• Rave New World w/ Timmy Stewart Mix

    September 4, 2015 - By 

    In what’s probably long overdue, we’re proud to introduce the Rave New World mix series. We’ll be hosting mixes from some of our favourite DJs and artists from the island of Ireland. First up we have a legend around Belfast, Timmy Stewart. Timmy’s been DJing around Belfast for ages and his knowledge of house, techno, disco, the lot, is unmatched in the city. He’s been the in-house booker for Shine and Stiff Kitten as well as taking up monthly residencies in Yello, Love & Death, Aether & Echo and The Hudson as well as co-running the Extended Play imprint. To…

  • Playlist: 30 Unmissable Acts at Electric Picnic 2015

    September 3, 2015 - By 

    Befitting tradition, this year’s Electric Picnic is set to be another weekend-long congregation of some of the very best sights and sounds. From the Little Big Tent and Rankins Wood to Electric Arena and the Body & Soul stages, every corner will reveal a cornucopia of the beautiful and brash, restrained and rapturous, up-and-coming and positively established. Having ran our eye over this year’s line-up a few times, we reckon the following thirty acts are worthy of the collective title “unmissable”.  Have a listen and make sure to check them all out if you’re lucky enough to be gracing Stradbally Estate this…

  • Sounds from a Safe Harbour: Five to Watch

    September 2, 2015 - By 

    While Sounds from a Safe Harbour brings many high-profile and international acts to Cork City as part of a wide-ranging ticket, the real gems of the festival lie in the presence on the bill of some of the city and country’s independent bands and artists, once again mostly placed on a “music trail” as a secondary attraction (see also: MTV “hitting” Cork). Never fear, though: TTA’s got you covered with a look of some of the ones to watch. All events listed here are free. Rusangano Family: Friday 18 September @ The Bodega Formerly known by their individual names of…

  • Playlist: Hooked On Classics

    September 1, 2015 - By 

    The death of James Last earlier this year highlighted the often strange relationship between “pop” and “serious” music, Diarmuid Kennedy writes. Last’s weird function seems to have been to take easily digestible popular music and make it even blander – the musical equivalent of a chip milkshake.  Mercifully there are other approaches. David Lang’s version of the Velvet Underground’s ‘Heroin’ makes it an even darker, more haunting song.   The Alarm Will Sound ensemble has knocked out a complete album of Aphex Twin arrangements.   The percussionist Joby Burgess’ Powerplant project has taken on some of Kraftwerk’s canon for their…

  • Rave New World (28/8)

    August 28, 2015 - By 

    Antoin Lindsay and Aidan Hanratty deliver their their weekly look at the very best electronic gigs, tracks, releases and mixes. GIGS Twitch Present: Anthony Naples and Pariah at The Bunatee, Belfast Saturday 29 August Two brilliant producers and DJs in their own right, Twitch bring together Pariah and Anthony Naples for what should be a cracker. Last time I seen either of them in Belfast they went down absolute treats with the crowd, so expect this one to be no different.  AL Beat BBQ present: Lil Louis at Aether & Echo, Belfast Sunday 30 August A bank holiday means only…

  • Premiere: Music For Dead Birds – English Weed/What a Waste

    August 24, 2015 - By 

    Ahead of the unveiled of an EP for September, we’re pleased to premiere a pre-release double-single of sorts from Galway/Mayo duo Music For Dead Birds. Brimming with the band’s distinctive brand of lo-fi indie “anti-folk”, ‘English Weed/What a Waste’ clocks in at just under seven minutes but still manages to pack an emphatic punch. Seemingly operating outside of any strong semblance of a scene in Connacht, Jimmy Monaghan and Dónal Walsh continue to embody the outsider spirit that they drove home on the likes of 2009’s And Then It Rained For Seven Days, the sublime The Pope’s Sister and their album, Vitamins,…

  • Rave New World (21/8)

    August 21, 2015 - By 

    Aidan Hanratty and Antoin Lindsay return for this week’s Rave New World, your indispensable, Friday-afternoon guide to all the very best electronic gigs, tracks, releases and mixes. GIGS Scavenger €5 Party Feat. ‘Looking for the Perfect Beat’ Screening at The Wiley Fox Saturday, 22 August New night Scavenger has had some impressive guests lately, but this weekend they’re throwing a wallet-friendly €5 party in The Wiley Fox, where you can get to grips with the night’s MO. They’re also screening LA beat scene documentary Looking for the Perfect Beat, which focuses on one 24-hour period in LA and follows the likes…

  • The Record: Stonemasons

    August 20, 2015 - By 

    Featuring in studio photos by Liam Kielt, we chat to Belfast-based alt-rock trio Stonemasons about the writing, recording and release of their vehement new five-track EP, Lost Layers.  Hey guys. For complete newcomers, how did the Stonemasons come about and get off the ground? Pod (Kerr, bass/vocals): We all grew up around the same area of North Antrim. Blaney was playing guitar in a pop-punk called Breaking Even and McCann and myself were playing covers with a different drummer. We initially met through from beating lumps out of each other on a hurling pitch until a hazy 18th birthday party where we got chatting about…

  • This Morning is a Dream to Me: The Return of Giveamanakick

    August 19, 2015 - By 

    Rare are the musical reunions that can fill a person’s heart up. Evoke feelings of nostalgia? Yes. The warm and fuzzies are the basis of the major labels’ bottom line these days. Tie in with a time and place in a person’s life? Yes. Absolutely. But to truly unwrap those layers of cynicism and break a smile across the face from within? Deep within? Now, there’s a feat. Limerick two-piece Giveamanakick emerged in 2002 and immediately set about wrecking heads with debut long-player is it ok to be loud, jesus?, the maiden label voyage of the city’s flagship independent label,…

  • Rave New World (14/8)

    August 14, 2015 - By 

    Very much the man with the plan, Antoin Lindsay takes a look at the very best electronic gigs, tracks, releases and mixes of the week. GIGS Head Front Panel, Sunil Sharpe and Defekt at The Button Factory, Dublin Friday 14 August John Heckle has been releasing some brilliant techno as Head Front Panel recently, and you can catch him doing a live set down at The Button Factory tonight. He’ll be accompanied by the ever-present Sunil Sharpe (pictured) and another live set from Defekt. T’will be a heavy one. Twisted Pepper Closing Weekender, Dublin Friday 14 & Saturday 15 August In…