• AVA Festival Announce 10th Anniversary

    Ireland’s leading annual electronic festival AVA have announced details of its massive tenth edition. Marking a decade at the top of the game, the world-beating Belfast festival returns to the Titanic Slipways across 31st May to 1st June with another finely-tuned mix of global and homegrown trailblazers. Among the highlights in the first line-up announcement are Nia Archives, Barry Can’t Swim, Kerri Chandler, Horsegirl, Helena Hauff and local legends Bicep, who once again return to the festival, this time to perform their Chroma AV DJ project. A host of local stalwarts make this year’s outing as essential as they come.…

  • Pillow Queens Announce Second Album, Release ‘Gone’

    Pillow Queens have announced details of their third studio album, Name Your Sorrow. The Dublin indie-rock quartet – and The Thin Air cover stars – will release the follow-up to 2022’s Leave The Light On on 19th April via Royal Mountain Records. Produced by Collin Pastore (Lucy Dacus, boygenius) at Analogue Catalogue in Northern Ireland, the album is led with new single ‘Gone’. Watch its video below. Speaking about the album, guitarist Cathy McGuinness said: “”It is about stages of love, loss and grief and how they can all exist alongside one another–intertwined, messy, beautiful–how both love and loss can…

  • Open Ear Announce New Additions

    Open Ear have announced its second wave of acts for 2024. Returning to Sherkin Island off Cork from 31st May to 2nd June, the country’s very best independent festival will host sets by the likes of Crispy Jason aka Wicklow sonic shapeshifter Rian Trench, ambient project Dublin, Galway DJ Lesko, cryptic duo Moundabout, Noisy Chilli, Dublin techno/electro producer Rustal and Vacant Heads, the dub-infused EBM project of Derry’s Autumns and Broken English Club/Oliver Ho. The second wave of acts join the already-announced Gnod R&D, Brian Not Brian and more. With more TBA in the coming weeks, check out the current…

  • Casavettes Announce Reunion

    It’s been some time coming but Casavettes have announced their long-awaited reunion. The Limerick emo heroes, who we last heard from back in the halcyon days of 2019, announced their return via social media today. “We’re nervous and excited to tell you we’ll be playing some shows in February and March,” shared the band AKA vocalist and guitarist, Diarmuid O’Shea, bassist Michael Hennessy and drummer Stephen Ryan. “It’s been over four years since we last saw you. We’ve missed it.” As well as the promise of new music “soon,” the three-piece will play the following shows in February and March:…

  • Chalk Release ‘Claw,’ Announce Second EP

    Having sealed a stellar 2023 by winning three awards at the NI Music Prize—including a well-earned nod for Best Live Act—Chalk have revealed details of their second EP. Comprising Ross Cullen, Benedict Goddard and Luke Niblock, the Belfast trio have been honing their searing craft since forming in 2019. It’s an increasingly insular arc that’s set to enter new territory on 1st March with the release of their Conditions II. The follow-up to the blistering Conditions, which dropped in May last year, the EP will be released via Nice Swan Records—home to Sports Team, Pip Blom and more—on 1st March.…

  • RTÉ Choice Music Prize Shortlist Revealed

    The shortlist for the 19th annual Irish Album of the Year in association with IMRO and IRMA has been revealed. Following arguably the strongest 12 months for Irish music in recent memory, the following ten albums have made the cut for the 2023 Choice shortlist: CMAT – Crazymad, for Me Grian Chatten – Chaos For The Fly John Francis Flynn – Look Over The Wall, See The Sky Kojaque – Phantom of the Afters Lankum – False Lankum The Murder Capital – Gigi’s Recovery Rachael Lavelle – Big Dreams Soda Blonde – Dream Big The Scratch – Mind Yourself Ezra…

  • Naoise Roo Announces Final Headline Show

    Naoise Roo has announced her last-ever headline show. Having spent the last few years underscoring her status as one of the island’s most distinctive songwriting voices, the Dublin artist has revealed that the launch of her latest album – and one of 2023’s very best – Emotionally Magnificent will be her last-ever headliner. Taking place at the Workman’s Club in Dublin on Friday, 2nd February, the performance is set to be an emotional, yet uniquely celebratory curtain call from a singular talent who has made clear her wishes to explore other avenues in her broader creative life. In an Instagram…

  • Acid Mothers Temple For Dublin and Belfast Return

    Acid Mothers Temple are coming back to Ireland. The Japanese psych-rock legends, who have been fully expanding minds since 1995, will play Workman’s Club in Dublin on Sunday, 12th May and Belfast’s Ulster Sports Club on Tuesday, 14th May. Supports are TBA Tickets are priced €22.00 and £16.50 are on sale now.

  • Sunn O))) To Play National Concert Hall

    Sunn O))) have been announced to play the National Concert Hall next year. Comprising core members Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson, the drone metal titans play a fully-seated show at the Dublin venue on 25th March 2024. Featuring special guests Jesse Sykes with Phil Wandscher and Bill Herzog, it marks the duo’s first performance in the city since 2017. Presented by Foggy Notions and U:MACK, tickets for the show are on sale now, priced 36.50. Limited VIP ticket add-ons including a soundcheck viewing experience and photo with the Sunn O))) backline are also available. Revisit our review of the band’s…

  • The Bonk and Clara Tracey Launch New Dundalk Series COLLIDE

    As home to the likes of Just Mustard, Jinx Lennon, Elephant and The Mary Wallopers, world-beating venues including The Spirit Store and forward-pushing movers like Pizza Pizza Records, it’s safe to say Dundalk more than holds its own when it comes to representing what is setting Irish music apart in 2023. It’s a wonderfully independent spirit that runs through COLLIDE, a new, late-night series from An Táin Arts Centre and the Spirit Store. Beginning in winter 2023 and ending in spring 2024, the venues will collaborate on four downright unmissable bills featuring some TTA favourites. And how better to shine…