• Monday Mixtape: Martin Carr (The Boo Radleys/bravecaptain)

    May 16, 2016 - By 

    In the latest installment of Monday Mixtape, Martin Carr of 90’s alt rockers The Boo Radleys and his solo output as bravecaptain selects some of his favourite and most inspirational tracks from James Yorkston to King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard. Being a musician I don’t get time to listen to as much music as I would like but this is a snapshot of what I’ve played recently. I thought I might have grown out of this by now but even if all new music was outlawed this instant there would be still be enough to discover until the end of all days.…

  • Picture This: Your National Visual Arts Guide – Collaboration and Identity

    May 13, 2016 - By 

    A multitude of practices across a wide-range of disciplines are featured in this edition of Picture This – and in some cases this diversity can be found in a single show. A general thematic arc of Collaboration and Identity exists within the four shows highlighted in Dublin, Cork, Belfast and Laois. Collaboration, be they between artists, spaces and mediums, is present in all shows and forms the core of These Days are Persistent and Changeable (Belfast) and You Make Mine/I Make Yours (Cork) both of which feature works by groups rather than individual artists. Steven Maybury’s Anicca (Dublin) is built…

  • Rave New World (13/05)

    May 13, 2016 - By 

    Aidan Hanratty and Antoin Lindsay return with the best electronic gigs, tracks, releases and mixes of the week. Gigs Pyg & Discotekken present Hunee at Pygmalion, Dublin Friday 13 May 2016 Amsterdam-based Hunee played here not so long ago, but his sets are simply joyous so it’s always worth catching him play. As I type this the weather is simply glorious, so I imagine his choice of tunes will match that vibe perfectly. AH Matrixxman at Opium Rooms, Dublin Saturday 14 May 2016 Matrixxman, who’s released records on such labels as Ghostly, Dekmantel and Unknown To The Unknown, recently tweeted the following: 2…

  • Introducing The All-New Co-Present

    May 12, 2016 - By 

    Having just released the first video in their new cross-country series Spotlight On, The Co-Present are set to underline their reputation as an impassioned, fully independent pillar of Irish music. After some re-branding and time off, presenter/producer Dwayne Woods and sound technician/show co-founder Gav Hennessy have evolved the project from a rather wonderful Dublin-based online radio station on Radiomade.ie to something that hopes to focus on the very best musicians and music venues in every corner of the country. We caught up with Woods to discuss the all new Co-Present’s very exciting future. Hey Dwayne. So, what’s different about the all-new Co-Present and what do you hope…

  • Rave New World (06/05)

    May 6, 2016 - By 

    Aidan Hanratty and Antoin Lindsay return with the best electronic gigs, tracks, releases and mixes of the week. Gigs Hidden Agenda & Sense: Tom Trago & William Kouam Djoko at Button Factory, Dublin Saturday 7 May 2016 Dutch maestros Tom Trago and William Kouam Djoko come to Dublin for a night of slinky melodic techno. AH Sunday Shivers with Wino Wagon at Electric Garden & Theatre, Galway Sunday 8 May 2016 Shivers is kicking off the Sunday arm of its parties, and thus the Wino Wagon rolls into town — that’s DJ Isle O’ Man and DJ Dark Delight, who featured on that Future…

  • Rave New World (29/04)

    April 29, 2016 - By 

    Aidan Hanratty and Antoin Lindsay return with the best electronic gigs, tracks and mixes of the week. Gigs Galway May Bank Holiday DUB Weekender Friday 29 April It’s a bit of a heavy lineup in Galway tonight, headed by Digital Mystikz man Mala. His second album, Mirrors, is due soon, inspired by his travels in Peru, and now is as good a time as any (well, save maybe 2005) to catch this legend play. Irish talent Don Rosco, Bob from Standard Crew, Jonezy and Welfare are on support. AH Discotekken & Membership present: Asquith, Ethyl & Flori at Bar Tengu, Dublin…

  • Classic Album: Ash – 1977 (1996)

    April 27, 2016 - By 

    For a moment, it seemed like anything could happen. Three teenagers from Downpatrick are staring blankly from the pages of Smash Hits magazine, fresh from appearing on Top of the Pops. And in 1996, this kind of thing just didn’t happen. Ash were breaking rules left right and centre, and it seemed like they could only go higher. As Oasis and Blur duelled it out with each other in the charts, the Little Band from Northern Ireland that Could seemed hell bent on one thing: destruction. I was 15 when 1977 came out, and it still seems as fresh now…

  • Rave New World (15/04)

    April 15, 2016 - By 

    Aidan Hanratty gives you the week’s best gigs, tracks, mixes and releases. Gigs Zehr Gut present Dana Ruh at Bar Tengu, Dublin Friday 15 April Homebeat, the guys behind Another Love Story and more, are kicking off a new event called Zehr Gut. In collaboration with Goethe-Institut Irland, its aim is to promote German musicianship and artistry in Ireland. First up in that regard is German DJ and producer Dana Ruh. She’s put out countless records in the past decade, and plays at home and away pretty much constantly. Expect a heady mix of house and techno. Bodytonic present: Neneh Cherry (DJ Set) at…

  • Rave New World (08/04)

    April 8, 2016 - By 

    Aidan Hanratty and Antoin Lindsay return with the best electronic gigs, tracks and mixes of the week. Gigs Melodic: Francois K + Donal Dineen / Melodic DJs at The Sugar Club, Dublin Friday 8 April 2016 Francois K is a legend, simply put. DJing since the 70s, he knows his stuff and has managed to keep with the times while maintaining his identity. Donal Dineen is a local legend too, so this is a wonderful opportunity to see two heavyweights in one night. Boom. AH Bastardo Electrico presents Prosumer at Cyprus Avenue, Cork Friday 8 April 2016 Prosumer is a regular enough visitor…

  • How Satire Explains The Rise of Trump

    April 6, 2016 - By 

    “Let’s Drop The Big One And See What Happens” On November 8th 2016, the United States of America will elect a new president, and at the moment, in the eyes of many commentators, it’s a three horse race as to who that individual will be. On one side, the liberalism of Bernie Sanders is vying for prominence with the pragmatism of Hillary Clinton, and on the other side stands the man no-one would have expected, the irascible Donald Trump. The eyes of the world will be upon the US, and it’s difficult not to feel history is being made, for…