• the arts column: June 4th

    June 4, 2019 - By 

    This week sees a host of exhibitions opening across the island of Ireland, with shows in Belfast, Cork, Navan and Dublin; as well as the launch of this year’s Belfast Photo Festival. We’ve details of some of the festival’s highlights below, along with information on four openings happening nationwide. As always, if you have an event, talk, exhibition, or would like to recommend one please get in touch via aidan[at]thethinair.net Exhibition Opening | Platform Arts, Belfast This Thursday (June 6th) sees the opening of a new collaborative exhibition in Belfast’s Platform Arts. Titled Bedeck, the show features the works of David Lunney and Eleanor McCaughey, two artists who…

  • the arts column: May 14th

    May 14, 2019 - By 

    In this week’s edition of the arts column we’ve details on the extensive activities going on in the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin and nationwide to celebrate National Drawing day, as well as details on a application opportunities for studio spaces, international residencies and open calls. As always, if you have an event, talk, exhibition, or would like to recommend one please get in touch via aidan[at]thethinair.net National Drawing Day| National Gallery of Ireland and nationwide This Saturday is National Drawing Day in the National Gallery of Ireland, with a day packed full of free events and activities for drawers of all ages. Below…

  • Preview: Robocobra Quartet & Meltybrains? @ Black Box, Belfast

    May 6, 2019 - By 

    Two of the island’s most unclassifiable and artistically uncompromising – not to mention finest live acts – are set to play a double-headliner at Belfast’s Black Box on Friday, May 17 in what looks to be a contender for Irish Gig Of The Year. Proudly co-presented by Moving On Music and yours truly, it’s the first hometown headline show of the year for Robocobra Quartet, and the first Northern show in years for experimental  Meltybrains?. Perpetually a band of contradictions, we’ve long been one of Robocobra Quartet’s most ardent voices of praise. Their string of EPs and NI Music Prize-nominated pair of LPs – 2016 debut Music For All Occasions and Plays…

  • EP Premiere: Comrade Hat – Tuque

    May 3, 2019 - By 

    Derry-based experimental pop auteur Neil Burns’ Comrade Hat‘s latest EP, Tuque, is set for release on May 10, but we’re pleased to say we have an exclusive premiere streaming a week in advance. Following a string of EPs – including his series of Winter EPs – production credits, and a high profile collaboration with Phil Kieran and the Ulster Orchestra at Celtronic 2018, Burns needed a change. In Autumn of 2018, he relocated to Toronto with some musician friends for a recharge that ultimately led to the creation of Tuque, a complete work that spans post-breakup what’s-it-all-about soul-searching to geopolitical observations in under 15 minutes, with cameos from cult musical figures of the area,…

  • the arts column: PhotoIreland Special

    May 2, 2019 - By 

    This week sees the launch of this year’s PhotoIreland Festival, with the official opening taking place tonight, May 2nd,at 6pm in their Temple Bar hub: The Library Project. This year is the tenth anniversary of the festival, and to celebrate we’ve a special edition of the arts column focusing on the festival’s extensive programme of events, talks, exhibitions and general celebration of photography in Ireland. Festival Launch Party | Thursday, May 2nd @ The Library Project Tonight from 6pm (PhotoIreland patrons get a sneak peak a few hours earlier at 4pm) the festival kicks off in the foundation’s Temple Bar hub:…

  • Stream New Irish Grassroots Compilation: Live @ Fennor Lane

    April 10, 2019 - By 

    Tucked away amongst castle ruins and relics of history on the outskirts of Slane town, Mark Carolan runs the intimate Fennor Lane Studios. Like the encouraging number of grassroots Irish compilations and splits that have graced our Bandcamp accounts in recent times to act as connective tissue between previously-disparate scenes, Live at Fennor Lane was made with the same philosophy of shared elevation in mind, as Mark tells us: “The idea behind this album was simply to create a record worth listening to, and the live method of recording gives a characterful and natural feel to it. I hope we can bring new music to all the followers of each band involved in this project and help everyone to expand their audience. Aaaand it was great craic making it!” Featuring several of our favourite bands in the land, each more idiosyncratic than the last, contributions range from Slouch‘s submerged psychogroove, to the…

  • Naoise Roo Set To Return With Night of Music, Art, Theatre & Spoken Word

    April 12, 2019 - By 

    Long one of our favourite songwriters & artists on the island, Naoise Roo has been on an extended hiatus for the last couple of years. Thankfully, she’s just announced her return EP, Sick Girlfriend, and is set to hold her first show in a number of years at Dublin’s Project Arts Centre on May 4. The show will serve as a preview of the EP, with Sick Girlfriend‘s four tracks centred around themes of depression, the negative aspects of the music industry, and the stereotypes that burden women experiencing mental illness. Roo will be joined by producer/bassist Daniel Fox of Girl Band, as well as drummer Rian Trench, guitarist Karl Tobin and…

  • the arts column: April 16th

    April 16, 2019 - By 

    In this week’s edition of the arts column we’ve details on an exhibition opening in Belfast, studio lets in Dublin, an artist-in-residency programme in Cork and national funding. As always, if you have an event, talk, exhibition, or would like to recommend one please get in touch via aidan[at]thethinair.net Exhibition | Everything Must Go @ PS², Belfast Opening this coming Thursday, April 18th, in Belfast’s PS² is a new exhibition featuring the work of Liliane Puthod. Titled Everything Must Go, the show draws on the history of the building, which was previously used for commercial purposes, with the artist examining the relationship we have to consumerism.…

  • the arts column: April 9th

    April 9, 2019 - By 

    In this week’s edition of the arts column we’ve details on a pair of job vacancies, an exhibition opening, studio lets, two artists talks and an exhibition closing party. As always, if you have an event, talk, exhibition, or would like to recommend one please get in touch via aidan[at]thethinair.net Job Vacancies | The Hugh Lane, Dublin The Hugh Lane have announced that they are currently in the process of recruiting for a pair of roles. The first is for an Exhibitions Curator, which would see the successful candidate work closely with the Head of Exhibitions, playing a key part in both the research and…

  • Tower Records: Record Store Day 2019

    April 4, 2019 - By 

    As with every year in recent memory, Dublin’s Tower Records is marking this year’s Record Store Day on Saturday, April 13 in style. This year, the store – Ireland’s largest independent record shop – is marking the occasion with a week-long celebration, with countless records, old and new, being sold with a massive price reduction. You can check out what’s on the cards this year right here. Majorly reduced, first-rate wax aside, the store will also host exclusive in-stores from three Irish acts across the week: All Tvvins launch their new album, Just To Exist, on April 12th at 1pm…