• Irish Tracks of the Week – 7th July

    July 7, 2023 - By 

    Another stacked week for Irish music sees an incredible traditional and Sean-Nós collection from Nyahh Records, as well as new singles and albums from the likes of Lucy Gaffney, Anna’s Anchor, Larks, Ian Nyquist and Niamh Bury Various Artists – A Collection of Songs in the Traditional & Sean-Nós Style A Collection of Songs in the Traditional & Sean-Nós Style by Nyahh Records Lucy Gaffney – Just Friends Ian Nyquist – Thiar Thiar by Ian Nyquist Anna’s Anchor – The Merries The Merries by Anna’s Anchor Larks – Talking To Myself Niamh Bury – Beehive N.O.A.H – Sour Kiss Jillelli –…

  • Inbound: Pat Lagoon

    July 6, 2023 - By 

    Pat Lagoon isn’t surprised that you don’t know many hip-hop acts from Waterford. The Irish MC caught local inspiration from artists such as Waterford-via-Congo producer Murka Murcury and the Flatbush Zombie-stylings of rap collective Sons Phonetic, whilst taking in the transatlantic sonics of Kaytranada, Mac Miller, Anderson Paak and Mick Jenkins. Combined, it makes for a melting pot of funk, soul, hip-hop and trap influence. Dropping his first track, ‘Love Bites,’ in 2018 before going on to release a string of singles and an EP with Rikshaw, temptation to join the Irish brain-drain and relocate to somewhere like London has…

  • Track Record: SHREM

    July 6, 2023 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record, Dublin-based DJ and selector SHREM shares some of their all time favourite records from Glass Candy to Cocteau Twins. Photos by Monika Ruman Glass Candy – B/E/A/T/B/O/X Ida No and Johnny Jewel’s ‘B/E/A/T/B/O/X’ is the sonic flagship of the now-cult Italians Do It Better label. It’s also an album I own in most variations, 8 differently coloured vinyl editions and counting – I am an impossible nerd when it comes to collecting. It’s an album full of surprises and its own humour and inimitable sound. It’s such an engrossing mixture of italo disco, post-punk,…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 30th June

    June 30, 2023 - By 

    On what’s been yet another stacked week for Irish music, delve into new tracks and releases by Rachael Lavelle, ØXN, Brigid Mae Power, Neil Brogan, Jafaris, Kelley and more. Rachel Lavelle – Let Me Unlock Your Full Potential ØXN – Love Henry Brigid Mae Power – Dream From The Deep Well Dream from the Deep Well by Brigid Mae Power Neil Brogan – Yrs Truly Yrs Truly, by Neil Brogan Jafaris – Breaking Bread Keeley – Floating Above Everything Else Floating Above Everything Else by Keeley Rory Nellis and Philip Watts d’Alton – The Evening Light Caoi De Barra –…

  • Track Record: Feather Beds

    June 22, 2023 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record, Michael Orange aka Feather Beds selects some of his favourite records, from Field Music to Omni. Photos by Ellen Pentony Field Music – Field Music I’ve gone for the first self-titled album. I can remember first hearing the song Working To Work, which is on their Tones Of Town album and I couldn’t believe it. I loved everything about it and then got really into the first album. I remember going to see them in Whelans in Dublin around 2007 and it’s still one of my favourite gigs of all time. This album is just…

  • Heavenly Pop Hits: Q&A with Martin Phillipps from The Chills

    June 21, 2023 - By 

    The Chills haven’t been here for a bit, their last show being at The Button Factory in 2014. That was the year before Silver Bullets, their first album in nearly 20 years, came out and served as a perfect reminder, or introduction, to Martin Phillipps’ perfectly executed pop writing. That such an album would come out after years of quiet and be great isn’t common. That such an album would only be the start of a string of excellent albums, all in the 4th decade of The Chills’ existence, is cause to marvel. And so you can marvel to your…

  • Track Record: Finnian

    June 15, 2023 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record, Dundalk singer-songwriter Finnian selects the records that have left a huge impression on his life from Creedence Clearwater Revival to Lauryn Hill. Photos by David McEneaney Creedence Clearwater Revival – Cosmo’s Factory I was pretty disappointed in John Fogarty’s recent concert in the 3Arena actually. It just didn’t hit the spot for a few different reasons. The opening cringy onstage video intro didn’t do it for me and the sound in the standing area was really bad. Gig critique aside, I can still say that I love this record. Few people could growl like…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 9th June

    June 9, 2023 - By 

    Honestly, how is it not Bandcamp Friday? Delve into the best Irish tracks and releases of the week from Problem Patterns, Chubby Cat, Aoife Wolf, The Low Field, Slouch, Brand New Friend, Akrobat, Mineral Stunting and more Problem Patterns – Letter of Resignation Chubby Cat – 21st Century Panic Attack The Low Field – ‘Heaviness/Tachycardia’ Heaviness / Tachycardia by The Low Field Aoife Wolf – A Ringing in the Ear Slouch – I Get What’s Mine Akrobat – Air Station 2.0 Brand New Friend – Talk It Out Ezra Williams – Skin Sprints – Adore Adore Adore Trophy Wife –…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 2nd June

    June 2, 2023 - By 

    From every corner of the island, here’s the very best new music of the week from Elaine Malone, David Donohue, Trá Pháidín, Winnie Ama, Ryan Vail and more Elaine Malone – Moontread David Donohoe – Fen Fen by David Donohoe Trá Pháidín – cé mo dhuine si​ú​l sa hi​-​vis cé mo dhuine siúl sa hi-vis by Trá Pháidín Winnie Ama – Get on You Left Iris – Crash Ryan Vail – Silhouette Badhands – Bad Dreams The Wheel by Badhands

  • AVA 2023: This Year’s Giants

    June 2, 2023 - By 

    As daylight savings hits its true peak this weekend so too does the Belfast rave crowd. Launching with a pre-festival party tonight at local independent fashion merchants Never Never, AVA Festival returns to the feet of David & Goliath with a line-up that cements its status as one of the most well-reputed and respected electronic festivals in Europe. As usual the line up consists of big-hitters from the Island and beyond, this year in the form of Central Cee, SPFDJ, Job Jobse, Sally C and OR:LA. The festival’s consistently solid bookings provide further excitement than simply bringing big names to…