• “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…

  • Track Record: Vinyl Love @ Quarter Block Party

    February 24, 2015 - By 

    Brid O’Donovan chatted with Stevie on the Sunday of Quarter Block Party and he was hosting Vinyl Love in Gulpd Cafe.  They were about six hours into a ten hour set of twenty five DJs playing 7 7” records. A few hours earlier the wonderful Siobhan Kane of Young Hearts Run Free chaired a panel discussion titled Life Has Surface Noise. Daragh O Halloran, Peter Twomey, Justin Grounds and Stevie Grainger shared with us their memories of growing up with the records they hooked to their veins. Justin spoke beautifully about how music connects us to our time and Siobhan…

  • Cork Heads: Jack Crotty (The Rocket Man)

    February 25, 2015 - By 

    Jack Crotty is founder and owner of The Rocket Man, which is a salad and juice bar on Princes street in Cork city. He also trades at markets and organises events in Cork. Food at Home There are two different sides of my family, as there is with everyone’s family. My mum’s side of the family would be very into growing food and eating healthily and my Dad’s side wouldn’t be as much but they still would have a good respect for food. It certainly was from my Mum that all that came from. Sourcing properly and ethically. It’s really…

  • Track Record: Keith Wallace (Rusted Rail Records)

    February 25, 2015 - By 

    Keith Wallace operates his bespoke micro-independent label Rusted Rail from his base in Galway. Here, he discusses his favourite albums with us from the comfort of his own home including Vashti Bunyan, Planxty and Black Sabbath. Photos by Sean McCormack.   Tindersticks – Tindersticks  I’ve had this album since it came out in 1993, but I just recently got it on vinyl, an original pressing which has one more extra song that didn’t fit on the CD at the time. There’s an entire life on this album. It’s rain-drenched and wine stained, that’s how I always think about it. It seems to…

  • Track Record: Subplots

    February 23, 2015 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record we chat to Phil and Daryl from Subplots about their most treasured records while they brew us some fresh coffee, proving they have both excellent taste in music and hot beverages!  Photos by Aidan Kelly-Murphy. Aphex Twin – Druqks Phil: We were 17 when Druqks came out and it sounded like music from another planet. I originally had the CD, and it was one of those albums that was in terrible condition as I used to lend it to anyone that expressed even a vague interest in Aphex Twin. There’s such a wealth of ideas on this…

  • Monday Mixtape: Bob Nastanovich (Pavement/Silver Jews)

    February 23, 2015 - By 

    Ok, we admit it: our predisposition to mid-Nineties American indie rock is pretty marked. Now that we’ve combined forces and shoved the elephant out of the room, let’s get down to business. Following in the ridiculously tasteful footsteps of Quasi’s Sam Coomes, as well as our very own Ciaran Lavery, Niall Kennedy from And So I Watch You From Afar, Ciarán Smith from Crayonmith and Girls Names‘ Claire Miskimmin, U.S musician and all-round good guy Bob Nastanovich is next up for this week’s Monday Mixtape. A glaringly charimastic member of Pavement and Silver Jews, Nastanovich selects some of his all-time favourite songs from the…

  • Deep Down South: A Word on TTA Magazine

    February 23, 2015 - By 

    Howdy.  Before we kick off, this week, Deep Down South will be delivered in two instalments. The usual news, views and general Cork nerdery will be along this Wednesday/Thursday, including overviews of everything coming up over the next few weeks as usual. But this, we’ve a column of two halves. If this half runs a bit short, it’s because your writer is a little tired from the last few weeks, but more so (and with apologies to the Print Shop lads for missing the fundraisers over the weekend), it’s because the finishing touches on the featured content of issue 5 of…

  • Rave New World (20/2)

    February 20, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Rave New World, the mind-expandingly tasteful Antoin Lindsay & Aidan Hanratty delve into best new electronic tracks and mixes of the week, as well as various unmissable upcoming nights and releases. GIGS Misfit present: KiNK at Thompsons, Belfast Friday, February 20 Is it worth braving Thompsons on a Friday night to see someone play I hear you ask? Yes, actually, when it’s KiNK playing. The Bulgarian producer has garnered a serious reputation for his live shows over the last few years. His sets are a lovely mix of raw and clean sounds which are seriously banging. Should sound…