• Premiere: Ordnance Survey – Vico Road, July 1984

    October 19, 2021 - By 

    As one of the island’s most forward-pushing electronic propositions, Neil O’Connor has long intrigued and challenged as an artist over the years. It’s something that comes into sharp focus in his guise as Ordnance Survey. Next month, O’Connor unveils Field Work, a new LP via Scintilla Recordings. Produced mostly at his home in Drumcondra, Dublin, the album was born out of the use of field recordings made in and around the capital, as well as clips from television archives, the Dart, bicycles and vocal samples from Kerry 40 years ago. A simmering blend of understated synth, samples, piano and found sound,…

  • NI Music Prize Set For Ulster Hall

    October 19, 2021 - By 

    This year’s Northern Ireland Music Prize will return to Belfast’s Ulster Hall next month. Due to COVID-19, last year’s event was broadcast online. Now, due to an easing of restrictions, the annual prize will return to the iconic venue on Wednesday, November 17. “It has been a long and challenging twelve months for musicians,” said Charlotte Dryden of the Oh Yeah Music Centre, organisers of the annual award. “That is why this year is such an important coming together, not just to celebrate the great wealth of talent that has produced world-class records throughout the pandemic, but also to thank and let…

  • Watch: The Altered Hours – Thistle

    October 19, 2021 - By 

    Over the last couple of weeks, Cork’s finest the Altered Hours have been conjuring up their singular magic, night after night, in support of Fontaines D.C. at shows the UK. As an act that has commanded our attention since 2013, it’s been second-hand thrilling hearing high praise for the five-piece in their element. Ahead of a few more weeks zig-zagging across the UK and Ireland (including a Thin Air show at the Black Box with Documenta on November 27th, don’t you know?) the band have unveiled the video for their stellar new single, ‘Thistle’. Taken from their forthcoming second studio album,…

  • Cate Le Bon Set For Dublin and Belfast Shows

    October 12, 2021 - By 

    Cate Le Bon will play two Irish shows next year. Supported by Mega Bog on both dates, the Welsh avant-pop singer-songwriter will play Belfast’s Empire Music Hall on Friday, March 18th and Dublin’s National Concert Hall on Saturday, March 19th. On sale this Friday, October 15th from 10am, tickets cost £24.00 and €28.00 respectively. On 4th February, 2022, Le Bon releases her sixth studio album, Pompeii, via Mexican Summer. Watch the video for lead single ‘Running Away’ below. Photo by H. Hawkline

  • Black Country, New Road To Play Dublin

    October 12, 2021 - By 

    Black Country, New Road will play Dublin next year. In support of their upcoming second album, Ants From Up There, acclaimed London septet will stop off at Dublin’s 3Olympia on 11th April 2022 as part of a UK and Irish tour. Tickets cost €24 and go on sale on Friday, 22nd October. Listen to band’s new single, ‘Chaos Space Marine’ below. Revisit our review of the band’s debut album, For the first time, here.

  • Red Hot Chili Peppers To Play Dublin

    October 7, 2021 - By 

    Red Hot Chili Peppers are coming back to Ireland. As part of a forthcoming stadium world tour, the Anthony Kiedis-fronted four-piece (with returning guitarist John Frusciante in tow, no less) play Dublin’s Marlay Park on June 29th 2022. Tickets for the show are available here from next Friday, October 15th at 10am. Revisit the band’s fairly legendary 2003 Slane show below.

  • Line-Up Announced For Cork’s Quiet Lights Festival

    October 6, 2021 - By 

    Islander have announced details of the fourth outing for Cork winter festival, Quiet Lights. Set to return to various venues in the city across 18th-21st November, this year’s bill is another brilliantly curated affair featuring Lisa O’Neill, Junior Brother, Maija Sofia, Joshua Burnside, Trá Pháidín, Brigid Mae Power, Niamh Regan and more. Check out the full line-up below. “After losing out on hosting Quiet Lights by mere days due to renewed restrictions last year, we are excited (and a little nervous) to be bringing our little festival back to Cork this year,” said festival director Jonathan Pearson. “We’re very proud…

  • Girl Band To Play Limerick on NYE

    October 6, 2021 - By 

    Girl Band are set to bid farewell to the shitshow that is 2021 with a return to Limerick. Off the back of a string of English festival shows, the Dara Kiely-fronted Dublin quartet have announced that they will play Dolans Warehouse on New Year’s Eve. Tickets for the gig, which is presented by the ever-reliable Seoda Shows, go on sale this Friday, 6th October at 9am priced€28. Can’t wait? Pre-sale is currently available via the band’s mailing list.

  • Sound of Belfast 2021 Programme Launched

    October 5, 2021 - By 

    The programme for this year’s Sound of Belfast has been announced. Returning both live and online for 14 days across 4-18th November, this year’s outing will see 50 events take over 11 venues across the city. Organised by the Oh Yeah Music Centre as a means to turn up the spotlight on the city’s world-class talent, highlights from this year’s programme include Bicep at the Telegraph Building, new night No Photos featuring Marion Hawkes and more, Kneecap, Bangers N’ Mashups live with Mob Wife, F.R.U.I.T.Y., Sasha Samara and more. Go here to check out the full programme and to buy…

  • Silverbacks Announce Second Album ‘Archive Material’, Release Title Track

    October 5, 2021 - By 

    Silverbacks have announced details of their forthcoming second studio album. At noon today, the Dublin five-piece revealed that they will release Archive Material via Full Time Hobby on January 21st, 2022. The follow-up to last year’s acclaimed – not to mention Choice Prize-nominated – Fad, it was recorded at Dublin’s Sonic Studios with Girl Band’s Daniel Fox on production duties once again. Thematically, the pandemic is said to function as a prism through which frontman Daniel O’Kelly examines ideas of community. He said: “I can’t remember who it was, but I saw a musician who said that they’d be keeping away from writing…