka Strange Boy. Two months on, the Limerick rapper is on the cusp of releasing his highly-anticipated debut album, Holy/Unholy. Dropping next Friday, June 25th, the 10-track album features collaborations with the likes of Clannad’s Moya Brennan (‘Beginnings’) and Seán McNally Kelly (‘Forgotten’). Elsewhere is an outright peak from the album, ‘Hahaha’. A collaboration with fellow Limerick rapper Hazey Haze, it’s a masterfully believable effort that marries marrying skeletal trad with bars of pure-cut personal truth. Have a…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – June 18th

    June 18, 2021 - By 

    This Juneteenth, Bandcamp are donating 100% of their sales to the Legal Defence Fund to support racial justice, equality & change. If you’re planning on buying some music – Irish or otherwise – via the platform, today is that day. On which note, here’s the best Irish tracks and LPs of the week, including Denise Chaila, Rejjie Snow, Kojaque, Dani Larkin, Aislinn Logan, Rebekah Fitch, Alpha Chrome Yayo, Strange Boy feat Hazey Haze, and more. Denise Chaila – 061 Rejjie Snow feat. Tinashe & grouptherapy. – Disco Pantz Rebekah Fitch – Goodbye Aislinn Logan – Certain Days Dani Larkin – Notes For A Maiden…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – June 11

    June 11, 2021 - By 

    It’s been another big week for new Irish music, with tracks coming from all over the country from emerging artists and established favourites. Dig into new releases from HAVVK, Cat, Orla Gartland, John Blek, Smoothboi Ezra, Jack O’Rourke and more. Mícheál Keating & Brendan McInerney – It’s Still There It’s Still There by Mícheál Keating & Brendan McInerney HAVVK – Automatic Automatic by HAVVK Cat – baby, blue HOROSHOKINO – Comrades Smoothboi Ezra – Without Me John Blek – Long Strand Orla Gartland – Do You Mind? Celaviedmai – Heal milk. – ‘In LA.’ Jack O’Rourke – Opera on the…

  • Watch: Cherym – Listening To My Head

    June 10, 2021 - By 

    Without question, Derry pop-punk trio Cherym have emerged as one of the real success stories from these shores in recent times. Earworming to high heaven, their razor-sharp, harmony-laden craft is something we fully look forward to experienced live, once again, when the time is right. In the meantime, the soap video for the Hannah Richardson-fronted band’s new single ‘Listening To My Head’ is scratching the itch. A mini soap opera condensed to three minutes, it really drives home Cherym’s uniquely joyous M.O. Check it out below and revisit our recent interview with the band here.

  • Stream: Mícheál Keating & Brendan McInerney – It’s Still There

    June 10, 2021 - By 

    Last May, Bleeding Heart Pigeons released one of the most emphatic Irish albums in recent times, Stir. Thirteen months on, two-thirds of the Limerick band—frontman Mícheál Keating and drummer Brendan McInerney—have returned with the 10-minute epic ‘It’s Still There’. Commissioned by The Source Arts Centre of Thurles, and supported by both Tipperary County Council and The Arts Council, it’s a genre-mutating feat, melding Burial-esque menace with a slowly unfurling patchwork of ambient prog. Speaking about the track, Keating said: “This commission was a great incentive to play and experiment, and this was an ideal approach to writing the first tune we’ve made together since Stir was…