• Bill Callahan @ Vicar Street, Dublin

    October 2, 2019 - By 

    I found myself in the smoothest taxi ride I’ve ever fell upon, gliding from leafy Portobello to its friendly neighbour Mr. Vicar Street on a light mellow Sunday evening to witness my first ever Bill Callahan show, having been a long time fan of his work. It was pleasant from the off as I took the role of reviewer and made immediate conversation with fans of all kinds outside, soaking up all their knowledge like a musical magnetic sponge. There was Ben all the way from the USA who raved about the crazy support band Dallas Acid, whom he enthusiastically described as “……

  • Nealo w/ C.o.B and Jeorge II @ The Grand Social, Dublin

    October 2, 2019 - By 

    In the crowded smoking area of The Grand Social, fans and members of Ireland’s Hip Hop scene have congregated for a triple threat from some of the community’s heavy hitters. Tickets are presented at the door, wrists are stamped and drink is confiscated from a few younger attendees. Starting off the evening is Cork native C.o.B. Blasting the audience with a blend of old school horrorcore and contemporary trap beats, C.o.B parades the stage thrashing about whilst illuminated by glaring red visuals. While it may not be everybody’s cup of tea, a select few audience members at the base of…

  • Pixies @ Olympia Theatre, Dublin

    September 28, 2019 - By 

    As soon as this gig was announced a few months ago, it was always going to be a scramble for tickets, and so it transpired as it sold out in a matter of minutes. Having the chance to witness one of – if not the most – influential alt-rock bands of all time in such intimate surroundings wasn’t lost on anyone.  The history of Pixies pre and post their 2004 reunion is a well-trodden tale and it’s clear from both fans and critics alike, that the idea to release new music, hasn’t exactly hit the heights of their initial time…

  • The Specials @ Open House, Bangor

    August 29, 2019 - By 

    In the tour-heavy years since reforming back in 2008, The Specials have continuously re-affirmed their status not simply as bona fide 2-tone legends, they have underlined their ironclad rep as one of the all-time greats. Vital and visionary in equal measure, few acts, anywhere in the world, have equally defined and transcended genre like they have, all the while keeping two eyes firmly fixed on the horizon. Off the back of the release of Encore – their first album with vocalist Terry Hall since 1981 – the band’s generation-spanning set at Bangor Seafront tonight as part of Open House 2019 only…

  • Villagers @ Open House Festival, Bangor

    August 26, 2019 - By 

    Put succinctly, Villagers make beautiful music. The reason that their songs are quite so beautiful, and the reason that they connect on such a deep level with their audience, is that all of the white noise, static and blasts of Stax horns are anchored by the state of being human and all of the frailty and vulnerability that comes with it. In a scene so often dominated by archness, cynicism and borrowed nostalgia, Villagers are all about heart-on-the-sleeve sadness and fist-in-the-air joy, and this forms the core of what makes tonight’s performance so compelling, and the thread that is woven…

  • Féile na Gréine: The Beauty and Togetherness of a DIY Festival

    August 22, 2019 - By 

    Féile na Gréine blasted through Limerick this weekend with an unprecedented force taking over venues and public spaces in an explosion of rhythm, creativity and unity. The tireless efforts of Limerick’s best and brightest designers, sound engineers, artists and all round creatives seamlessly came together to create a beautiful moment in time, forever frozen in the hearts and minds of the beholders. Now in its second year DIY LK and Lower your Expectations collaboration glistened day through day with the sheer determination of the community to bring music alive within the city. With this year’s festival expanding into nearly double…

  • Beatyard 2019 @ Dún Laoghaire

    August 6, 2019 - By 

    Beatyard is a very different festival to your standard Irish festival. Boat parties and a concrete setting make for a different experience than the typical field fare. Families litter the audience and Bodytonic pieces are everywhere you turn from the Wigwam stage to the Eatyard area. Setting a festival in such a centralised area is no mean feat but Beatyard manage to pull it off with unique elements and a stellar line-up. This year’s Beatyard predominantly caters to dance fans with an occasional spot of pop music. The Main Stage boasts a number of big-name festival acts whilst the Wigwam…

  • Body/Head w/ Heather Leigh & Elaine Kahn @ IMMA, Dublin

    July 29, 2019 - By 

    The end of Sonic Youth’s 30 year career in 2011 was the end of an indie rock era, but it’s been some consolation that the band’s remarkable consistency has largely carried across to each member’s post-SY projects. Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo’s solo careers have both largely carried on where their contributions to the band left off, both even sharing joint custody of drummer Steve Shelley. But it’s arguably Kim Gordon who has remained most in touch with Sonic Youth’s avant-garde roots. Since forming experimental guitar duo Body/Head with Bill Nace, their three albums of freeform guitar exploration so far…

  • Knockanstockan 2019

    July 23, 2019 - By 

    2019 will be remembered as a phenomenal year for fans of Irish music with so many genres showing substantial growth and development. Hype has been reverberating throughout the whole scene but too often these acts that are doing so well are overlooked by festival line-ups. This year, Knockanstockan is an exception to that rule with the entire line-up feeling like a homage to Irish growth. Boasting a line-up that incorporates the vast range of sounds on display in Ireland’s musical canon right now, Knockanstockan 2019 is admirable in its dedication to eclecticism and musical inclusivity and makes itself a fore-runner…

  • Mac Demarco w/ Kirin J Callinan and Beabadoobee @ Iveagh Gardens, Dublin

    July 15, 2019 - By 

    In the sweltering heat of an early July evening swarms of young Irish hipsters enter the Iveagh Gardens. Amongst the sea of blunt fringes, ratty facial hair and cuffed jeans there are brief pieces of chatter that you would expect from the audience of a Mac Demarco concert. There’s talk of drinking cheap booze and, of course, every other second the word “cigarette” is heard. Without even an ounce of an introduction the first support act, Kirin J Callinan takes to the stage wearing a beret, all black clothing and holding in his hand a fluorescent pink guitar. A few…