• Bookmark: Dan Hegarty (2FM)

    November 29, 2016 - By 

    RTÉ 2FM legend and author Dan Hegarty handpicks and  a selection of his favourite books, featuring Charles Bukowski, Scroobius Pip, Jack Kerouac and Richie Taylor & Tony Clayton-Lea. Photos by Peter O’Hanlon. Dan Hegarty’s Buried Treasure and Buried Treasure 2 are available to buy now via Liberties Press.  Irish Rock: Where It’s Come From, Where It’s At, and Where It’s Going – Richie Taylor & Tony Clayton-Lea This book really made me aware of how many amazing artists this little island of Ireland has offered up over the years. Prior to this, I would have known the obvious ones; great acts…

  • Monday Mixtape: Ruadhan O’Meara (Magic Pockets, No Spill Blood)

    November 28, 2016 - By 

    In the latest instalment of Monday Mixtape, Ruadhan O’Meara of Dublin’s Magic Pockets and No Spill Blood handpicks ten “extremely smelly synth/prog moments”, including Hawkwind and Harald Grosskoph. Magic Pockets launch their debut album, Volcano of the Bleeding Skies, at Tivoli Backstage in Dublin on Friday night (December 2). Hawkwind –  The Forge of Vulcan A hidden gem from Quark, Strangeness and Charm”. Basically it’s just Simon House, thumping an Anvil over a busy sequence and organ progression. Totally badass. Bobby Beausoleil – Lucifer Rising Part II From the soundtrack to Kenneth Anger’s film. He was in the Manson family, and…

  • Kiss and Tell: An Interview With Meltybrains?

    November 23, 2016 - By 

    Ahead of playing their biggest headline show to date at Dublin’s Academy on Friday night, Dublin experimental maestros Meltybrains? talk collaboration, the scene, pushing boundaries and their new EP with Brian Coney. Photo by Ian McDonnell Hi guys. Congratulations on the release of Kiss Yourself. Take us back to the very start of the conception of this release: how was the songwriting process for this one and how did things differ, if at all, to previous work? The songwriting process was a complicated affair. Some of the tracks were ideas from old demos we recorded in Conor Walsh’s hotel in…

  • Swimming With The Stream: An Interview With Callum Cairns AKA Little Rivers

    November 23, 2016 - By 

    Photographer Ruth Kelly shoots and discusses new music, time management and sonic progression with Belfast indie folk singer-songwriter Callum Cairns AKA Little Rivers Hi Callum. First off, what inspired you to start writing music? I suppose I started wanting to write music when my dad brought Damien Rice’s first album ‘O  home. For some reason, I don’t remember listening to a lot of music growing up, so I’m pretty bad at my parents’ era of artists, but I’d never heard anything like that album and it fascinated me. Particularly because it started off my fondness for poetry. Do you have…

  • Preview: Little Joe Film Season

    November 22, 2016 - By 

    Cinema programmer at Cork’s Triskel Christchurch, Chris O’Neill previews the forthcoming Little Joe Film Season at the Tobin Street arts venue. Joe Dallesandro was the rebellious male sex symbol, icon of gay subculture, and underground movie star of the late sixties and early seventies. He appeared in a film trilogy which were made by Paul Morrissey and produced by Andy Warhol. Flesh (1968), Trash (1970) and Heat (1972) were groundbreaking not only due to their casual depictions of drugs and hetero/homo/bi-sexuality, but also for their naturalistic performances, dark humour and, most importantly, the casting of Dallesandro. In all three films…

  • Monday Mixtape: White Collar Boy

    November 21, 2016 - By 

    One of our all-time favourite Irish acts, Dublin electronic-garage group White Collar Boy have emerged from hibernation with a new, four-track EP, Priory Hall, which is set for release via This Greedy Pig on Friday. So we thought: what better time to pry into Mark Cummins from the duo’s current favourite tracks? Featuring the likes of Denis Sultra, Stimming, Neil Flynn and more, delve into that and stream a preview of Priory Hall. Priory Hall is launched at Dublin’s Wah Wah Club on Friday, December 2. Denis Sultra – It’s Only Real https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= Tim Sweeney finished off a recent Beats in Space…

  • Guest Mix: Jonny Carberry (Bullitt Hotel)

    November 16, 2016 - By 

    Two years ago, I wrote a piece for The Thin Air on Belfast’s love affair with Chic: urging fans to check out different disco oddballs and the Belfast venues pushing those sounds. Things have changed a bit in the city since then: there are new craft beer bars, artisanal cafes, record labels, breweries, and festivals – all good things, right? And now a new hotel, Bullitt, finding space in places Belfast had forgotten it even had places. You could call Bullitt a ‘vibrant urban playground’ or simply a cool spot for drinks, food, work, design (seriously, it looks great) and…

  • Front of House: Keith Killen (Skinny)

    November 16, 2016 - By 

    In the latest installment of Front of House, photographer Tara Thomas shoots and talks work, experience and breaking through in the industry with Irish tour manager, backline tech and touring guitar tech Keith Killen AKA Skinny. Hi Keith! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Well, I like long walks in the rain and… I’m 30, I work as a touring guitar tech, backline tech and tour manager for a number of bands as well as FOH and some corporate work. I absolutely love my job and don’t like having too much time off, idle hands and all that!…

  • Picture This: Your National Visual Arts Guide – Reflection

    November 16, 2016 - By 

    2016 has been proposed as a year of reflection for the island of Ireland. While the main focus of this reflection has been channelled towards the centenary of the two conflicts that dominated Ireland – The 1916 Easter Rising – and Europe – The Battle of the Somme – it has also instigated a broader societal reflection on the current state of play of this and many other nations; as well stirring a personal reflection of our own past and familial history. This process is set to continue over the next few years as the centenary of many events that…

  • Monday Mixtape: Jack O’Rourke

    November 14, 2016 - By 

    In the latest installment of Monday Mixtape, Cork artist Jack O’Rourke guides us through some of his all-time favourite songs, including Iggy Pop, O Emperor, Beach House and Randy Newman. O’Rourke plays Mike The Pies in Listowel, Kerry and Belfast’s Duncairn Arts Centre on Thursday and Friday respectively. O Emperor – Po Everything O Emperor have put out is fucking incredible. They are edgy and push the boundaries sonically but there’s so many melodic hooks and genuine musicianship, so you’re never left thinking, is this Emperor’s new clothes? Inventive melodies and the sentiment about running from The Man with the trippiest video makes it compulsive…