• Block T Christmas Party: Squarehead, Bantum, Bad Santa Screening, Live Visuals & more

    December 5, 2014 - By 

    The Sugar Club hosts the Block T Christmas Party on December 13 which looks to be an attack on the senses. On the night, they combine visuals and audio, with a screening of Billy Bob Thornton black comedy Bad Santa, performances from Dublin lo-fi garage pop Squarehead, Irish DJ/producer Ruairi Lynch aka Bantum – accompanied by a live visual mapping show from Slipdraft –  some Block T DJ’s and a night-closing DJ set from Donal Dineen of 2fm. The plethora of activities doesn’t stop there though, folks, as video intervals come from Darklight, there’s a Print Your Own Christmas T-shirt workshop by Damn Fine Pint. Tickets are available from the Sugar Club for €12, or €10…

  • Premiere: Gross Net – Gross Net EP

    November 27, 2014 - By 

    Recently-arrived post-punk/neue Deutsche welle-influenced duo Gross Net – comprised of Girls Names‘ Philip Quinn and Autumns‘ Christian Donaghey, completed by programmed drums – have announced a brooding, excellent new three-track self-titled EP in the form of a cassette, recorded by the band themselves over the course of a day. The EP is out on Sligo label Art For Blind, who have accommodated releases from The Altered Hours, Hands Up Who Wants To Die, Perfect Pussy and more. The limited edition coral red cassette is available to pre-order for just £3.50, with a free download code – or simply only £2 digitally – from the Gross Net Bandcamp. You can…

  • Watch: Elastic Sleep – Slip

    November 25, 2014 - By 

    Cork dream-pop quintet Elastic Sleep have just unveiled the video for new single, ‘Slip’, following their debut EP, Leave You, which came out in April; and with fellow shoegazers The Altered Hours also hailing from the county, it seems to be fast-becoming a minor hotbed for all things psychedelic. ‘Slip’ – released through Big Tea Records as the second of their Winter Trio of singles – is available now from iTunes and Bandcamp for just £1. Watch the video below:

  • Listen: Speed of Snakes – Speed of Snakes

    November 25, 2014 - By 

    Not content to be in only one of the best bands in Ireland, Dublin-based electronic duo Speed of Snakes – comprising of Vinny from the now-deceased (still-warm) Adebisi Shank and Rupert from BATS – have unveiled an eponymous new track from their upcoming debut album of the same name. Having long been collaborating, with signs of a more extensive live & recorded output in 2015, their last release was hypnotic groover ‘Backbone of Night‘. Check out ‘Speed of Snakes’:

  • Watch: Axis Of – Wetsuit

    November 25, 2014 - By 

    North coast erstwhile punk trio Axis Of have unveiled the video for ‘Wetsuit’ – the first single off their second album, The Mid Brae Inn – which sees them take off in a decidedly more indie, pop-rock direction, a huge departure from the band’s early brand of frantic hardcore; although, in saying that, they’ve been known to have an ear for a hook since the sludge-pop of ‘Lifehammer‘ from their debut LP, 2012’s Finding St. Kilda. The Mid Brae Inn gets its launch through Smalltown America on New Year’s Eve at Belfast’s Empire Music Hall, with ‘Wetsuit’ available from November 26 from Independent Music, with the b-side being…

  • Smart Casual Vol. 1: Come Down With Me

    November 13, 2014 - By 

    The Pavilion hosts a unique, new – to Belfast – night, tentatively titled Smart Casual – almost certainly a reference to this – in its middle bar on November 23. The night takes its cues from other clubs, with the likes of Body & Soul, Optimo, and the aim is to create something of a chillfest, with an eclectic but dubby/spacey atmosphere, which will progress to a conclusion of straight-up house and techno. The laid-back night is open deck, meaning anyone with the skills and the means is encouraged to bring their own wax and spin to their heart’s content. Admission is completely free and the event kicks…

  • Axis Of – The Mid Brae Inn

    November 12, 2014 - By 

    Punk-cum-pop trio Axis Of release the their second album, The Mid Brae Inn, on New Year’s Eve through Smalltown America. The three – comprising Ewen Friers, Niall Lawler & Ethan Harman – launched their debut album Finding St. Kilda in the same venue over two years ago, an altogether more punk affair. ‘Wetsuit’ – the first track to get airplay from The Mid Brae Inn – hints at a much more indie-pop direction for the band who were out-and-out hardcore no more than five years ago. Time will tell whether or not it’s a complete revamp for the outfit, but it’ll be interesting to see how…

  • Conor Scott – Watch Me Go

    November 12, 2014 - By 

    Singer-songwriter and oft-spotted Belfast busker Conor Scott releases his debut three-track EP Watch Me Go on November 17. The as-yet-unsigned musician’s EP will be available from iTunes and Amazon. He’s gained a lot of steam following his performance on BBC vocal-based talent show, The Voice – a reality show at least based on some discernible talent – and his songs have taken him on tour across the UK, performing in venues like Liverpool’s Cavern Club. The official launch takes place at Aether & Echo on November 18, and support comes from the impressive selection of local acts in experimental folk artist Joshua Burnside, folk-pop act New Ancestors and…

  • Meb Jon Sol – Southpaw Niños

    October 14, 2014 - By 

    Belfast-based folk singer-songwriter Michael McCullagh AKA Meb Jon Sol has been on something of a far-reaching musical expedition since his Colenso Parade days. A far cry musically from the starry-eyed indie pop of the latter – now defunct – Omagh five-piece, McCullagh’s debut solo album bears the lyrical and thematic imprint of wisdom and experience throughout, each track underpinned by the inner workings of wanderlust or quixotic wondering. Preceded by “yeo!”-generating singles ‘Leave All Your Troubles With Me‘ and ‘Captain of this Ship‘, Southpaw Niños strikes a keen balance between self-reflection and knowingly cavalier abandon, McCullagh’s quasi-mystical, eager tales of the open road and distant…

  • White Male Actors – Ghosts EP

    October 14, 2014 - By 

    Strabane alternative/indie-pop trio White Male Actors release their long-awaited debut EP, Ghosts, through Broken Melody Records on October 20. The band started well when they sent their single ’31 Years’ to the R.E.M. offices in April of 2013 in tribute to their breakup, catching the attention of erstwhile drummer Bill Berry, and now they release their anthemic brand of guitar-led indie-pop to the world, launching it with a Hidden Machine show at Voodoo on October 30. The EP was recorded and mixed in Staffordshire’s Burntwood Studios, as well as in Derry’s Blast Furnace and the one track released so far, ‘Mysteries and…