• Gigs of the Week: Ryan Vail, Groom, The Minutes & Johnny Marr

    With the majority of the Summer festivals already behind us (boo, hiss, etc.) we’re pretty much all going to have to centre our gig-going attentions firmly towards venues with roofs and walls and stuff. Devastating, we know, but sure it could be a whole lot worse. Having taken a fine toothcomb of good taste through our own Gig Guide and elsewhere, here’s our Gigs of the Week for the next few days, every single one of which involve absolutely zero chance of you getting drenched and/or sunburned. Ryan Vail, Affleck – The Twisted Peppper, Dublin; Saturday, August 9 Two of the…

  • Festival Mixtape: Forfey Festival

    Taking place across the weekend of August 1-3, the wonderfully intimate and unaffected Forfey Festival returns to Forfey Farm near Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh with easily one of its strongest line-ups to date. As is its custom, homegrown folk and acoustic acts make up the majority of this year’s line-up, but there is also a wide range of electronic and rock artists – everyone from Hornets to Affleck – performing across the festival’s three days. Go here to buy tickets for the festival and check out our ten-track Festival Mixtape – including the likes of More Than Conquerors, Ciaran Lavery and Go Wolf (pictured) – below.

  • Castlepalooza 2014

    A highly-anticipated annual fixture at the breathtaking Charleville Castle in Tullamore, Castlepalooza 2014 will take place across the weekend of August 1-3. Super Furry Animals’ main man Gruff Rhys, indie-pop duo Summer Camp and Franco-Swiss DJ Gilles Peterson top the bill this year, with several Irish acts including TVVINS, Hurdles, We Cut Corners, The Clameens, Affleck and Ships also featuring in this year’s line-up. Buy tickets and check out full line-up for the festival – taking place across August 1, 2 and 3 – over at Castlepalooza’s official website and check out a live version of ‘Book’ by TVVINS below.

  • In Photos: La Dispute, Affleck @ Bar Sub

    Supported by Joshua Burnside and Belfast-based electro-pop trio Affleck, Michigan post-hardcore band La Dispute stopped off at Belfast’s Bar Sub on Sunday, May 25. Songs were played, fun was had, photos were taken (the latter by ever-excellent Colm Laverty).

  • Forfey Festival announces first twelve acts

    Now in its ninth year – the year “of the Rex”, no less – Forfey Festival have announced the first dozen acts to play the festival this Summer. With many acts yet to be announced, the first twelve acts confirm to play are The Emerald Armada, Skeletons, Rupture Dogs, RAMS’ Pocket Radio, More Than Conquerors, Joshua Burnside, Hornets, Go Wolf, Ciaran Lavery, Carriages, Bee Mick See and Affleck. Forfey 2014 takes place from Friday, August 1 to Sunday, August 3. Tickets will be available to purchase soon.  

  • Gig of the week: Joshua Burnside, Affleck & Carriages @ White’s Tavern

    Our gig of the week will see Northern Irish alt-folk troubadour Joshua Burnside release his new single, ‘Desert Wine/Platonia’, at White’s Tavern on Thursday, March 27. Supported by electro-pop trio Affleck and Dublin electro-folk duo Carriages, it will mark Burnside’s return to the venue, where he launched his exquisite EP, If You’re Going That Way, last June. ‘Desert Wine/Platonia’ is Burnside’s first release via Broken Melody Records. Check out our interview with them here. Entry is £4, doors are at 8pm. Go here for the show’s Facebook event page and stream ‘Desert Wine’ and ‘Platonia’ via Bandcamp below.

  • Gig of the Week: Axis Of, TVVINS, Affleck @ Oh Yeah Centre

    Headlined by North Coast alt-punk three-piece Axis Of, the eighth installment of Distillation at Belfast’s Oh Yeah Centre on Friday, March 14 is our gig of the week. Belfast-based electronic three-piece Affleck (who feature in our latest live session) and Conor Adams and Lar Kaye AKA Dublin synth-pop duo TVVINS will make up the support bill on the night. Check out our Inbound interview with TVVINS here. Go here for the show’s Facebook event page and check out the poster for the show below!

  • Spectrum Festival 2014 announced

    Featuring an eight-band bill comprised of both fast-rising and established homegrown talent, this year’s Spectrum Festival will take place at Belfast’s Speakeasy on Saturday, June 7. Headlined by Lisburn alt-rock maestros Mojo Fury and England-based quartet A Plastic Rose (above), prog rockers Kasper Rosa, alt-fock duo New Ancestors, five-piece The Late Twos, electronic trio Affleck, and indie pop bands Hurdles and Go Swim will also play the one-day festival, kicking off at 6.30pm. Admission is £12 and it’s £10 for students. Go here for the show’s Facebook event page. Check out the poster for the show below.