• Watch: Wonder Villains – Marshall

    Taken from their forthcoming debut album, Belfast-based pop four-piece the Wonder Villains have released the typically starry-eyed video for their new single, ‘Marshall’. Shot at legendary Portrush amusement complex, Barry’s, the video was directed by Little Giant Films‘ Robin Morgan and a small team of producers and assistant directors. Wonder Villain’s debut full-length offering, Rocky – named after one of the band’s managers, producer Rocky O’Reilly – will be released via No Dancing/Third Bar on March 24. Watch the video for ‘Marshall’ below.

  • The Specials Announce Dublin and Belfast Shows

    Marking the anniversary of their current reunion, English ska legends The Specials have announced that will return for a couple of Irish shows in 2014, at the Olympia in Dublin and the Ulster Hall, Belfast on November 3 and 4 respectively. The tour – kicking off in Dublin – will culminate in a show at Nottingham’s Rock City on November 22. Tickets for the Dublin show are priced at €49.65 – the Belfast listing is yet to be announced. Both go on sale this Friday, 21 at 9 am from Ticketmaster. Check out our review of the Specials’ Ulster Hall last year here.

  • White Lies Announce Dublin Show

    Exciting news in Dublin today with the announcement that the Jameson St. Patrick Day live event will be returning this year. White Lies (above), Funeral Suits and Darling are the acts confirmed to play at the event, and most interestingly the location for the show will be the Ambassador Theatre, a venue that has not been used for music shows for some time. The show will take place on Sunday 16th March and tickets are onsale now, priced at just €15. Watch the video for ‘There Goes Our Love Again’ by White Lies below.

  • Download: Documenta – Latvian Batman EP

    Having piqued our interested with its lead track, a sublime cover of ‘TV (Girl On Fire)’ by The Perfect Disaster, Belfast drone pop outfit Documenta have unveil their full Valentine’s Day covers EP, Latvian Batman. Featuring the aforementioned take on ‘TV Girl On Fire’, the release also features a cosmically-enhanced cover of ‘Blue Flower by Americana dream pop band Mazzy Star and a special bonus track that comes with a (totally free) download of the EP. Rather than spoil it for you, check out the first two tracks via the stream below and download the full EP via Bandcamp here.

  • Watch: Go Swim – Call Sign

    Filmed over a period of a few months at various Belfast venues including the Limelight and T13 Skate Park, Belfast-based indie pop five-piece Go Swim have unveiled the video to their new single, ‘Call Sign’. Speaking of the video, the band’s vocalist Steven Smith said, “We picked this track for a video as it was the one we felt was the most energetic and the one we felt we really could ‘let loose’ to on stage so I guess we wanted to really capture that energy in the video so we decided on trying to make the video come across as live…

  • Live At The Marquee Announces New Shows

    Three further acts have been added to the already hugely impressive festival in Cork with Bob Dylan, Imelda May and Lana Del Rey all confirmed to play. These acts join an already prestigious line-up and include Cliff Richard, Dolly Parton, Tom Jones, Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters, Elbow, Biffy Clyro, Bryan Adams, Pixies, The Prodigy, Christy Moore, Neil Young and Crazy Horse and The National. Tickets for Dylan are €65.50 – €76, €35 for Imelda May and €45 for Lana Del Rey and the dates are June 16, June 21 and July 15 respectively. Tickets go on sale February…

  • Stream: Documenta – TV (Girl On Fire)

    Taken from the forthcoming three-track Valentines covers mini-EP, the ingenuously titled Latvian Batman, Belfast-based drone band Documenta have released a stream of their take on ‘TV (Girl On Fire)’ by London band The Perfect Disaster. Originally written by the latter band’s frontman Phil Parfitt and released in 1988 via Fire Records, it featured on the band’s second album, Asylum Road. Retaining the two-chorded infatuation of the original, Documenta’s masterfully understated cover features strings and a hypnotic, droning ambience reminiscent of their original material. Stream the track (released CF Records) via Soundcloud below.

  • Stream: We Cut Corners – Best Friend

    Taken from their forthcoming second album, Think Nothing, Dublin indie rock duo We Cut Corners have released their latest single, the brilliantly bobbing ‘Best Friend’ The follow-up to the equally impressive ‘Every Thief’ and ‘YKK’ by Conall Ó Breacháin and John Duignan, the track is a stripped-back affair, vehement vocals melding with abrasive guitar textures and a rhythm that emerges from a strut to a crashing conclusion. Think Nothing is released via Delphi in April. Check out the artwork for the album and stream ‘Best Friend’ via Soundcloud below.

  • EP Stream: FAWS – Free Samples

    The long-awaited follow-up to his 2012 EP, Blues Notes, Dublin electronic producer Faws has unveiled a new three-track EP, Free Samples. Featuring samples from the likes of Bobby McFerrin and Buena Vista Social Club, the EP is a typically shadowy and somnambulist effort from the Irish artist, peaking on the beautifully fragmentary melancholia of its closer ‘Ghetto Lover’. Stream the EP via Bandcamp below.

  • Longitude Announces New Acts

    Longitude have revealed six new acts to play at this year’s festival. Bombay Bicycle Club (above), First Aid Kit, Icona Pop, George Ezra and Koreless will be joining the likes of HAIM, Bastille, Disclosure and Chvrches. The festival will take place from Friday 18 to Sunday July 20, and tickets are on sale now from Ticketmaster, priced at €59.50 for a day pass, and €149.50 for the weekend ticket. Watch the video for ‘Luna’ by Bombay Bicycle Club below.