• Stream: Master & Dog – Candlelight

    March 27, 2014 - By 

    The long-awaited follow-up to their 2012 self-titled debut album, Belfast-based alt-folk band Master & Dog are streaming the wonderfully delicate and understated ‘Candlelight’, the first song to be taken from their new EP, Things You Should Know. Recorded and mixed at the band’s Graham House Studio, the full four-track EP is currently available to download as a digital release for £5 via Bandcamp. ‘Candlelight’, the first track on the release, is a paced and weaving ode evocative of early Elbow and the more placid tales of Wilco and Sparklehorse. Following a string of German dates in April, the band will play two…

  • First Tennents Vital Show Announced

    March 26, 2014 - By 

    The Killers will be coming to Belfast to perform as part of the Tennents Vital series of gigs. The show will take place at the Boucher Road Playing Fields, Belfast on the 21st of August. And if the prospect of the American band doesn’t have you excited enough already, Bastille will also be playing on the night. Tickets for the show will cost €49.50 and will go on sale next Monday, March 31 at 9am.  

  • Video exclusive: Sullivan & Gold – Nobody Loves You

    March 26, 2014 - By 

    Our second video exclusive from a Northern Irish duo this week comes courtesy of Derry singer-songwriter two-piece Ben Robinson and Adam Montgomery AKA Sullivan & Gold and their heartfelt cover of Reuben’s ‘Nobody Loves You’. Filmed by PIGMINTFILM, the video features Ben and Adam – previously of The Good Fight – performing their rendition of the song in Coleraine’s The Stables Flower Co. Sullivan & Gold will play the following dates over the next few of weeks: April 4 – Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart April 12 – Whelan’s, Dublin April 24 – Cafe Nero (Lombard St, Fountain St, Botanic Av), Belfast April 25 – Cafe…

  • Stream: Benihana – Machines

    March 25, 2014 - By 

    Featuring a sample of Charlie Chaplin’s famous speech from The Great Dictator, Kildare electronic duo Will Molloy and Billy Archbold AKA Benihana have released a new track titled ‘Machines’. Speaking of current plans, the pair said, “We actually havent played any gigs yet so at the moment we’re  working on a few tracks with the hope of building up enough material for a decent set. We’re also starting to look at how exactly we’re going to play our stuff live – still a bit unsure! Once the new tracks are finished, hopefully we’ll be able to start piecing together our next…

  • Watch: Fight Like Apes – Crouching Bees

    March 24, 2014 - By 

    With their forthcoming new EP, the altogether interestingly-titled Whigfield Sextape set for release on May 12, Dublin electro-pop four-piece Fight Like Apes have unveiled the video to their  new single, ‘Crouching Bees’. Directed by Grey Sun, the video shadows a disenchanted and onesied urban flâneur on a bicycle-based, sea-sprayed mystical adventure featuring the band’s frontwoman May Kay. Check out the artwork for Whigfield Sextape (created by none other than our photo/visual editor Loreana Rushe) and the video for ‘Crouching Bees’ below.

  • Video exclusive: C-BEAMS – Tannhauser

    March 24, 2014 - By 

    Ahead of its general release later in the week, we’re happy to present an exclusive first look at the new electronic audio/visual project by Belfast-based artists Paul Shevlin and Richard Butler AKA C-BEAMS. Featuring music by Shevlin (also of alt-pop band Hologram) and film by Butler, the pair’s somnambulant debut offering, ‘Tannhauser’, is the first song to be taken from their debut four-track EP, Scars. Speaking of the project, Shevlin (pictured above) said, “The project started when Richard and I started spitballing ideas to work on together. We both have similar tastes when it comes to music/film and the idea of working on…

  • Darling Announce Dublin Show

    March 24, 2014 - By 

    Having impressed when supporting White Lies last week, Dublin’s indie rockstars Darling have announced a headline show at Whelans on Friday May 23rd. Tickets for the upcoming band are a measly €11 and are on sale now.

  • Indiependence Announces Line-up

    March 21, 2014 - By 

    Celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, the Michelstown-based festival Indiependence announced its lineup yesterday evening. The festival – taking place on the August bank holiday weekend –  draws in bigger names this year, with Public Enemy (above), White Lies and Tom Odell all headlining. Further down the lineup you get the likes of Irish stars Delorentos, Damian Dempsey and Sultans Of Ping, along with upcoming talent Darling, Chloe Howl and The Academic. Tickets are a very reasonably priced €99 and are on sale now.

  • First acts announced for Electric Picnic 2014

    March 19, 2014 - By 

    Trip-hop pioneers Portishead and U.S hip-hop duo Outkast are amongst the first wave of acts announced for this year’s Electric Picnic. With tickets for the festival going on sale at 7pm tonight, the following acts were revealed to play the festival, taking place at Stradbally Estate, Co. Laois from Friday 29 to Sunday, August 31: Portishead Outkast Beck Foals Pet Shop Boys Paulo Nutini Chic featuring Nile Rodgers Lily Allen St. Vincent Simple Minds London Grammar Metronomy Slowdive Laura Mvula Annie Mac Flume The Stranglers Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks The Blades The Wailers Omar Souleyman White Denim Temples Sohn Jungle…

  • Watch: RAMS’ Pocket Radio – Love Is A Bitter Thing

    March 12, 2014 - By 

    Taken from his album Béton, Northern Irish singer-songwriter Peter McAuley AKA RAMS’ Pocket Radio has released the subtly sublime video for his new single, ‘Love Is A Bitter Thing’. Directed by Darren Lee, the video see a solitary and evidently yearning McAuley – currently in Texas for South by Southwest 2014 – in a desolate yet beautiful woodland, forcefully playing and treating his piano to inevitable (but perhaps necessary?) abandon RAMS’ Pocket Radio play the following dates throughout March: March 12: The British Music Embasy – SXSW, Texas March 14: The Full Irish Breakfast – BD Riley, SXSW, Texas March 14:…