• Video Premiere: Gnarkats – Dreamers

    March 27, 2020 - By 

    Among the many Irish acts to give us some insight into how they’re coping in this unchartered era of self-isolation, Belfast trio Gnarkats know a thing or two about looking on the bright side. On singles such as ‘Take Me Away’, ‘War Cry’ and ‘Enigma’, the band’s slick brand of indie-pop has always felt unapologetically optimistic and forward-looking to its core. Rather than wallow or peer collectively inwards, Louis Nelson, Jordan Evans and Stuart Robinson instead opt to wield hope via their craft. Which is to say, their thoroughly idealistic new single ‘Dreamers’ couldn’t have arrived at a better time. Distilling Gnarkats’…

  • A Problem Shared: How The Irish Music Community is Navigating Self-Isolation

    March 25, 2020 - By 

    A wise man once said, “The country’s cowped”. And you know what? He wasn’t wrong. But in strange, unprecedented times – in totally unchartered territory such as this – it doesn’t take long for the best of us to come together. Even now, as we’re all adapting to being cooped up in our own liminal little worlds, a sense of solidarity in numbers grows stronger by the day. For many of us self-isolating like it’s nobody’s business, the last week-and-a-bit has felt more than a little dream-like. And yet, loitering in the forefront of my mind, demanding to be heeded, is…

  • Premiere: Joshua Burnside – Nothing For Ya (Whisper Project Session)

    March 23, 2020 - By 

    Bridging gaps between quiet song and forgotten space, one-off performance and liminal place, the now and nevermore, Whisper Project is an ever-evoling series by Belfast photographer and filmmaker Joe Laverty capturing acoustic performances filmed in forgotten spaces. Having previously featured Alana Henderson, Landless, DANI, King Cedar and Lemoncello performing in an array of liminal spaces in Belfast and beyond, Laverty now turns his attention to easily one of the most fêted songwriters from these shores in recent times, Joshua Burnside. Filmed and edited by Laverty, with sound recorded by Phil d’Alton, Burnside’s rendition of ‘Nothin For Ya’ at Vault artist studios feels nothing short of…

  • Premiere: Gaze is Ghost – Abacus

    March 23, 2020 - By 

    It’s majorly reassuring to know that, despite these unprecedented times of lockdown and worldly uncertainty, many Irish artists are, despite facing huge limitations, pushing forward and releasing new music as scheduled. One such act is Gaze is Ghost, comprising classically-trained Strabane composer and songwriter Laura McGarrigle, drummer Casey Miller and Keith Mannion aka Slow Place Like Home. Doubling up as the threesome’s first release with Mannion on backing vocals, synths and electronc production, new single ‘Abacus’ is a gossamer and carefully-crafted alt-pop gem confronting themes of environmental destruction, guilt and responsibility, asking “how the individual can respond to issues that threaten to ovewhelm…

  • Premiere: Swimmers Jackson – Bliss

    March 12, 2020 - By 

    There’s reliable, then there’s London-based Dubliner Niall Jackson aka Swimmers Jackson. Whether you look to his output as a member of Dublin indie-rock heroes Bouts, the more in-your-face efforts of Sweat Threats or his solo output as Swimmers Jackson to date, he has a country-spanning, genre-flaunting track record of digging deep to deliver something brimming with pathos and intent. Recorded by Darragh Nolan at Asta Kalapa studios in Co. Wexford (below) new single ‘Bliss’ is no exception to the rule. Taken from Jackson’s forthcoming debut album, Murmuration, it’s a beautifully-crafted tale capturing those longed for moments of happiness and quiet satisfaction. “I spent…

  • Video Premiere: John Blek – Death & His Daughter Fair

    March 12, 2020 - By 

    Cork singer-songwriter John Blek is a rare master of his craft. Whist and masterfully considered, he plays a brand of contempoary folk that can snare a listener with the slightest chord change or incisive turn-of-phrase. Take new single, the quietly mesmeric ‘Death & His Daughter’. A delicate folk dance accompanied by easily one of our favourite videos of the year so far, it’s a feature-length meditation on loss and deliverance that encapsulates motifs right at the heart of Blek’s recently-released fifth solo album, The Embers. Catch Blek at the following shows this weekend, and have a first look at the video for ‘Death & His…

  • Killing Joke Set For Dublin Return

    March 11, 2020 - By 

    Killing Joke are set to make their Dublin return. Having delivered a resounding set at the Academy last August, the Jaz Coleman-fronted band will return to the city to play the Button Factory on Friday, June 12th. Support comes from Paranoid Visions. Tickets cost €32.00 and go on sale on Friday, March 13th at 10am. Killing Joke first played Dublin back in 1983 and have stopped off in the city every decade since.

  • Video Premiere: Buí – A Conversation About Punk

    March 11, 2020 - By 

    It’s no bad thing that the indie scene across the island is saturated. If anything, it’s a total boon. That saturation – that heady wealth of artists and collaborative energy – invariably gives rise to scenes and communities that would’ve otherwise lay dormant or just out of reach, fated not to be. Take one look across the country and it’s clear that the scene – cross-country show swaps, co-pros, split releases etc. – is more tight-knit and fertile than ever. One band that both embodies that ethos and manages to cut through the noise to make their own noise heard is Belfast’s Buí.…

  • Electric Picnic 2020 Line-Up Revealed

    March 11, 2020 - By 

    The line-up for this year’s Electric Picnic has been announced. Coming amidst news of various cancellations regarding the global onset of coronavirus, organisers of the annual festival at Stradbally Estate in Co. Laois have have revealed that the Chemical Brothers, Run The Jewels (pictured) and Bicep are among the acts joining already-announced headliners Rage Against the Machine across 4-6th September. With more to be announced, Irish acts including Rejjie Snow, Just Mustard, Saint Sister and Aoife Nessa Francis will also make an appearance. Check out the current full line-up below. This year’s festival is already sold out.

  • Alternating Current Festival Postponed

    March 11, 2020 - By 

    Alternating Current is the latest Irish festival to be postponed due to concerns relating to the global spread of coronavirus. Following on from news that Vantastival will now take place later in the year – and with the likes of SXSW, Coachella and national St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at home being postponed or cancelled – it’s been revealed that the inaugural three-day celebration of Ireland’s musical underground won’t go ahead at Dublin’s Sound House this weekend as planned. Posting on Twitter, Dublin Digital Radio (who along with Enthusiastic Eunuch are behind the event) said: “We’ve thought, debated and agonised over…