• Insert Coin: Nicky Case

    May 20, 2015 - By 

    In this installment of Insert Coin, Eoghain Meakin chats to Nicky Case, a digital artist and game developer about his work and his intriguing Coming Out Simulator.  Nicky Case is a game designer and interactive media guru. Over the years he’s honed his craft and skills and made games with a wide ranging dialogue about the obsessions, preoccupations and curiosities in our society. His :The Game: series took a scattershot look at love, art, celebrity, pop culture and a good few things in between. While his recent Parable of the Polygons illuminates by simplification the issue of living in an increasingly diversified…

  • Inbound: Oaks

    May 21, 2015 - By 

    When he’s not drumming for the likes of Matua Trap and Kasper Rosa, Belfast-based drummer and producer James ‘Tree’ Bruce is concocting some sublime electronic sounds as Oaks. Having just released his consistently impressive, hugely promising debut release, L’etoile Mysterieuse, Brian Coney chats to Bruce about the project. You’re a drummer in a couple of different bands – what inspired you to branch out (no pun intended) into Oaks? I’ve been making music on my own for years but it was always just for the pleasure of doing it, seeing what I could come up with. It was actually a…

  • Interview: August Wells

    May 21, 2015 - By 

    In a wonderfully reflective conversation, Eoin Murray chats to Ken Griffin (pictured, right), ex-Rollerskate Skinny frontman and current frontman of the New York-based August Wells about the latter’s recent melancholic masterpiece ‘Here In The Wild’, recently signing with Cork’s FIFA Records and the current state of indie rock music. So, firstly, ‘Here in the Wild’ was recently released on the excellent FIFA Records. How did you get involved with the label? What made you want to release the single with them in particular? A friend of mine from Cork, Graham Finn, lives in New York, and he played bass on the song.…

  • Interview: Dan Tombs

    May 20, 2015 - By 

    Dan Tombs is a visual artist from Norwich, England and is currently working with some of the most exciting musicians and producers of late. Recent and on-going collaborations with the likes of Factory Floor, Jon Hopkins, East India Youth, Luke Abbott and Nathan Fake means a new light is being shed on the eclectic work of the artist whose mediums traverse video installations, live concert visuals, album covers, music videos. Benni Johnston caught up with Dan as he worked on live visuals for Jon Hopkins in the days running up to the producer’s sell out show in Brixton Academy and…

  • Front of House: Louise McElvanna (CQAF)

    May 19, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Front of House, Brian Coney chats to Louise McElvanna, Event Manager at the likes of Open House Festival, Belfast Festival at Queens and the recent Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. Photos by Sara Marsden. Hi Louise. You’ve just finished working at this year’s Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. First off, any highlights? Hello The Thin Air. It’s always a mad 11-day whirlwind. There were so many highlights for me, but The Staves show was amazing, I just love them. I’m considering applying for the position of fourth Stave, but I’m not actually sure there’s a vacancy going! It was also…

  • Monday Mixtape: Christian Donaghey (Autumns)

    May 18, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Monday Mixtape, Derry musician Christian Donaghey – best known for his noise-pop project Autumns – selects and talks about some of his all-time favourite songs, featuring the likes of The Telescopes, Psychic Tv and Medicine. Autumns support Blue Whale at our BYOB, filmed show at Belfast’s The Loft this Saturday night (May 23). They will also support The KVB in Berlin on June 17. James Chance and The Blacks – Contort Yourself There’s two versions of this song, the other is by James Chance and The Contortions. I love this version a lot more because they made guitars…

  • Cork Heads: Una Feely

    May 19, 2015 - By 

    In this installment of Cork Heads, Brid O’Donovan chats to Una Feely, the Campaign Coordinator for Yes Equality Cork. She also co-founded IndieCork and is part of the Management Committee. IndieCork runs from October 4 -11 this year. Yes Equality Cork My official title here is Campaign Coordinator, so basically it’s all the logistics around the campaign. What we are trying to do is to activate people into coming out and voting yes in the campaign and also to reach people who might be soft yeses, who are thinking about voting yes but with a little bit more information and they will…

  • Deep Down South: A Round-Up, More YESEquality Gigs and a Big Weekend

    May 18, 2015 - By 

    ANNOUNCEMENTS, REMINDERS AND SUCH: While concentrating on the various nooks and crannies of Cork City’s multifaceted scene, this column does sometimes miss the major announcements. Our reasoning is that DIY shows do need the support and a specific platform, and most of the big festivals and events are already sorted for national press. However, we’d be completely remiss if we didn’t serve as somewhat of a reminder of what’s going on around town, especially with tonnes of stuff on the way. Adding to our coverage of the Sounds from a Safe Harbour, 100/1 and other fests in recent weeks, here’s a…

  • The Hefty Fog: Metal Is Gay

    May 17, 2015 - By 

    Heavy Metal has never and will never be a bastion for political correctness, nor should it. It’s all about hyperbole on steroids, and if you don’t get it, you don’t get it. You’ll fail horribly trying to change it. However, through all the goat cults, slopping entrails, corpse-bothering, and general rhubarb, the only thing that still shocks me about it all is the homophobia. Now, Metal fans aren’t especially homophobic, but when it does show up on the odd forum or comments box, it’s pretty ugly, and it’s hard to wrap your head around it. If anyone could for the…

  • Festival Preview: AVA Festival

    May 17, 2015 - By 

    Billed as a “one day-&-night grass roots Audio Visual Arts festival”, AVA Festival aims to promote the wealth of talent in Northern Ireland’s electronic music and visual arts scene. Taking place in the Titanic Quarter’s formidable T13 Building on Saturday, May 30, the one day event will be split into two broad sections: a daytime conference from 11am-4pm with a series of keynote speakers and panels, and an evening showcase from 4pm with some of the stars of Northern Ireland’s impressively healthy electronic and club scene. The likes of Bicep, Space Dimension Controller and Optimo are all involved in what…