• Sea Pinks Announce Indefinite Hiatus; Stream Single ‘Running Down the Clock’

    July 2, 2020 - By 

    Tomorrow, Belfast’s finest purveyors of sun-kissed jangle-pop Sea Pinks will mark 10 years in existence with a new EP. Arriving exactly a decade on from the Neil Brogan-fronted band’s debut single, ‘Japanese Knotwood’, it doubles up as an ending – an inexorable line drawn under the sand – for one of the country’s most prolific and consistently on-form bands. On the heels of its title track, we’re pleased to present a first listen to the release’s new single ‘Running Down The Clock’. Sure enough, even at the eleventh hour, Sea Pinks are a band that sound like no other. Centering on the onward march…

  • Another Love Story 2020 Cancelled

    July 1, 2020 - By 

    Another Love Story has officially announced that this year’s festival will not go ahead. The annual get-together at Killyon Manor, Co. Meath – is the latest Irish festival forced to pull the plug as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement, organisers said, “Being small and nimble, we have waited as long as we possibly could to give circumstances as much chance as possible to settle down enough to allow the freewheeling joy of our weekend at the Manor to occur. “However, given the government’s latest announcement regarding event capacities, and more importantly the ongoing risks that abound around all…

  • Premiere: Charles Hurts – Living Under Lockdown

    June 26, 2020 - By 

    Though there have been many reunions and recommencements in Irish music since we launched back in May 2013, none have demanded our attention more than the long-awaited return of Charles Hurts. A solo moniker of Belfast musician Philip Quinn aka Gross Net, who is also a one-third of Grave Goods and guitarist with the currently inactive Girls Names, ‘Living Under Lockdown’ arrives eight years on from his last Charles Hurts release (Blue Valentine, a stellar split with Hello Translinks? on CF/Recs). Taken from forthcoming three-track EP Squashed, which is released on July 3, it’s a typically phantasmal effort from Quinn, and a wonderfully balmy rumination…

  • Stream: Nevvv – Passionate/Stupid

    June 26, 2020 - By 

    A soon-to-be graduate of BIMM in Dublin, Navan musician Niamh McGoldrick aka Nevvv is on a self-proclaimed mission to “deliver WonkyPop to this little break little world of ours.” The intention isn’t to “brighten, eradicate or hide from the darkness,” McGoldrick says, but to “throw a party in it.” A valiant undertaking and no mistake, and she’s already on our her way. Having already collaborated with the likes of Tribal Dance Kynsy and I Am The Main Character (a new project by Sam Burton and Ben Bix of Sim Simma) Nevvv’s lead single, ‘Passionate/Stupid’ is a deftly produced and wonderfully off-kilter alt-pop gem. Produced…

  • Watch: CMAT – Rodney

    June 24, 2020 - By 

    Having launched herself into the world via her debut single ‘Another Day (kfc)’ back in April,  County Meath singer-songwriter Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson aka CMAT has returned with another dose of first-rate alt-pop. A tongue-in-cheek ode to deceased American actor Rodney Dangerfield (but of course) the song and accompanying video has us smitten. If there’s a downright catchier song released this week, in Ireland or otherwise, we’ll be very surprised.

  • Damning Report Reveals Gender Disparity in Irish Radio Play

    June 24, 2020 - By 

    An extensive new report has revealed a frankly inexcusable gender disparity in Irish radio play. Collating data from various Irish radio stations across the period of June 2019-2020, the report reveals a huge gender disparity on Top 20 Artists on playlists and airtime allocation. Carried out by Linda Coogan Byrne of Good Seed PR, the figures – which also include the Top 5 songs on each station throughout the period – are damning. In many instances, female Irish artists account for only 5% of playlisting. The conclusion of the introduction to the report concluded, “The findings on the Gender Disparity…

  • Stendhal Festival Announce Socially Distanced Music Festival Unlocked

    June 23, 2020 - By 

    Long a highlight of the Irish summer festival calendar, Stendhal Festival is one of many annual events working around government regulations around mass gatherings this summer. With an eye to allowing music lovers around the country to get back out and enjoy experiencing live music for the first time in months, Unlocked will – should it get the go-ahead – be one of the first festivals of its kind in Northern Ireland. With a strong emphasis on social distancing, the five-part series will take place at Ballymully Cottage Farm in Limavady across August and September. Due to existing government regulations on mass gatherings, organisers…

  • Premiere: Waldorf & Cannon – Dear Richard

    June 19, 2020 - By 

    Many Irish acts have kept remarkably busy in the age of lockdown, not least Derry/Donegal twosome Waldorf & Cannon. Hands down one of the North West’s finest fuzzed-up, no-nonsense alt-rock propositions, today the band release The Lockdown Special, a self-produced, six-track release bringing together live versions of tracks including ‘Syntax Error’ with material including new single ‘Dear Richard’. Doubling up as one of the duo’s strongest single efforts to date, its video – which we’re pleased to premiere below – was shot entirely in lockdown. As DIY goes, Waldorf & Cannon make it their mission statement. Have a first look at the video, and…

  • Premiere: PowPig – Intellectual

    June 18, 2020 - By 

    Back in 2018, PowPig graced practically every domestic  “One’s To Watch” list long before some members had even finished secondary school. Since then, the Limerick-based quartet has consistently excited audiences with their exuberant sound (if you haven’t checked out their split EP with Junior Brother from last year, do so immediately!) and live performances. The fun-loving foursome has firmly established themselves as one of the most exciting and promising bands in Ireland and they continue to show their musical dexterity with each subsequent release.  Today, PowPig share their most introspective arrangement to date, ‘Intellectual’. Founded on sophisticated textures of twinkling…

  • EP Premiere: Banríon – Airport Dads

    June 18, 2020 - By 

    Fronted by Róisín Hackett, Banríon are a Dublin foursome who bridge alt-rock and carefully-crafted indie-rock in the vein of Soccer Mommy and Snail Mail. Across three tracks, the band’s self-produced debut EP Airport Dads was recorded in a sitting room in Connemara, and is full testament to a band who have caught our attention right from the outset. Exploring the complex theme of disability, alongside broader ruminations on uncertainty, emigration and heartbreak, lead single ‘Yesterdays’ Paper’, ‘Bunkbeds’ and closer ‘Ouchie’ betray the pathos, songwriting finesse and harmonic knack of a band we’re sure will make big leaps in the coming months. Mark our words on that…