• Stream: Cruising – Cruising EP

    August 11, 2015 - By 

    One of our collective favourite Irish bands, post-punk supergroup Cruising – featuring current and former members of Girls Names, September Girls, Sea Pinks & Logikparty – have unveiled their eponymous debut EP. Released through Tough Love Records on August 14, the first 100 of the 300 12″ pressings have been printed on hot pink vinyl, available to pre-order here. The EP was recorded across two nights in Dublin’s Guerrilla Studios and mixed in Belfast’s Start Together, where much of the Cruising membership have previously recorded. Blending garage & psych riffery very much through the filter of early ’80s post-punk – à la Joy Division, Magazine…

  • Stream: Wavves x Cloud Nothings – No Life For Me

    June 29, 2015 - By 

    Two of the finest indie rock acts in the US have come together to release a surprise album that has been in the works over a year now. Conceived by Cloud Nothings vocalist, songwriter & guitarist Dylan Baldi and Wavves frontman Nathan Williams, their collaborative LP No Life For Me was recorded in a pair of sessions in March 2014 & June 2015 by Williams and his brother Joel. It’s out now on Williams’ label, Ghost Ramp. Stream the album below: Wavves x Cloud Nothings by Wavves X Cloud Nothings

  • An Áit Eile: That’s How It Starts

    June 8, 2015 - By 

    Saturday, June 13 hosts a showcase for Galway’s local arts, crafts and music at the Nuns Island Theatre, organised by the grassroots not-for-profit organisation, An Áit Eile, who wish to foster the creative community of the west of Ireland. Teaming up with see many of Galway’s local organisations like Access Music Project, Citóg Records, Jamaica Joe’s, there will also be a series of acoustic artists performing at the show,  including My Fellow Sponges, Rivers and Crows, Steven Sharpe, Dylan Murphy, Majestic Bears and Tracy Bruen, as well as an indoor marketplace from 1pm-6pm, featuring locally-produced arts, crafts and food. Performances will be accompanied by DJs Ray Wingnut, Stroller and Fuz.…

  • Stream: Sun Kil Moon – Universal Themes

    June 1, 2015 - By 

    Due for release tomorrow, just over 6 months since his last record, Mark Kozelek’s seventh album under the Sun Kil Moon pseudonym – Universal Themes – is now up for streaming on his official site just one day before its official release date. Continuing on where last year’s career-defining Benji left off, all the hallmarks of his raw, sardonic musings are instantly evident in the tracklisting: 1. ‘The Possum’ 2. ‘Birds of Flims’ 3. ‘With a Sort of Grace I Walked to the Bathroom to Cry’ 4. ‘Cry Me a River Williamsburg Sleeve Tattoo Blues’ 5. ‘Little Rascals’ 6. ‘Garden of Lavender’ 7. ‘Ali/Spinks 2’ 8. ‘This Is My…

  • Sounds From A Safe Harbour

    May 25, 2015 - By 

    Another brand-new festival has been added to Cork’s ever-expanding portfolio of annual events with the announcement of Sounds from a Safe Harbour, ‘a festival of music, art and conversation’ running September 17th until the 20th around the city. Curated by The National guitarist Bryce Dessner, it’s sure to be another strong Cork move, following the good buzz and recent pick-up in events and crowds that’s happened this year. The blurb: Sounds from a Safe Harbour is a brand new festival of music, art and conversation, curated by Bryce Dessner of The National. Two years since its inception by Bryce and Cork Opera…

  • DIY Dublin: Love Supreme

    April 1, 2015 - By 

    In the very first installment of DIY Dublin, a new regular feature looking at some of the city’s most intriguing small businesses, organisations and individuals, Stevie Lennox samples the wares of a Stoneybatter institution in the making. I popped in for a chat with Ken Flood, co-runner and proprietor of the wonderfully-monikered Love Supreme, a café that’s been operating for just eight months in Dublin’s recently-thriving Stoneybatter area. Besides its simple, eye-catching – without being intimidatingly extravagant – aesthetic, what was instantly striking was the selection of freshly-made sausage rolls and pies heating behind the counter, and a generous selection of…

  • Forbidden Fruit 2015

    March 25, 2015 - By 

    Probably the finest hip-hop and electronic-oriented festival bill we’ll see on the island this year, Forbidden Fruit returns to the Royal Hospital Kilmainham on the weekend from Friday, May 29 – Sunday, May 31. Some of the highlights announced thus far are: Friday – The hugely successful Fatboy Slim, the immensely talented The Wire & Luther actor Idris Elba, who’s been carving out a credible name for himself as an electronic & hip-hop artist between and during jobs, incredibly talented American-Chilean musician Nicolas Jaar & Disciples Saturday – seminal NYC hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, Jamie XX, Earl Sweatshirt, a three-hour set from Mr Scruff, Mount Kimbie, a DJ set from Groove Armada, Joey Bada$$, Tensnake, Ejeca, Damian Lazarus and the Booka Brass Band. Sunday…

  • Belfast Film Festival Presents: Spaced

    March 24, 2015 - By 

    Plan 9 Film Club, as part of the Belfast Film Festival, host a night at the Black Box on April 22 dedicated to cult UK sitcom Spaced. Running for two seasons from 1999-2001 on Channel 4, it was the big breakthrough for creative minds Simon Pegg, Jessica Stevenson & Edgar Wright, who, as we all know, have went on to write, direct and star in some of the finest comedies in recent years. It also gave early exposure to the likes of sitcom favourites Mark Heap, Nick Frost, Julia Deakin and NI comedian & actor Michael Smiley. Tickets are available from the Film Festival for £5. Doors open at 7pm, with…

  • The Thin Air Stage @ Sunflowerfest

    March 18, 2015 - By 

    We are extremely pleased to announce we’ll be curating the scenic Barn stage on Saturday, August 1 at this year’s rebranded Sunflowerfest. Expect further details from us shortly about the stage, which is set to feature an eclectic mix of some of our favourite bands – both established and hotly-tipped – from across the entirety of the island; some of whom will be making their first Northern appearance. Sunflowerfest runs at Tubby’s Farm in Hillsborough – 20 miles from Belfast – during the weekend of Friday, July 31 until Sunday, August 2. With the line-up for our stage TBA, this year’s festival promises the likes of reggae/dub act Dreadzone, up-and-coming folk…

  • Watch: Documenta – Idle Hands

    March 9, 2015 - By 

    The video for ‘Idle Hands’, the first track from the new record by space-oriented drone pop outfit Documenta is now online. The rarely seen ensemble, led by singer, guitarist and songwriter Joe Greene, has already announced that there will only ever be three Documenta LPs, with only Drone Pop #2 having been given a full vinyl release so far. Their next album is to be called Drone Pop #1, and features songs – some of which are re-recorded – from the first CD-R the band released. The record should be available in July through new label Touch Sensitive Records. Watch the video for ‘Idle Hands’ below.