• Interview: Ane Brun

    May 13, 2015 - By 

    Ahead of her highly-anticipated return to Dublin in December, James Hendicott chats to Norwegian alf-folk singer-songwriter Ane Brun about her forthcoming seventh studio album, working with the likes of Peter Gabriel, and the profound feeling of excitement she gets when starting a new musical project. Your last couple of releases, the ‘best of’ and the rarities album were interesting, in that one summarises your career, and one diverges totally from it and delves into other people’s work. i in particular came straight out of the blue. Was that an exciting way of doing things for you? Will you be returning…

  • Visual Arts Outlook (12/5)

    May 12, 2015 - By 

    This week’s main event in the Visual Artists Ireland “Get Together” which happens on Ireland’s National Day for Visual Artists. This year at IMMA (Irish Museum of Modern Art) the “Get Together” is the best way for emerging artists to network and see what’s out there for them. There will be established artists talking about their practice, speed curating for advice and discussion of your work, the announcement of the VAI members award and the launch of the 126 Gallery Footfall Report on Artist Led Spaces in Ireland. This all takes place among a whole host of other events and…

  • Belfast Forward: Ten Foundations

    May 12, 2015 - By 

    In the very first installment of Belfast Forward, a new regular feature looking at some of the city’s most intriguing small businesses, organisations and individuals,  Laura Carland spoke to Ten Foundations founder, Ian Campbell, about an inspiring organisation. Nestled on the busy Lisburn Road in Belfast, you can find one part coffee shop one part charity thrift store, Ten Foundations. Promoting a genuinely warm, welcoming and positive atmosphere, you relax with a hot drink, plug in and work or browse and shop safe in the knowledge that 100% of the proceeds will be used to help those living in poverty in Philippines. Photos…

  • The Record: Sissy

    May 11, 2015 - By 

    Ahead of its launch on at TenterHooks Gigspace on Sunday, June 28, we catch up with Dublin lo-fi three-piece band Sissy to discuss the writing and recording of their forthcoming 7″, as well as the reception to their music to date. Photos by Carlos Daly. Hi guys. What’s been the general reaction to the first EP, and ‘Sail & Rail’ particularly, given the subject matter and events over the past year? Leigh (Guitar/Vocals): ‘Sail and Rail’ has become our most popular song. The response to that has been tremendous. It feels like shouting about abortion, when there can be such…

  • Monday Mixtape: Ryan Vail

    May 11, 2015 - By 

    Having just released well-received mini album Sea Legs mini album with local alt-folk singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery, Derry electronic musician Ryan Vail is now moving on to writing a solo piano EP to be released on local label Quiet Arch in the Autumn. He took time out of the studio to pick his top ten tracks for us along with some thoughts on each. Peter Broderick – Colours of the Night Got to see Peter play this live at the CQAF. Always have been a fan of his work. This blew me away live.   Radiohead – Bloom Bit of a classic in our house. The King…

  • Festival Mixtape: Longitude 2015

    May 10, 2015 - By 

    One of Ireland’s biggest festivals, Longitude will return to Marlay Park from July 17-19 to showcase some of the best upcoming talent across the UK and further afield. With Alt-J, The Chemical Brothers and Hozier set to headline, there is a sense of real progression around the festival as more big acts and artists continue to be revealed. Alongside the headliners, Caribou, Metronomy and James Blake fit nicely in amongst the bill, which has something to offer in every genre. Hip-Hop fans won’t be left out: with 2014 Mercury Prize award winners Young Fathers in the mix on the Friday, and with Pusha…

  • Deep Down South: Safe Harbours, Young Wonder and Old Rock Docs

    May 10, 2015 - By 

    ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SUCH The big news as last week’s column was finishing up was the announcement of another brand-new festival to be added to Cork’s ever-expanding portfolio of annual events, with the announcement of Sounds from a Safe Harbour, ‘a festival of music, art and conversation’ running September 17th to 20th around the city. Curated by The National guitarist Bryce Dessner, the festival represents another immense opportunity to showcase the city’s strengths to a wider audience, following the good buzz and recent pick-up in events and crowds that’s happened this year. Yon blurb: Sounds from a Safe Harbour is a…

  • AAA: ASIWYFA w/ Mylets @ La Flèche d’Or, Paris

    May 11, 2015 - By 

    And So I Watch You From Afar – or ASIWYFA for short – have set off on a huge tour in support of their new album Heirs. The lads landed in Paris with Mylets in tow, with a few dates in Russia and UK behind them and a huge EU tour ahead of them. Our photographer Tom McGeehan was there to capture the load-in, soundcheck and all the run up ahead of the gig and, of course, the show itself. Check out the gallery below for a comprehensive overview of the entire show.

  • Rave New World (8/5)

    May 8, 2015 - By 

    Having delivered a stonking set of his own at the Twisted Pepper for out second birthday last Saturday night, Aidan Hanratty delivers this week’s look at the very best electronic gigs, tracks, releases and mixes. GIGS MUD: Bodytonic present Joy Orbison at The Twisted Pepper Friday, May 8 Somehow I’ve only seen Joy O twice, both times in the Twisted Pepper basement. Both sets were superb, as intelligently crafted as they were passionate and exuberant. Tough, crunching house alongside 90s classics, retro pianos over clanking beats. He’s always one to keep exclusives close to his chest, so go along tonight…

  • Cork Heads: Ray Blackwell (De Barra’s)

    May 6, 2015 - By 

    Ray Blackwell is the manager of De Barra’s Folk Club which is situated in Clonakilty in west Cork. He is a founding member and organiser of the Clonakilty International Guitar Festival – now in its eleventh year – and has been a member of the South of Ireland Band Championships committee for the last six years. Words and photos by Brid O’Donovan. Your earliest memory of De Barra’s. To answer this question really specifically would be really difficult for me. I remember being here (De Barra’s) as a kid. I lived here with my mum and my dad and my sister. We…