• Villagers scoop Choice Music Prize

    Four years on from just missing out to the prize to Two Door Cinema Club, Dublin indie-folk act Villagers have walked away with the 2014 Choice Music Prize for their second studio album, {Awayland}. Thanking the judges for liking his “weird little songs”, the band’s frontman Conor O’Brien accepted the award and a cheque for €10,000 having performed earlier in the night alongside six of the nominated ten acts. Check out Shaun Neary’s photos from the ceremony – including all the performances – here.

  • Belfast Film Festival programme launched

    Featuring a nigh on kaleidoscopic plethora of cinematically-inclined happenings, the programme for this year’s Belfast’s Film Festival has been announced. Traversing categories including Altered States, TV Eye, Shorts and Opening & Closing, A Steve Zissou night, Ray Charles Live 1961, Documenta – The Happening, Here Be Dragons, Busby Furball and The Human Scale are amongst the many eclectic screenings and events taking place from from March 27 to April 5 across Belfast. Go here to check out the full schedule for this year’s festival, now in its fourteenth year. Tickets are available to purchase via here.

  • First acts announced for Body & Soul 2014

    Canadian musician Caribou, American singer-songwriter John Grant and London-based electronic producer Jon Hopkins (pictured) are amongst the first acts announced for this year’s Body & Soul Festival. Taking place at Ballinlough Castle, Co. Westmeath during the summer solstice weekend of June 20-22, the first wave of acts to the play the festival also include Goldfrapp, Darkside, Mount Kimbie and Buraka Som Sistema. See below for the current poster for Body & Soul 2014. Varying in price and description, go here to buy tickets for the festival.

  • Stream: Solar Bears – Interzone

    Ahead of headlining our forthcoming night at Voodoo Belfast on Saturday March 22, Dublin electronic duo Solar Bears have a new track titled ‘Interzone’. Taken from the pair’s forthcoming third studio album – the follow-up to last year’s Supermigration – the track is an homage to American actor and director Dennis Hopper Go here for the event page for our Solar bears show next month. Stream ‘Interzone’ via Soundcloud below. Photo by Dorje De Burgh.

  • Watch: Oh Volcano – Oceans

    General Fiasco brothers Owen and Enda Strathern have unveiled their debut track as Oh Volcano, titled ‘Oceans’. Marking a decidedly more progressive and electronic direction, the track is accompanied by a video directed by local musician and filmmaker Edward Butler. General Fiasco announced a hiatus in early 2013 but have played a few gigs with Duke Special and a one-off small gig in Belfast. Check out the video for the ‘Oceans’ below.

  • Watch: Malibu Shark Attack – Better Off As Friends

    Featuring a heartbroken BeeMickSee, transatlantic indie-rap group Malibu Shark Attack  have released their first music video, for ‘Better Off As Friends’. Set for release on March 17 via No Dancing, the single features vocals from Dudley Colley of Dublin three-piece The Dudley Corporation. According to the band’s Soundcloud page, the video “shares the turmoil and heartache in the loss of some of [our] most-loved groups. From The Undertones and Sleater-Kinney to The Streets and ABBA. [We] want you to remember one thing. No matter what happens, you’ll always have the albums. As long as you don’t smash them up”. Malibu Shark Attack…

  • Watch: We Cut Corners – Best Friend

    Set to play our new gig/club night, No Tomorrow, on May 3, Dublin indie rock duo We Cut Corners have revealed the beautifully animated video for their single, ‘Best Friend’. Following on from the release of ‘YKK’ and ‘Every Thief’, the track is taken from the band’s forthcoming second album, Think Nothing.  The video for the single was created by Kijeki/Adamski. Watch the video for ‘Best Friend’ below!

  • Premiere: The Twenty – You Can’t Be Lonely Forever

    The first installment of a new two-single release, Belfast-based, Derry-derived alt/punk band The Twenty have unveiled the video for ‘You Can’t Be Lonely Forever’. A cover of the Bam Bam and the Calling original – written by Paul PJ McCartney from the band – the cover features the Twenty’s ever-inimitable, Colm Warren-fronted punk snarl and proves suitably stripped-back homage. The Twenty will release their own original follow-up single to the track next week, titled ‘Have You Seen Her?’ Watch the video to ‘You Can’t Be Lonely Forever’ below.

  • Watch: Mojo Fury – Iris Influential

    Having already besot us the singles ‘Original Bird’ and ‘The Difference Between’, Lisburn alt-rock band Mojo Fury have unveiled the video to ‘Iris Influential, their latest single to be taken from their second studio album. Directed by Daniel Holmes, the video features the Mike Mormecha-fronted band luring zombie-like aficionados from the night to revel in the track’s masterfully understated cosmic groove. Mojo Fury play Belfast’s Limelight 2 on Thursday, March 6. Win tickets to the show here. Watch the video for ‘Iris Influential’ below.

  • Stream: Sleep Thieves – City Of Hearts

    Having reached no. 40 in out Top 100 Irish Tracks of 2013 with the stunning slice of indie/electro-pop that was ‘Sparks’, Dublin trio Sleep Thieves have released a stream of their latest single, ‘City of Hearts’. Propelled by a strutting, synth-lined beat, the track blossoms into a subtly kaleidoscopic chorus, its Solar Bears-esque twists and turns governed by Sorcha Brennan’s wonderfully lulling vocals. Taken from the band’s forthcoming new album, You Want The Night, the single – recorded by Keith Byrne and mixed by Rian Trench – is the trio’s first release since recently signing to Chicago-based record label Minty Fresh Records. Stream ‘City of…