• Gig of the Week: Ed Zealous album launch w/ Go Wolf and Affleck – Limelight 2

    February 17, 2014 - By 

    Belfast-based electro/indie-pop four-piece Ed Zealous will finally unleash their highly-anticipated debut album, Wired, at Belfast’s Limelight on Thursday, February 20 – our Gig of the Week. Support on the night will come from fast-rising Belfast indie-pop band Go Wolf and the latest act to grace us with a Thin Air live session, electronic three-piece Affleck. Mixed by Eliot James – who has worked with the likes of Noah and the Whale and Bloc Party – check our exclusive track-by-track review of the album here. You can also stream it here. While you’re at it, have a go at winning a pair…

  • TTA Session #003: Affleck

    February 3, 2014 - By 

    In the third installment of our live session series, hotly-tipped Belfast-based experimental electro three-piece Affleck performs two tracks (including the brand new, unreleased ‘Ravenholm’) and grant us a brief but very revealing interview into the band’s formation, their songwriting process and much more. As ever, the session was filmed and edited by the masterful Colm Laverty and its audio recorded/mixed by Clark Philips.

  • The Thin Air’s Top 100 Irish Tracks of 2013 (35-1)

    December 30, 2013 - By 

    Sixty-five increasingly exceptional songs in, we’re pleased to round up our first ever countdown of the Top 100 Irish Tracks of the year. Truth be told, this list could have been much, much longesear – such was the extent and quality of the output from our homegrown musical talent over the last twelve months. From unassuming bedroom artists treading the often very thin line between absolute anonymity and mass recognition to genre-defining, decades-spanning bands that fall comfortably under “legendary” status, we’ve been very happily bombarded with some truly extraordinary Irish music over the last year. Until next time… listen, enjoy…

  • In Review: Culture Night Belfast 2013

    September 23, 2013 - By 

    With the dust having settled on just about one of the most absorbing nights of art, culture and music that Belfast has ever seen, we gather the thoughts and verdicts of various people who experienced Culture Night Belfast 2013. If the following short selection impressions and opinions isn’t a glowing testament to the power and need for such an annual event, what is? Congratulations to all the participants, organisers and volunteers. We can’t wait for next year already. Andrew Lemon, The Thin Air reviews editor and freelance music writer: “The official attendance figure for this year’s Culture Night stands at 42,000. It’s impressive…

  • Culture Night Belfast: Ten Must-See Events

    September 20, 2013 - By 

    With 250 events set to take place across 100+ to over 30,000 people this evening, it’s safe to say we’re spoiled for choice at this year’s Culture Night Belfast. With an understandable leaning towards the more musical end of the spectrum, we have scratched our heads to no end to whittle down the plethora of happenings to a mere decad worthy of your consideration. See you in the streets, rooftops, cathedrals, etc. 1. 101 Sessions Some of Belfast’s finest musicians will quite literally congregate at the wonderfully intimate church on 101 Donegall Street from 7.00pm. As well as music from…

  • Gig of the week: Sea Pinks, September Girls, Affleck

    September 17, 2013 - By 

    After much deliberation and chin-rubbing, our gig of the week this week takes place at Belfast’s Oh Yeah Centre on Friday, September 20. Surely set to be a highlight of this year’s Culture Night Belfast, Belfast-based surf-pop band Sea Pinks will headline a three-band bill also featuring fast-rising Dublin all-female noise-pop quartet September Girls and new-fangled Belfast electronic trio Affleck. Doors are at 6pm and admission is free. Go here to learn more. Check out the poster for the show below. Stream the excellent Freak Waves by Sea Pinks below.

  • Hard Working Class Heroes 2013: 10 must-see acts

    September 5, 2013 - By 

    Set to take place from Thursday to Saturday 5 October, Hard Working Class Heroes – hands down the country’s leading independent music showcase – is soon set to take place right across Dublin. Over three days and nights, 101 acts will perform at 7 venues across the city for the annual event, now in its eleventh year. From Northern Irish singer-songwriters Joshua Burnside and Little Rivers to Dublin noise pop-quartet September Girls and Cork psych-rock band The Altered Hours, the very best of the country’s musical talent is represented right across the board. Go here to check our the full schedule for…

  • Inbound: Affleck (Exclusive EP stream)

    July 29, 2013 - By 

    Seventy-five percent of sadly-departed experimental pop foursome Eatenbybears, Affleck are a Belfast-based three-piece that have covered quite a bit of ground in the four months since the former outfit’s untimely dissolution back in March. Comprised of Aidan Kelly, Clark Phillips and James Pollock, the electronic pop outfit – dusting themselves down and arguably finding their sound – have been occupied writing and recording their all-too-brief self-titled debut EP, a sublime five-track slab of phantasmal harmonies, shuffling somnambulist rhythms and subtly cascading, wonderfully woven electronic noise. As it so happens, for this week’s special installment of Inbound, we have an exclusive stream…