• Visual Arts Outlook (30/3)

    Mary Stevens delivers her weekly look at all things Visual Arts in Ireland, singling out works and showcases in Banbridge and Dublin. The F.E Mc William Gallery and Studio – Banbridge Virtually There w/ Ann Donnelly, Julie Forrester, Ann Henderson, Sharon Kelly and Andrew Livingstone. Virtually There is a collaboration between artists and school children presented in a formal gallery context. The beautiful and generous space of the FE MCWilliam gallery is given over to the results of a considered body of work which reflects each individual artist and the school groups with which they were paired. Set out as separate projects,…

  • DIY Dublin: Homebeat

    In the second of a new regular feature called DIY Dublin, we talk to various people setting up their own businesses and doing it for themselves in the heart of the city. Aidan Hanratty chats to Emmet of DIY, alternative space loving music promoter Homebeat about getting started, nurturing talent and the dynamics of space. Photos by Abigail Denniston. From home to Homebeat I’m from a little town called Newcastle West in Limerick, but I’ve been living in Dublin for the bones of about 15 years. I was in college in the late 90s/early 2000s when things were kind of horrible in…

  • Front of House: Michelle Whitehead (MCD)

    In the latest installment of Front of House, we chat with MCD music publicist Michelle Whitehead about the day-to-day workings of her job, her long history in promotion and ways in which to get involved within the industry. Photos by Isabel Thomas Hi Michelle. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Hello! Sure, I’m a music publicist for MCD Productions How did you become a promoter and how long have you been involved in it? I’ve always been interested in promoting since before setting up own club night called Lockdown Dublin –which was a weekly club night for rock…

  • Bookmark: Nadine O’Regan

    In this installment of Bookmark we spend some time with Nadine O’Regan, who is the Books and Arts Editor with The Sunday Business Post and presents Songs in the Key of Life on Dublin station TXFM (www.txfm.ie and 105.2FM) on Saturdays from 11am. Photos by Mark Earley. Jeffrey Eugenides- Middlesex  American author Jeffrey Eugenides writes novels incredibly slowly – he has published just three in his 55 years and for Middlesex, his 2002 novel which won the Pulitzer Prize, his American editor had to fly to Berlin, where Eugenides was living at the time, to wrest the manuscript from his grasp. Luckily…

  • All Tvvins Irish Tour

    In our latest Irish tour feature, our photographers Sara Marsden and Aaron Corr, and writers Cathal McBride and Eoin Murray, report back from All Tvvins‘ Dublin, Galway and Belfast shows at the weekend. Whelan’s, Dublin Wednesday, March 25. Photos by Aaron Corr Roisin Dubh, Galway Saturday, March 28 The mood is ideal from the start of proceedings this Saturday night. It’s shortly before 10 and the already filling floor of the Roisín’s main room is being warmed up by the first support of the night. Extra Fox – AKA Neil Adams, brother to Conor Adams with whom he shared guitar duty…

  • Rave New World (27/3)

    With Antoin Lindsay still AWOL (he’s ok, though – don’t be panicking and phoning his parents or anything) Aidan Hanratty whittles down the very finest electronic gigs, releases and mixes for this week’s Rave New World GIGS There’s so many gigs this weekend. It’s hard to whittle it down really. Objekt is playing twice – once at Cyprus Avenue in Cork (tonight) and once at Hangar in Dublin (tomorrow, alongside Snakehips and DeFekT), Derrick May is in Dublin tonight, as is George Fitzgerald, while Randomer, Prins Thomas and Mark E all come to town this weekend. In Belfast, residents Defcon and…

  • Dott’s USA Tour Diary: Part 1

    In the first of a three part diary entry, our favourite Galway garage pop quartet Dott are currently on tour in America, after taking in SXSW and all of what Texas has to offer. Join them as they spin you a tale of four plucky musicians and their loyal friend/merch monkey as they traverse the American Plains and play some gigs on the way. The Crown and Harp, Dallas TX. March 17 Our first show of the tour happened on St. Patrick’s Day in, you guessed it, an Irish Bar. Actually no, it was an Irish AND English bar under…

  • Bookmark: Joe Lindsay

    In this installment of Bookmark we chat to Belfast broadcaster and DJ Joe Lindsay about some of his all-time favourite books. Photos by May Chan. Lou Reed – Victor Bockris I am a huge fan of Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground. I couldn’t believe when I started in radio that my first interviewee was to be Victor Bockris. I loved his book Uptight: The Story Of the Velvet Underground and there I was, about to interview him about his new book on Lou Reed. The dark lord of three chords. White noise and black leather. The Velvet Underground opened some many…

  • Roving Eye: The Young Folk in Birmingham

    In second installment of Roving Eye, Tara Thomas sets out for Birmingham with Dublin alt-folk quartet The Young Folk as they do a tour of coffee shops. Last Monday morning found me catching the red eye to Birmingham to meet with The Young Folk. I had the pleasure of sharing the flight with a still merry stag party who used the forty airborne minutes to relive every moment of their weekend, much to the bemusement of the other passengers. Birmingham is the most densely inhabited city in the UK outside London. A city steeped in innovation and revolution has produced a…

  • Track Record: David A. Tapley (Tandem Felix)

    In this installment of Track Record we hang out with David A. Tapley from Tandem Felix who after a slight line-up shuffle are on the cusp of releasing their new EP Comma and currently listed as The Guardian’s new band of the week . From the sprawling sounds of Yo La Tengo to his own idol Beck, David’s choices are a huge reflection and  influence on the music he puts out. Photos by Aidan Kelly Murphy. Talk Talk – Laughing Stock My friend Felipe introduced me to Talk Talk at a party many moons ago. I immediately picked up their two final albums,…