• Roving Eye: The Strypes in Hamburg

    November 8, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of her regular feature Roving Eye – in which she travels across far and wide shooting some of the best Irish acts on tour – Tara Thomas captures a heady Hamburg date on The Strypes’ latest European tour. Hamburg, the second largest city in Germany is steeped in music legend from Brahms to the Beatles. It’s maritime history has resulted in vibrant multicultural neighbourhoods and palpable social tolerance. Making my way from the airport to a hotel in the infamous St Pauli quarter it’s easy to understand how this northern German metropolis is also gaining a reputation as an entertainment…

  • Villagers Irish Tour

    May 27, 2015 - By 

    Our writers and photographers report back from three of Villagers’ hugely successful dates across Ireland, including shows at Dublin’s Olympia, Cork Opera House and Belfast’s Mandela Hall. Saturday: Opera House, Cork w/ Gavin Glass Photos by Brid O’Donovan May 23rd, 2015 will forever be remembered as a landmark in Irish history, a momentously happy day, as the passage of the marriage referendum finally allows two people that love each other to marry and be recognised as equal citizens of our young, progressive nation. The eyes of the world are upon us, and they are smiling warmly as word filters around the world. The…

  • Track Record: Aisling O’Riordan

    January 21, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Track Record, we delve into the record collection of Aisling O Riordan, Music Programmer for Quarter Block Party which runs from February 6-8. She plays with Morning Veils and she is also one of the co-founders of the Southern Hospitality Board which promotes music and craic in Cork city. Photos by Brid O’Donovan. THEESatisfaction – awE naturalE I found out about THEESatisfaction when I was working in The Pavilion, Cork. Joe and Stevie sent me on a song called ‘Enchantruss’ as a Soundcloud link. Joe was like, “Oh I think we’re gonna try and get these…

  • Track Record: Contour

    January 14, 2015 - By 

    All throughout 2014 we dotingly pried into the prized record collections of some of our favourite Irish artists via Track Record. Taste abounded from every photo and giddy admission, and all was well in the world. Before delving into all of those (which we’re certain you’ll do so with fervent abandon in due course) dig the latest with Dublin electronic duo Conan Wynne and Anna Doran AKA Contour. Photos by Tara Thomas. Anna Doran Prodigy – Music for the Jilted Generation Nostalgia buzz. I bought this for Conan for his birthday! Underground Resistance – The Final Frontier I only have a…

  • Track Record: Daniel Paxton (Buffalo Sunn)

    December 3, 2014 - By 

    Daniel Paxton has been a staple in the Irish music scene for over ten years now having played in Mainline, The Brothers Movement, Sweet Jane and his current band Buffalo Sunn, so it’s no surprise he’s amassed quite an impressive record collection ranging from the pioneering country of Neil Young, alt-folk favourites Fleet Foxes and harmonic generators The Byrds. We spend the evening with him in his house in Dublin and chat about some of his most prized possessions. Photos by Shaun Neary. The Flying Burrito Brothers – The Gilded Palace of Sin How cool do these guys look on the cover…

  • AAA: Red Enemy @ The Button Factory, Dublin

    November 24, 2014 - By 

    In this huge installment of AAA (Access All Areas) we go behind the scenes with Red Enemy as they launched their highly anticipated self-titled debut album in the Button Factory in Dublin last Friday. Hefty support came from four other incredible acts on the night- Overhead The Albatross, Frustration, Nibiru and Bitch Falcon. Our photographer Carlos Daly spent the entire evening with all of the bands on the bill as they set up and psyched themselves out ahead of the gig. Check out the gallery below for a comprehensive overview of the launch.

  • Track Record: Gugai

    November 20, 2014 - By 

    Booker, promoter, DJ and all-round good guy Gugai – formally known as Eoghan MacNamara (or ‘Google’ if you’re drunk enough) is somewhat of a legend around Galway and if you’ve ever graced the Roisin Dubh venue you’ll know of his overwhelming love and support of the music scene here first hand. We’ve asked him to kindly flip through his entire record collection and select some of his favourite releases, with special guest appearances from Pope John Paul II and his dotey son Osgur. Photos by Sean McCormack. Pope John Paul II – In Ireland I think It’s really hard to choose your favourite record…

  • Video Premiere: Zaska – Different Light

    November 18, 2014 - By 

    We’re pleased to present the premiere of the new video by eight-piece Dublin supergroup Zaska. Fronted by Max Zaska, the band granted our photographer Tara Thomas behind the scenes access to capture during the shoot. Check out her gallery for more images and watch the video – produced by Stoneface films and directed by Jon Hozier-Byrne – below.

  • AAA: Therapy? @ Mandela Hall, Belfast

    November 17, 2014 - By 

    In an AAA (Access All Areas) set Shaun Neary shoots Northern Irish alt-rock legends Therapy? before, during and after their spectacular Troublegum set at Belfast’s Mandela Hall on Saturday night as part of this year’s Northern Ireland Music Prize.