• Irish Tracks of the Week – 15th November

    November 15, 2024 - By 

    We’re back to stacked round-ups today via essential new sounds from Adore, Cormorant Tree Oh, Tigers of Tin Pan, Makeshift Art Bar, Lucy Gaffney, Brién and more Adore – Can We Talk Cormorant Tree Oh – To Be Flowers Tigers of Tin Pan – I Cannot See The Doctor Makeshift Art Bar – Birthday Party Lucy Gaffney – do u know me? Brién – Everyone’s Here Garrett Laurie – No Warning Body Wigs – Body Clinic EP Body Wigs by Wigs & Body Clinic Eve Clague – Caught in Words Caught In Words by Eve Clague Ciaran Lavery feat. Joshua…

  • Premiere: Ciaran Lavery – “Light” Entertainment

    November 14, 2024 - By 

    Last week, we thoroughly enjoyed catching up with Ciaran Lavery, digging into one of the lauded NI artist’s most ambitious projects to date: “Light” Entertainment. Not only doubling up as his fifth studio album—which drops tomorrow—and a live spectacle set to take over the Lyric Theatre tonight—last remaining tickets are here—it’s also the title of a brand new short film. Directed by Shaun Doogan and Ciarán McCann, it represents, in a masterfully surreal, visually stunning fashion, what Lavery encapsulates on “Light” Entertainment the album: essentially how a constant stream of information (and misinformation), news, social media, images, video and entertainment leave…

  • Problem Patterns, Jordan Adetunji and More Win at NI Music Prize

    November 14, 2024 - By 

    Problem Patterns and Jordan Adetunji were among the names to win big at the twelfth edition of the Northern Ireland Music Prize in Belfast last night. Rounding off this year’s Sound of Belfast programme, the annual awards ceremony – which launched back in 2013 to celebrate NI music across several awards – took over the Ulster Hall for one of its strongest outings to date. As well as live performances by the likes of Tramp, Dana Masters and Oh Yeah Legend award recipient, Eric Bell, the night saw queer punks Problem Patterns walk away with the big one – Best…

  • Jordan Adetunji Nominated for Grammy Award

    November 11, 2024 - By 

    Five years ago, we tipped Jordan Adetunji as one of our 19 for ’19 acts “destined for the bright lights,” and he’s more than lived up to that promise. Now, with his Grammy nomination for Best Melodic Rap Performance, the Belfast trailblazer’s career has reached new heights, putting him in the ranks of Beyoncé and The Weeknd. His single ‘Kehlani’ has racked up over 300 million streams, showcasing a sound that blends his trap-influenced beginnings with influences from neo-soul, afrobeat, and rock, as we noted back in 2019: “a hook-laden, ambitious vision whose grasp matches its reach.” From the moment…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 8th November

    November 8, 2024 - By 

    We’ll level with you: it’s not been a mad busy week for new Irish music but here’s the best of it, featuring Skinner, Susie Blue, Hazey Haze x 40 Hurtz, Tadhg Williams and more Skinner – Calling in Sick EP Susie Blue – Venite Ad Me Hazey Haze x 40 Hurtz – HARDSHIT Tadhg Williams – Faith of Old Tayne – Fear (feat. Rolo Tomassi) Revolution Above Disorder – The Flowers of Destruction

  • 10 Acts to Catch at Output Belfast

    November 5, 2024 - By 

    Over the past few years, we’ve been right in the thick of Output Belfast, Ireland’s largest one-day music conference and showcase. Hosting and featuring on various panels has been fun – and often revelatory – but it’s felt especially meaningful to co-host some truly memorable evening showcases since 2015. Zig-zagging across the Cathedral Quarter, hyper-caffeinated from the afternoon conference scramble, to catch some of the island’s very best acts in rooms where you can be sure sounders abound? Year in, year out, that’s what it’s all about. But being able to host some of our favourite artists as part of…