• Russian Circles w/ Val Normal @ Hangar, Dublin

    The Hangar, formerly Andrew’s Lane Theatre, is fast becoming the best place in Dublin for punk and metal gigs. Grimier, in all the right ways, than the Academy and much more spacious than Whelans, it’s a place that bands like Fucked Up and Titus Andronicus should be playing. So it makes sense that U:Mack, a thoroughly great group, would use the Hangar to host the Instrumental noise makers Russian Circles. The night kicks off with Dublin’s Val Normal, a math rock group. Val are very much a touring band. They’re the kind of group that you’d see on bills throughout…

  • Fleetwood Mac @ 3Arena, Dublin

    So I’m back / to the 3 arena / back to the band that I love… Ok, so I may be biased… no hang on, I AM biased because I believe Fleetwood Mac are the greatest living, breathing and touring band in existence. They’re a band who have never mired in talent, their songs are astronomically timeless with all present members accounted for and individually influential. It’s an absolute privilege to watch them perform together with a never-waning enthusiasm for songs you’d expect them to be tired of by now. Consider this: the band are all pushing 70. Stevie announced…

  • Irish Tour: Amanda Palmer

    One of the finest, most engaging performers around at the minute, Amanda Palmer AKA Amanda Fucking Palmer stopped off at Dublin’s Academy and Belfast’s Limelight 1 at the weekend. Photos by Isabel Thomas and Sara Marsden. The Academy, Dublin Photos by Isabel Thomas Limelight 1, Belfast Sara Marsden