• Rave New World (23/1)

    In the latest installment of Rave New World, the equally, exceedingly tasteful Antoin Lindsay and Aidan Hanratty delve into very best new electronic tracks and mixes of the week, as well as various unmissable upcoming nights and releases. Gigs Hydraulics at The Menagerie, Belfast Friday, January 24 Belfast’s best kept secret returns to The Menagerie tonight with residents Bloom, Jamie Nelson and Jamie Nevin providing the soundtrack. If you head down you’ll be treated to grime, garage and future sounds which is always relentlessly fun. Nobody else in the city is doing anything even remotely similar so treat yourself to this one. AL…

  • 15 For ’15: Goldie Fawn

    Over the last three weeks we have been revealing a handpicked selection of Irish acts we’re certain are set to do incredible things in 2015 and beyond. Today, we conclude that feature – 15 For ’15 – with a rejuvenated Belfast-based songstress: Katie Richardson AKA Goldie Fawn. Words by Brian Coney. Photo by Joe Laverty. Having well and truly cut her teeth as the leading lady of kaleidoscopic, tale-telling troupe Katie and the Carnival, Belfast-based singer-songwriter Katie Richardson has recently very convincingly metamorphosed and re-established herself as Goldie Fawn. Retaining the swooning, enchanting quality that made her previous incarnation so potent,…

  • 15 For ’15: Edward F Butler

    Thirteen varyingly exceptional acts down, the penultimate Irish artist in our 15 For ’15 feature is Edward F Butler. Currently based in Belfast, Butler is a wonderfully forward-thinking musician who we reckon is set for very special things over the coming months. Words by Aaron Drain. Photo by Alan Maguire. Multi-talented music man Edward F Butler has had a fairly tremendous run of things so far. Not only has he had a foothold in the cinematic arts, having directed videos for Oh Volcano, as well as the video for his own debut single, 2014’s ‘Running From Fears’, ehas seen his music reach…

  • 15 For ’15: Dear Desert

    With two acts left to go, Dublin trio Dear Desert are next up in our 15 For ’15 feature, looking at fifteen Irish acts we’ve extremely high hopes for in 2015 and beyond. Make sure to check out the January/February issue of our magazine to read the whole feature in full-blown technicolour physicality. Words by David Turpin. Photo by Loreana Rushe. Dear Desert’s debut single ‘Give It Up’, released last June, intrigued with an alluring combination of suave melody and lo-fi production. The Dublin-based three-piece – made up of Richie Fenton, James O’Donnell and Brendan Miller – followed the track…

  • Monday Mixtape: Ciaran Lavery

    Tipped by many – including yours truly – to do incredible things in 2015, Aghagallon singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery selects and talks about ten of his all-time favourite songs for this week’s Monday Mixtape. Missed last week’s with And So I Watch You From Afar guitarist/A Bad Cavalier main man Niall Kennedy? Check that out here. “I had a lot of fun compiling this list.  Growing up I was a huge hip-hop enthusiast, which isn’t easy for a scrawny ginger kid from the country. Aghagallon was never a hot bed of gangsterism (that’s a word, right?) but I’ve been drawn to and always have…

  • 15 For ’15: God Knows + mynameisjOhn

    Having already featured Alana Henderson, Elastic Sleep, Oh Boland, Sissy, Axis Of, Boyfights, Princess, New Gods, Robocobra Quartet and Night Trap, the next Irish act in our 15 For ’15 feature is God Knows + mynameisjOhn. Make sure to check this and all the rest of the featured acts out in the physical version of our January/February magazine, out soon. Words by Dean Van Nguyen. Photo by Colm Moore. Eric B and Rakim, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg; the history of hip-hop is loaded with producer and rapper collaborations that have seen both artists elevate the other in the same way great actor-director team ups punctuate the history of…

  • Rave New World (16/1)

    In the first installment of Rave New World of 2015, Antoin Lindsay and Aidan Hanratty delve into very best new electronic tracks and mixes of the week, as well as various unmissable upcoming nights and releases. Gigs Mr. Scruff at Black Box, Belfast Saturday, January 17 Mancunian Mr. Scruff has been DJing for over 20 years and has since built up a pretty formidable reputation for his lengthy sets of jazz, trip-hop and house. He also has his own range of tea. It’ll certainly be fun but if you fancy it you’ll have to make an effort to get a…

  • 15 For ’15: Night Trap

    Having already featured Alana Henderson, Elastic Sleep, Oh Boland, Sissy, Axis Of, Boyfights, Princess, New Gods and Robocobra Quartet, the next Irish act in our 15 For ’15 feature is Dublin synth-pop duo Night Trap. Make sure to check this and all the rest of the featured acts out in the physical version of our January/February magazine, out soon! Words by Aaron Drain. Photo by Loreana Rushe. Dublin synth-pop duo Night Trap (Ciaran Smith and Jill Daly) are very much doing things their own way. Eschewing the kind of mainstream/house crossover guff that has seen far too many acts regrettably become…

  • 15 For ’15: Robocobra Quartet

    Set to feature in physical form in our forthcoming January/February magazine, we continue our 15 For ’15 feature today with Belfast band Robocobra Quartet. Playing both our forthcoming Independent Venue Week and Girl Band shows, the Chris Ryan-fronted foursome are easily one of the country’s most forward-thinking and exciting acts of a generation. Check out our live session with Robocobra Quartet here. Words by Laura Carland, photo by Colm Laverty. The unique spectacle offered by the Belfast based four-piece is energetic, menacing, fast and loose. With influences as varied as 90s era hip hop, ska, jazz, DC Hardcore, rap and…

  • Gigs of the Week: Young Fathers, Mark Lanegan, Come On Live Long & Sleep Thieves

    OK, so we’re all broke. Big deal. Put that desire to eat to one side for another week in favour of hitting up one of the following. Trust us: you will not be disappointed – just very, very hungry, and possibly dangerously ill. You’re welcome. Out To Lunch: Young Fathers Black Box, Belfast Friday, January 16 An absolute credit to the ever-tasteful foresight of the organisers of the annual Belfast festival, 2014 Mercury Prize winning Edinburgh trio Young Fathers will play this year’s Out To Lunch festival on Friday night. “Where, like? The street?” you ask. Not at all: the Black Box.…