• Interview: Charlie Caplowe (Xtra Mile Recordings)

    In a revealing conversation, Will Murphy talks to Charlie Caplowe, founder of one of the finest independent record labels around, Xtra Mile Recordings. Based in London, the imprint is responsible for putting out some stellar records from Reuben, Frank Turner/Million Dead, Future of the Left, Against Me! and many more. Hi Charlie. What’s the early history of Xtra Mile? What led to the creation? Who were the key players? I was working as a PR for many years handling the press for many acts including Million Dead, Frank Turner’s old band. No labels were signing them, so I said, “Well, sod that.…

  • Q+A: Mylets

    At just 20 years of age, Henry Kohen AKA Mylets’ debut album has just been released via Sargent House. Having received exceptionally warm reviews from the likes of NPR and the New York Times, he’s just left California to tour Europe with And So I Watch You From Afar. Koken talks to Niamh Hegarty about some of his time at Sargent House to date and the evolution of his new album, Arizona. Your standard of musicianship is particularly high. When did you first pick up a guitar? I found my dad’s old 3/4 scale off-brand acoustic in a closet when I was…

  • Visual Arts Outlook (27/4)

    This Thursday, The Douglas Hyde Gallery will be screening two films about Rose Wylie created by Tate and Frieze. They will be shown at 1pm and 5pm, so head down to hear this artist discussing her work. We also had exciting news that The MAC in Belfast has been Nominated for the Arts Trust Museum of the year. Championed by Ana Matronic in the Guardian on Saturday, The MAC, if selected could be in with the chance of winning £100,000, along with the enviable recognition of winning such a prestigious prize. Belfast Exposed Geert Goiris May 1 – June 27…

  • Monday Mixtape: Dara Kiely (Girl Band)

    Currently in the studio recording for their debut full-length album – excepted to drop at some point in the Autumn – we’re absolutely certain Dublin’s Girl Band are on the cusp of some incredible things. Taking a breather from recording vocal tracks, Dara Kiely from the band has selected some of his all-time favourite tracks for this week’s Monday Mixtape, ranging from the likes of Syd Barrett and the Doors to Kendrick Lamar and Boom Bip/Doseone. Stream that below.

  • Not Squares – Bolts

    For fans of Belfast trio Not Squares it’s been a long wait for a follow up to 2010’s Yeah OK, one of the finest Irish debuts of recent years. With drummer/primary vocalist Keith Winter moving to London in 2012, new material has largely had to be crafted long distance, and so we’ve only been treated to a handful of singles to tide us over in the intervening period. These singles make up almost half of the new album, and other tracks like ‘Can Opener’ will be well familiar to anyone who has caught their sporadic live shows over the last…

  • Blur Retrospective: Modern Life is Rubbish

    Blur’s Modern Life Is Rubbish is very much an album made under duress. Having toured the US at their label’s insistence, the band found themselves over £60000 in debt with no commercial prospects to make it back. In order salvage some cash, the group released “Popscene”, a punk inspired, horn heavy stomper with hatefully playful lyrics about the music industry. It’s the sound of band taking all of the frustration and rage they been bottling up for years and letting it out in one vicious, beautiful burst. Naturally it tanked and barely dented the pop charts, peaking at number 32.…

  • From The Abstract to Reality: Reasons To Vote Yes

    In the first of a three-part feature, Aidan Hanratty looks at reasons to vote Yes in the forthcoming marriage referendum. It’s hard to know where to begin on the topic of same-sex marriage (SSM). Between op-eds and letters to The Irish Times, it seems enough words have been written on the subject that any more might be considered a waste. When you see some of the ludicrous guff written on social media, however, it’s hard to ignore the urge to state your case. A friend recently told of how her five-year-old daughter was against SSM, since obviously boys should marry girls…

  • Indiependence Announce New Acts

    Several new acts have been added to the bill for this year’s Indiependence festival, which is set to return to Deer Farm in Mitchelstown, Cork, across the weekend of July 31 to August 2. With the likes of the Mark Lanegan Band, Ash and Jape already confirmed, Basement Jaxx, Kodaline, Hamsandwich, Foy Vance, The Young Folk and Elastic Sleep (pictured) are amongst the latest additions. With more acts set to be announced, check out the current line-up below and go here to buy tickets for the festival.