• Rave New World w/ Timmy Stewart Mix

    September 4, 2015 - By 

    In what’s probably long overdue, we’re proud to introduce the Rave New World mix series. We’ll be hosting mixes from some of our favourite DJs and artists from the island of Ireland. First up we have a legend around Belfast, Timmy Stewart. Timmy’s been DJing around Belfast for ages and his knowledge of house, techno, disco, the lot, is unmatched in the city. He’s been the in-house booker for Shine and Stiff Kitten as well as taking up monthly residencies in Yello, Love & Death, Aether & Echo and The Hudson as well as co-running the Extended Play imprint. To…

  • Playlist: 30 Unmissable Acts at Electric Picnic 2015

    September 3, 2015 - By 

    Befitting tradition, this year’s Electric Picnic is set to be another weekend-long congregation of some of the very best sights and sounds. From the Little Big Tent and Rankins Wood to Electric Arena and the Body & Soul stages, every corner will reveal a cornucopia of the beautiful and brash, restrained and rapturous, up-and-coming and positively established. Having ran our eye over this year’s line-up a few times, we reckon the following thirty acts are worthy of the collective title “unmissable”.  Have a listen and make sure to check them all out if you’re lucky enough to be gracing Stradbally Estate this…

  • Sounds from a Safe Harbour: Five to Watch

    September 2, 2015 - By 

    While Sounds from a Safe Harbour brings many high-profile and international acts to Cork City as part of a wide-ranging ticket, the real gems of the festival lie in the presence on the bill of some of the city and country’s independent bands and artists, once again mostly placed on a “music trail” as a secondary attraction (see also: MTV “hitting” Cork). Never fear, though: TTA’s got you covered with a look of some of the ones to watch. All events listed here are free. Rusangano Family: Friday 18 September @ The Bodega Formerly known by their individual names of…

  • Playlist: Hooked On Classics

    September 1, 2015 - By 

    The death of James Last earlier this year highlighted the often strange relationship between “pop” and “serious” music, Diarmuid Kennedy writes. Last’s weird function seems to have been to take easily digestible popular music and make it even blander – the musical equivalent of a chip milkshake.  Mercifully there are other approaches. David Lang’s version of the Velvet Underground’s ‘Heroin’ makes it an even darker, more haunting song.   The Alarm Will Sound ensemble has knocked out a complete album of Aphex Twin arrangements.   The percussionist Joby Burgess’ Powerplant project has taken on some of Kraftwerk’s canon for their…

  • Track Record: The Late David Turpin

    September 1, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Track Record, Dublin artist David Turpin (AKA The Late David Turpin) selects and talks about some of his all-time favourite records. The Late David Turpin’s concert Romances will take place at Project Arts Centre, Dublin on September 17 as part of Tiger Dublin Fringe. Photos by Abigail Denniston. Bjork – Medulla I love Medulla because it’s very beautiful, and it’s also very ugly – like the interior of a human body. Watching a documentary I was struck by how germane and technical Bjork is in the studio – which is not always how she’s presented as…

  • Bookmark: Will O’Connor

    September 24, 2015 - By 

    Will O’Connor is a producer and recording engineer based in Galway. His band Grounds For Invasion released their debut album Dying Stars in February. He mostly reads fiction. Photos by Sean McCormack. Cormac McCarthy – The Border Trilogy It’s hard to sum up what McCarthy did with these novels. Yes, they’re violent and tragic, but they’re also fiercely beautiful. Have a Spanish-English dictionary handy. * Although this might be me being an arse again. Raymond Chandler – The Big Sleep Thrilling, funny and entertaining. Guy drives around a lot, gets punched a lot, drinks a lot, meets lots of inexplicably…

  • Visual Arts Outlook (27/8)

    August 27, 2015 - By 

    Visual Arts Outlook readers and lovely art enthusiasts, I am away next week so I have included several events in the Outlook that are opening next week so you don’t have to go without! In my absence, don’t forget that next Thursday is Late Night Art Belfast (Thursday 4th) so there will lots of galleries open from 6pm-9pm that evening. There is a good variety of exhibitions and happenings opening over the next two weeks across Ireland so I would encourage you to attend as many as possible and support your local arts scene! On Friday evening this week at…

  • Rave New World (28/8)

    August 28, 2015 - By 

    Antoin Lindsay and Aidan Hanratty deliver their their weekly look at the very best electronic gigs, tracks, releases and mixes. GIGS Twitch Present: Anthony Naples and Pariah at The Bunatee, Belfast Saturday 29 August Two brilliant producers and DJs in their own right, Twitch bring together Pariah and Anthony Naples for what should be a cracker. Last time I seen either of them in Belfast they went down absolute treats with the crowd, so expect this one to be no different.  AL Beat BBQ present: Lil Louis at Aether & Echo, Belfast Sunday 30 August A bank holiday means only…

  • Interview: Beach House

    August 25, 2015 - By 

    Ahead of their highly-anticipated return to Belfast and Dublin in late October, Beach House will release their stellar fifth full-length album, Depression Cherry, via Bella Union on Friday, August 28. Touching on the past, present and future of the band, Brian Coney talks energy, myth and release with the band’s frontwoman Victoria Legrand. Hi Victoria. You’ve recently released a statement about Depression Cherry that includes, “Here, we continue to let ourselves evolve while fully ignoring the commercial context in which we exist.” I really like that. Is not being misunderstood that important to you? It’s not about being misunderstood or anything like that. In order for…

  • Noise in the Signal: How IASCA’s New Submission System Hurts Independent Music

    August 24, 2015 - By 

    This past week, music rights association IASCA triumphantly announced its deal with online content delivery specialists Yangaroo, to adapt their radio submission system for Ireland. This was sold as a triumph for Irish independent music, as now there will apparently be a more direct path to station heads’ ears via their streamlined system, and apparently, as a result, more scope for radio play. A nice idea, but one that leaves more questions than answers. COSTS: At present, it costs nothing to bung together a .WAV with a press release and a few .JPGs to send off to various D.J.s and…