• Label Mixtape #003: 4AD

    March 10, 2015 - By 

    A label based on aesthetic principles, 4AD has spent over 30 years being everything you think it is not. Initially founded by Ivo Watts Russell in 1980 as a vehicle to release music by bands at the centre of the nascent goth scene, the label quickly established a style and format that would lead to it becoming one of the most iconic record labels of the 80s.With records clad in immaculate Vaughn Oliver sleeves, the label originally specialised in floaty, gothic ambience, before encompassing world music, dance music, and – perhaps most significantly – the cutting edge of the US…

  • Rave New World (6/3)

    March 6, 2015 - By 

    Rave New World: Antoin Lindsay and Aidan Hanratty return with this week’s unarguably indispensable guide to the very best electronic/dance tracks, mixes, releases and gigs taking across the country this weekend. GIGS Gary’s Gang presents: DJ Fett Burger at The Sweeney Mongrel, Dublin Friday, March 6 Tonight sees the arrival of DJ Fett Burger in Dublin. Fett Burger’s the owner of the constantly fantastic Sex Tags Mania label from Norway alongside his brother DJ Sotofett (who I covered on here last week). It’d be foolish to tell you what to expect but it’ll probably have some balearic and disco in there with…

  • Army of We: International Women’s Day 2015

    March 6, 2015 - By 

    In March 2010 Oh Yeah put out a call for women in music to come together for a photo that would be included in the NI Music Exhibition. The photo (above) was launched on International Women’s Day (IWD) and was inspired by an earlier more spontaneous image (below), which captured a group of promising young acts that were around at the time. For some reason there were no women in that earlier picture, it wasn’t intentional, but it did get us thinking about the gender gap in music. Since then we have marked IWD annually by showcasing or celebrating great…

  • From Book to Band: A World Book Day Playlist

    March 5, 2015 - By 

    “There is no friend as loyal as a book.” The astute words of Ernest Hemingway – and there’s a fair chance he wasn’t wrong. To coincide with this year’s World Book Day, we’ve set aside our latest read – Murakami’s South of the Border, West of the Sun, if you must know – to compile a ten-track playlist featured artists named after novels, including The Fall, Pylon, Soft Machine, The Blue Nile and The Art of Noise. Delve in to the literarily-leaning sonic wielders so.

  • Front of House: PSI

    March 5, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Front of House, our photographer Sara Marsden popped along to Belfast’s Ulster Hall to capture Sean Pagel, Joe Byrne and Davy McCready from Ireland’s premier lighting company, PSI. Offering a wonderful insight into the industry, Pagel touches on the technical and creative sides of lighting, providing the lighting for the likes of Riverdance, Philip Glass and Live at the Marquee, as well as some personal insight into the peaks and (seemingly very rare) low points of the job. Hi Sean. First off, can you tell us how you first got into the lighting business? When I left school…

  • Monday Mixtape: September Girls

    March 2, 2015 - By 

    Following on the heels of Pavement’s Bob Nastanovich, ASIWYFA’s Niall Kennedy, Quasi’s Sam Coomes, Ciaran Lavery and Girls Names’ Claire Miskimmin, Dublin noise-pop five-piece September Girls are the next act up for Monday Mixtape. A mix of old and new favourites currently inspiring the writing and recording of their second album, stream their handpicked ten-track playlist below. Photo by Joe Laverty. And one not on Spotify…

  • Festival Preview: Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival 2015

    February 27, 2015 - By 

    The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival is now in its 13th year and it’s heartening to see that it is still going strong. After last year’s devastating cuts to the arts industry the city has sadly kissed goodbye to many similar events. The festival will launch its full programme in April but for now they have released some tantalizing details to keep the culture vultures circling. Joining the likes of Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes and Dublin electro wizards Le Galaxie – amongst several acts announced this morning – Irish stage actor Phelim Drew is bringing his celebrated adaptation of Down and Out in…

  • “He’s Really Not Dead, As Long As We Remember Him.” Leonard Nimoy (1931-2015)

    February 27, 2015 - By 

    Leonard Nimoy’s first autobiography, published in 1975, was titled I am Not Spock, the actor having been pigeonholed to some extent as the Vulcan scientist from Star Trek. His follow up, published 20 years later, was called I am Spock. In those intervening years, the man himself had come to realise what a potent cultural symbol he had become, and seemed to have reconciled himself to it. As we look back in the aftermath of his passing, it’s certainly apparent that being Spock was no bad thing.The Boston born actor had a long, if unspectacular career in television and film before his…

  • Rave New World (27/2)

    February 27, 2015 - By 

    In a particularly excellent installment of Rave New World, Antoin Lindsay and Aidan Hanratty team up once more to deliver your weekly fix of electronic gig previews, tracks and mixes/releases. Get stuck in, you bunch of rascals. GIGS Celtronic present: Prosumer at The Glassworks, Derry Friday, February 27 My hometown is bringing one of my personal favourite DJs to The Glassworks tonight. Prosumer (above) knows how to bring the party, so expect lots of amazing deep cuts old and new from the German. Check out his recent Fabric 79 mix for the perfect taster of exactly what the guy can do. AL…

  • Tour Diary: Ciaran Lavery in Kansas

    February 26, 2015 - By 

    Head of Belfast-based imprints Champion Sound and Quiet Arch, Lyndon Stephens reports back from Northern Irish singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery’s recent industry festival jaunt in Kansas Thursday Accompanied by yours truly, Ciaran Lavery flew to Folk Alliance festival in Kansas City, Missouri last week four days of intense industry showcase gigs. Famous for Dorothy, Toto, Union Station, The Liberty Memorial, BBQ and as the State where the Civil War started, Kansas hosts this industry event with a difference. Everything takes place over four days in two interconnected hotels. Labels, management companies, agents, magazines and government agencies rent rooms or suites (depending…