• Conor Scott – Watch Me Go

    November 12, 2014 - By 

    Singer-songwriter and oft-spotted Belfast busker Conor Scott releases his debut three-track EP Watch Me Go on November 17. The as-yet-unsigned musician’s EP will be available from iTunes and Amazon. He’s gained a lot of steam following his performance on BBC vocal-based talent show, The Voice – a reality show at least based on some discernible talent – and his songs have taken him on tour across the UK, performing in venues like Liverpool’s Cavern Club. The official launch takes place at Aether & Echo on November 18, and support comes from the impressive selection of local acts in experimental folk artist Joshua Burnside, folk-pop act New Ancestors and…

  • Premiere: North Side Drive – Snow//Sea//Sky

    October 17, 2014 - By 

    Snow//Sea//Sky, the new release from North Side Drive, the “quiet” solo project of math-pop lads Former Monarchs‘ singing sticksman Jonathan Pearson, is, by his own admission, “weird”. In itself, though, that’s no deviation from the norm in an ever-evolving soundscape, moving from post-rock-inflected piano/cello pieces, to a stint at solo piano in honour of his grandfather in his last EP. His third EP under the name, the release invokes weather and the elements, and the moods Pearson conveys in his songs reflect this perfectly. ‘Snow’, for instance, is a beautiful piece, stark in its beginnings, before building up in a…

  • Meb Jon Sol – Southpaw Niños

    October 14, 2014 - By 

    Belfast-based folk singer-songwriter Michael McCullagh AKA Meb Jon Sol has been on something of a far-reaching musical expedition since his Colenso Parade days. A far cry musically from the starry-eyed indie pop of the latter – now defunct – Omagh five-piece, McCullagh’s debut solo album bears the lyrical and thematic imprint of wisdom and experience throughout, each track underpinned by the inner workings of wanderlust or quixotic wondering. Preceded by “yeo!”-generating singles ‘Leave All Your Troubles With Me‘ and ‘Captain of this Ship‘, Southpaw Niños strikes a keen balance between self-reflection and knowingly cavalier abandon, McCullagh’s quasi-mystical, eager tales of the open road and distant…

  • White Male Actors – Ghosts EP

    October 14, 2014 - By 

    Strabane alternative/indie-pop trio White Male Actors release their long-awaited debut EP, Ghosts, through Broken Melody Records on October 20. The band started well when they sent their single ’31 Years’ to the R.E.M. offices in April of 2013 in tribute to their breakup, catching the attention of erstwhile drummer Bill Berry, and now they release their anthemic brand of guitar-led indie-pop to the world, launching it with a Hidden Machine show at Voodoo on October 30. The EP was recorded and mixed in Staffordshire’s Burntwood Studios, as well as in Derry’s Blast Furnace and the one track released so far, ‘Mysteries and…

  • PigsAsPeople – The Plot Against Future Plans

    September 10, 2014 - By 

    Belfast-based sludgy post-hardcore/noise rock trio PigsAsPeople release their mini-album – entitled The Plot Against Future Plans – with a free-entry show at the Mandela Hall on its launch date of September 25. This will be the follow up to their First Four Months and Idles & Us EPs, released in autumn 2012 & 2013 respectively (each of which are available on Bandcamp on a name-your-price basis). The album was recorded at Start Together Studios by Niall Doran earlier this year, and the tracklisting – featuring all-new songs, some of which have been played at recent shows – is as follows: 1. Rooks 2.…

  • His New Atlas – Torn Out Lungs EP

    August 21, 2014 - By 

    The brainchild of young singer-songwriter Eoghan O’Hagan, aka His New Atlas, releases his new EP, Torn Out Lungs on September 5. The EP – his third since His New Atlas’ early 2013 inception – will be launched with a full band show at the Platform 1 Bar in Armagh on September 12, with further details yet to be announced. He has so far released the video for single ‘His Young’ – although a second single, ‘Pillars’ will be released along with a video in the not-too-distant future – which you can check out below:

  • Sea Pinks – Dreaming Tracks

    August 18, 2014 - By 

    Neo-surf-pop act Sea Pinks release their new album, entitled Dreaming Tracks on September 29 through Belfast-based surf/jangle/noise pop specialist label, CF Records. This will be their first release since single ‘An Exploded View’ was put out last November. Check out ‘Dream Happening’ – the first track to be unveiled – below:

  • The White Mansions – The Crossing

    August 7, 2014 - By 

    Having had a busy summer month of touring festivals, The White Mansions have just released their debut album The Crossing, available from iTunes, Amazon & to stream on Spotify. The six-piece country & bluegrass act launch their album with a to-be-confirmed show at the Ulster American Folk Park and a Black Box gig alongside rockabilly quartet The Sabrejets at the Black Box for the Belfast American Folk & Roots Club on September 27. Check out a live performance of ‘3 Point Link‘ at the Black Box Green Room. Stream The Crossing on Spotify below:

  • Sons of Caliber – Albatross

    June 19, 2014 - By 

    Having been exclusively previewed here at the Thin Air last month, Northern Irish folk singer-songwriter Andrew Farmer and friends AKA Sons of Caliber will release their spellbinding debut album, Albatross, on Sunday, June 22. Taking place as part of this year’s Open House Festival, Farmer & Co. will release the nine-track album at Belfast’s Black Box, supported by Lonesome George. You can buy tickets for the launch right here. Stream Sons of Caliber’s last EP, Tundra, below. The Tundra by Sons Of Caliber

  • FLAWS – Harsh Words Through Tangled Wires

    June 19, 2014 - By 

    On Wednesday, June 25, The Menagerie, Belfast, plays host to the new project of ex-Mojo Fury member Thomas Camblin, FLAWS. The three piece from Belfast are releasing their new EP Harsh Words Through Tangled Wires through Thomas’ new label OLD FANG which has given us the EP from Little Rivers amongst other singles. Their new record deals with “the rawness of human relationships, from broken friendships to loss and regret – peeling back appearances to show the cracks underneath”. They’ll also be supported by Michael Mormecha of Mojo Fury who will be playing his new solo material on the night. Entry…