• 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…

  • Music Venue Trust Announces New Save Our Venues T-Shirt Campaign

    June 18, 2020 - By 

    The Music Venue Trust has been a force of immeasurable value within the arts sector in the last few months, saving a great number of  venues UK-wide with their #SaveOurVenues campaign, which continues to guarantee the presence places in which to gather, once gathering is an option. Their latest initiative will offer the official Save Our Venues T-shirt for sale on the Crowdfunder page of each artist – with each costing £20 posted. From this, each £20 will go directly towards the individual venue’s campaign, with production & distribution costs being covered by the Trust itself. The six MVT venues under threat in Northern Ireland are Belfast’s Black Box, Voodoo, Oh Yeah…

  • Second Issue of ‘Spread’ Zine Set to Raise Funds for JaJa Studios

    June 19, 2020 - By 

    Feminist zine Spread was introduced in December 2019 as part of the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland Art Exhibition, covering themes of  music, sex and DIY culture in Ireland. Initially intended as a March release, editors Yvonne Kiely and Mairead Mullan decided to push back its release in order to effectively engage with the Covid-19 crisis. Spread #2 is available online at Lazer Guided Reporter, as of 3pm – completely free to read and download. Parallel to this, one of our favourite DIY artist spaces on the island, Stoneybatter’s JaJa Studios have recently been given the unenviable task of finding a new location in Dublin. In addition to this, Spread have generously…