Our very first Irish Tracks of the Week of 2024 is a strong one. Delve into our favourite new Irish tracks and albums of the week, featuring Lucy Gaffney, Stray Planets featuring Gilla Band’s Dara Kiely, Sprints, NewDad, HAVVK and more Lucy Gaffney – Locked Up Never Fade Stray Planets – Glowing Rectangles Sprints – Letter To Self Letter To Self by SPRINTS NewDad – White Ribbons HAVVK – You Say You Won’t Ailsha – Go Tobann Honas – Cash Machine Def Nettle – Four Years
Ahead of what’s set to be a busy few months for the fast-rising five-piece, including the release of new single ‘Honey,’ we catch up with Belfast alternative indie/alternative band Casual Riots Hi guys. Take us right back to the start. How and when did Casual Riots first become a reality, and what bonded you as five musicians? It all started with a few friends who met in school and who shared a commonality, love and interest in writing music and making a racket together. Around April time 2021, we decided it was time to rebrand ourselves. This is because we…
Naoise Roo has announced her last-ever headline show. Having spent the last few years underscoring her status as one of the island’s most distinctive songwriting voices, the Dublin artist has revealed that the launch of her latest album – and one of 2023’s very best – Emotionally Magnificent will be her last-ever headliner. Taking place at the Workman’s Club in Dublin on Friday, 2nd February, the performance is set to be an emotional, yet uniquely celebratory curtain call from a singular talent who has made clear her wishes to explore other avenues in her broader creative life. In an Instagram…
As they head into 2024, Belfast’s Turner-prize winning art group Array Collective throw some light on how collaboration, humility and converging passions work for them How does Array work? Whenever we are asked to talk to students or audiences, the questions we are asked most often are along the lines of, “How do 11 artists make one artwork? What does it mean to be a collective?”. It seems mind-boggling to many people that there is no one in charge (us too sometimes, to be fair). During a press interview not so long ago, a journalist wondered, “How can anyone make…
When we signed off our top releases of 2022 this time last year with “Your move, 2023,” we honestly couldn’t fathom what was to come. With Elaine Howley, Gilla Band, Aoife Nessa Frances and One Eye One Leg among countless heavy hitters in a truly banner twelve months, there was a sense that, for all our limitless belief in what sets us apart as an island, we had hit a bit of a peak – one to be equalled, at best, in the coming twelve months. Blessedly, how wrong we were. Lifting our collective jaw off the floor to compile…
Acid Mothers Temple are coming back to Ireland. The Japanese psych-rock legends, who have been fully expanding minds since 1995, will play Workman’s Club in Dublin on Sunday, 12th May and Belfast’s Ulster Sports Club on Tuesday, 14th May. Supports are TBA Tickets are priced €22.00 and £16.50 are on sale now.
As we swiftly approach our end-of-year round-up of the best Irish releases of the year, delve into our pick of the best singles and albums of the last week, featuring Yinyang, Stefan Murphy, Villagers & Lisa Hannigan, Connor McCann and more Stefan Murphy – Hospital Verses Hospital Verses by Stefan Murphy Villagers & Lisa Hannigan – The Little Drummer Boy Connor McCann – These Fires Yinyang – Kill Jester Bitch Falcon – Staring at Clocks (Remixes) Preference w/ Plus One Remix – Pinch Molly O’Mahony – Quietly T.A. Narrative – Loves Hold Retro Futurism by T.A. Narrative Hotgirl –…
The Jesus and Mary Chain have announced their return to Ireland. Led by brothers Jim and William Reid, the Scottish noise pop legends will play Dublin’s Olympia Theatre on 25th and Limelight 1 in Belfast on 26th March. As well as marking the 40th anniversary of their formation, the shows will coincide with the release of their eighth studio album, Glasgow Eyes, which is out on March 8th 2024. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10am. The Mary Chain last played Ireland back in 2017. Revisit Justin McDaid’s review of their Vicar Street show here. Photo by Mel Butler
Another blistering show from Kojaque, live at the Limelight in Belfast. Photos by Jane Donnelly
Louisiana singer-songwriter Odie Leigh with support from Sammy Copley at the Academy in Dublin. Photos by Monika Ruman