• Christy Dignam Has Died

    June 13, 2023 - By 

    Christy Dignam has died following a prolonged battle with illness. He was 63. According to the family of the legendary frontman of trailblazing Irish band Aslan, Dignam passed away at home this afternoon (13th June.) On Facebook, Dignam’s daughter Kiera posted a statement, stating that the much-loved Dublin singer and musician died  “peacefully” after a “courageously long-fought battle, surrounded by his family”. The statement read: “On behalf of my family, it is with a broken heart that we convey the news of my father’s passing, Christy Dignam. Dad peacefully left us where he wanted to, at home today 4pm Tuesday,…

  • Maija Sofia Announces Second Album and Irish Dates, Releases ‘Four Winters’

    June 13, 2023 - By 

    It feels like a small lifetime ago Galway artist Maija Sofia released her Choice Prize-nominated debut album Bath Time. As Dominic Edge precisely put it in his TTA review at the time: “It’s incredible that such diligence and exquisite craft arrive on a debut, and it’s a fact you have to constantly remind yourself throughout Bath Time. Timeless, poignant and evocative, this is an incredible breakthrough moment.” Fast-forward to mid-2023 and Maija has, blessedly, lifted the veil on its long-awaited follow-up. Set for release via TULLE Collective on 1st September, the ten-track True Love features, beyond Maija herself, some familiar names, including Chris Barry and Solamh…

  • PJ Harvey Set For Dublin Return

    June 7, 2023 - By 

    PJ Harvey is set to make her long-awaited return to Dublin. On 22nd and 23rd of September, the English artist will play two shows at 3Olympia Theatre. It marks Harvey’s first headliner in the city since 2007, which also took place at the Olympia, having previously performed there in 2004, 1998 and 1995. Tickets for the shows are priced from €70  and go on sale next Friday, 16th June at 10am. Accompanying the news is the release of ‘I Inside The Old I Dying,’ the latest track to be taken from Harvey’s upcoming tenth studio album of the same name.…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 26th May

    May 26, 2023 - By 

    From every corner of the island, here’s the very best new music of the week, from Super Extra Bonus Party, Caoilian Sherlock, Lucy Gaffney and more Super Extra Bonus Party – The Corpse Caoilian Sherlock – Teenage Jesus Teenage Jesus Album by Caoilian Sherlock Lucy Gaffney – Daydream in Tokyo Feather Beds – Saviour Saviour by Feather Beds HAVVK – Daylight Robbery A.S. Fanning – Mushroom Cloud Sasha Samara – Why Am I Still Here, I Never Learn EP Oba – Sequence EP Touch Excellent – Record

  • Festival Preview: Beyond The Pale 2023

    May 24, 2023 - By 

    As expertly-curated boutique music festivals go, Beyond the Pale takes some beating. Returning for three days of top-tier sounds, art and food at Glendalough Estate in Co. Wicklow across 16th-18th June, the festival is well and truly doubling down on last year’s stellar first outing. Better said, it’s this year’s most unmissable Irish summer festival. First, and of course foremost, Beyond The Pale sets itself apart with its first-rate musical curation. Where last year more than delivered on a wonderfully diverse, genre-spanning bill, this year’s edition comfortably inhabits a space that can’t be rivalled on these shores. As well as era-crossing, genre-distilling world-beaters in the form of this…

  • Richard Dawson at Empire Music Hall

    May 23, 2023 - By 

    Alright, here’s the craic: Richard Dawson isn’t just in a league of his own when it comes to trend-flattening experimental folk: he is easily one of the greatest living musical artists. He first confirmed that fact with the release of Nothing Important back in 2014, and to the contrary, it felt very important; seismic even. On that album and follow-ups Peasant and 2020, the Newcastle artist took the imprint of everything from Kenyan folk traditions and Captain Beefheart, to Sun Ra and Sufi devotional music to fathom a careening, unfuckwithable folk genius all his own. See also: last year’s sprawling opus The Ruby Cord. During that time, Dawson had few more…

  • Autechre Set For Dublin Return

    May 22, 2023 - By 

    Autechre have announced their first Dublin show in half a decade. The English electronic innovators, comprised of Rob Brown and Sean Booth, will play Vicar Street on 29th October. Presented by Foggy Notions in association with u:mack, the show comes five years after the duo play the National Concert Hall. Tickets for the show cost €40.00 and go on sale this Friday, 26th May at 10am.

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 19th May

    May 19, 2023 - By 

    It’s been another stacked seven days on the new Irish music front. Here’s the best tracks and releases of the week, from Elaine Howley, Roger Doyle, Shiv, Swimmers Jackson & more Elaine Howley – Live As I Saw It Roger Doyle – Skin Care Swimmers Jackson – Borrow Sorrow Shiv – Heavy Water Anna’s Anchor – Hotel Dom Pancho Anderson Nightmare – Sleep Exhalers – Meat Clown MEAT CLOWN by Exhalers Drew Makes Noise – Hey Christian Cohle – Wetlands WETLANDS by Christian Cohle Stik Figa & The Expert – The Green Monster Stephen Shannon – Fathoms Sasha Samara –…

  • Omni Selassi Weekender at Anseo

    May 19, 2023 - By 

    This weekend, Dublin’s soundest independent imprint and promoters Little Gem host the debut Irish shows by Swiss trio Omni Selassi. Taking over Anseo on Camden Street from Saturday 20th to Monday 22nd May, expect three evenings of top-tier experimental sounds including Little Gem Band on Saturday, Neitherman on Sunday and Feral Kittenz on Monday — plus special guests. Very accurately described by Little Gem “as Björk meets Beefheart on a NEU! trip,” delve into Omni Selassi’s catalog here and pop by Anseo this weekend. Doors are at 8pm each evening with a suggested donation of €10. What We Talk About: Omni Selassi by…

  • Track Record: Elaine Malone

    May 11, 2023 - By 

    From Nico and Elliott Smith, to Suicide and Scott Walker, Cork-based psych-folk artist Elaine Malone, aka Mantua, selects ten records that have left an indelible imprint on her music and life Photo by Celeste Burdon Nothing is Real by Elaine Malone is out now via Pizza Pizza Records Nothing is Real by Elaine Malone Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood – Nancy and Lee The triumphant unity of Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra – finding mutual success in each other’s waning stars. Nancy was told by Lee to discard her saccharine pop persona and to “sing like a 14-year-old girl who…