• Haunted Dancehall to Return to Dublin

    October 5, 2023 - By 

    After an incredible first outing last year, Haunted Dancehall will return to Dublin in early November. Presented by Foggy Notions, the series has swiftly established itself as one of the island’s most essential programmes and a must-attend for fans of artists straddling the lines of experimental, electronic and contemporary classic worlds. And this year’s line-up – which runs from November 3-5th – doubles down – and then some – on that theory. Among the many highlights from this year are debut Irish shows from acclaimed Colorado musician Kali Malone, Lucrecia Dalt, Manchester duo Space Afrika, cosmic improviser and visual artist…

  • Full Line-Up Announced for SCANRA

    October 5, 2023 - By 

    The full line-up has been announced for the inaugural SCANRA. Taking over The Workman’s Cellar on Saturday, 4th November, 2023 at 7pm, it’s a new immersive night of music, myth and storytelling celebrating the Irish origins of Samhain through the voices and mediums of modern creators. Presented in collaboration with Workmná and The Thin Air, SCANRA was launched back in August with the announcement of live performances from acclaimed Belfast-based songwriter and pianist Clara Tracey, industrial-electronic artist Coolgirl (Lizzie Fitzpatrick, formerly of Bitch Falcon) and haunting acapella soundscapes from the Dulciana Vocal Ensemble—each set specially curated to evoke elements of the supernatural and the…

  • girlfriend. Announce Long-Awaited Debut LP

    October 4, 2023 - By 

    It’s been a minute since we featured girlfriend. as an Inbound act. Seven years on, the Dublin alternative trailblazers, in their final form as a fully-fledged five-piece, have announced details of their long-awaited (and legitimately highly-anticipated) debut album. Off the back of recent singles including ‘In Silence’ and ‘Trust,’ they will release the 14-track To Be Quiet digitally and on vinyl on Halloween. Recorded, produced and mixed by Peter Ashmore at Orphan Studios, Hellfire Studios and Rose Cottage Studio last year, the album is available to pre-order now. Posting on social media, the band wrote: “We’re ecstatic to finally announce…

  • Live Line-Up Announced for NI Music Prize 2023

    October 4, 2023 - By 

    The live line-up has been announced for this year’s Northern Ireland Music Prize. The annual awards ceremony – which recognises the very best in NI music, primarily through its Best Album award – returns to the Ulster Hall in Belfast on Wednesday, 15th November. Performing on the night is another wonderfully eclectic mix from several shortlisted acts, from Chalk, Problem Patterns and Winnie Ama, to Ferna, The Florentinas and Conor Mallon. There will also be a special performance from the recipient of this year’s Oh Yeah Legend Award, Paul Brady. The news comes just over a month before the return…

  • Video Premiere: Nick Carlisle – End of Terrain

    September 21, 2023 - By 

    Nick Carlisle is an auteur who has well and truly made his stamp on the landscape of DIY music culture in these isles. Originally from Dromore in Co. Down, the Brighton-based composer, performer and producer has deftly spanned whole soundworlds in projects such as Peepholes, Bamboo, Katy and Nick and Lean Logic. Last year, he even ventured out solo with his sublime, QFT Belfast-comissioned score for 1922 silent film Häxan. Pay attention and you’ll trace a revelatory journey that leads to his upcoming album Bloody Saturnalia. Taking its title from Sebastian Haffner’s Defying Hitler, it’s a self-produced effort that sees…

  • The Court House in Bangor named as finalist in National Lottery Awards

    September 13, 2023 - By 

    The Court House in Bangor has been shortlisted for the National Lottery Project of the Year Award. The prestigious nod is a very worthy acknowledgement of the non-profit arts venue’s vital home in the County Down seaside city. Announced just a few weeks before its first anniversary, having opened its doors last October following seven years of fundraising, lobbying, planning and refurbishment, the nomination brings into sharp focus the hard work of the venue’s owners and operators, local arts charity Open House, who are also responsible for Open House Festival. Made possible with a major grant of almost £1 million…

  • Video Premiere: Danny Carroll – Cheesemonger

    September 7, 2023 - By 

    We’ve long championed former Shrug Life frontman Danny Carroll as a forerunner in the conversation around Ireland’s greatest current-day lyricists. Continually capturing his milieu in sardonic, vivid detail, age has sharpened his instincts and composition, yet tempered his self-deprecative tendencies – to a point. That point is exactly what Carroll’s latest single, ‘Cheesemonger’, finds itself wrestling with throughout. The track is featured on Volume IV of the Litany of Failures compilation of which Danny Carroll is co-curator. It comes out tomorrow on digital & vinyl, and we’re pleased to give you a first look at the video for ‘Cheesemonger’. It…

  • Inaugural SCANRA: Samhain at the Cellar Announced

    August 30, 2023 - By 

    The line-up for the inaugural SCANRA: Samhain at the Cellar has been announced. Coming to The Workman’s Cellar on Saturday, 4th November, 2023 at 7pm it’s a new immersive night of music, myth and storytelling celebrating the Irish origins of Samhain through the voices and mediums of modern creators. Presented in collaboration with Workmná and The Thin Air, the night will feature live performances from acclaimed Belfast-based songwriter and pianist Clara Tracey, industrial-electronic artist Coolgirl (Lizzie Fitzpatrick, formerly of Bitch Falcon) and haunting acapella soundscapes from the Dulciana Vocal Ensemble—each set specially curated to evoke elements of the supernatural and…

  • A Litany of Failures: Volume IV is Announced

    August 9, 2023 - By 

    Irish compilation series A Litany of Failures, which features independent acts from all corners of the island, has just announced the pre-order and tracklisting for its fourth volume.  Set for release on double vinyl and digitally on September 8th, it’s available via Bandcamp. The compilation features 22 brand new, exclusive tracks from some of our favourite acts on the island, as well as some exciting new prospects. The double vinyl set once again features artwork by Pipe & Pallet, and the first 30 pre-orders feature a bespoke print from Belfast-based artist Phantom Powered Pixels.  The Litany of Failures series aims to document the grassroots music community…

  • Video Premiere: girlfriend. – Trust

    August 4, 2023 - By 

    Back in the mists of time (2016) we introduced the first iteration of North Dublin alternative band girlfriend, tipping them for Big Things in the future. Judging by the cost of living yadda yadda help, it’s now the future and it seems that, for all our high praise back then, we might have actually, inadvertently lowballed the band in question. In their final Super Saiyan form as a five-piece, girlfriend. are taking their rightful place as one of Ireland’s most vital bands. “Vital how?” you ask? We hear you, and we see your concerns, but there’s a fair chance you slept on ‘Trust’. Released in March, off the…