• 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…

  • Stream: The Jepettos – Troubles EP

    December 17, 2013 - By 

    Officially launched at the weekend at Belfast’s wonderful Sunflower Bar, Troubles, the latest EP by Northern Irish twee-folk collective The Jepettos is available to stream and purchase via Bandcamp. Featuring the singles ‘Chemicals’ and ‘Water’ (featuring Alana Henderson and Scott Jamison of Go Wolf) the four-track EP is a brief but brilliantly burrowing release brimming with the band’s instantly recognisable brand of lullaby folk. Stream (or buy for a mere £3.00) the EP via Bandcamp below.

  • In Photos: Culture Night Belfast 2013

    September 21, 2013 - By 

    Ahead of our feature review on Monday, we present a wonderful selection of photographer Joe Laverty’s shots of this year’s Culture Night Belfast. With 250 events taking popping up in 70+ venues across the city to thousands of people, it turned out to be a totally kaleidoscopic exposé of art, music and culture – undoubtedly the annual event’s best outing to date. Check out Joe’s photos below and make sure to check to read our review!

  • Festival Mixtape: Stendhal Festival

    August 14, 2013 - By 

    Taking in place in Limavady’s Ballymully Cottage Farm this summer, Stendhal Festival of Art celebrates its third birthday on the weekend of Friday 16th and Saturday 17th of August. Headlined by Duke Special and Neil Hannon of Divine Comedy, the incomparably scenic showcase is all but set up to succeed the departing Glasgowbury as the go-to Northern Irish festival of the summer. With the tagline “experience the syndrome” Stendhal is much more than a festival of homegrown musical talent. Comedy, theatre, visual art and poetry also play a huge role in ensuring a comprehensively enjoyable experience for people of all ages. Speaking of…

  • Final acts announced for Glasgowbury 2013

    June 17, 2013 - By 

    The final acts set to play this year’s Glasgowbury Music Festival have been confirmed. Joining the likes of headliners The Answer, And So I Watch You From Afar and Japanese Popstars at the annual Eagle’s Rock Valley event are Dublin’s blues-rock band The Mighty Stef, singer-songwriters Katharine Philippa, Alana Henderson, Rob Murphy and Paul Casey. Dance DJs Deep Fried Funk, electro-indie band Don’t Fear The Natives, Derry rock band Wyldling and  Hurdles, Aces Wild, Windings and The Last Generation make up the final line-up. The announcement comes off the back of Belfast-based rockers LaFaro, ska-punk troupe Pocket Billiards and singer-songwriter Peter McAuley AKA Rams Pocket Radio being confirmed to play the festival, set to take place over two days…

  • The First Time: Alana Henderson

    May 24, 2013 - By 

    In the very first installment of The First Time, we ask fast-rising, cello-wielding, Dungannon-derived songstress Alana Henderson to cast her minds eye back to pivotal ‘firsts’ in her music-listening, discovering and making life. Next week: Mojo Fury’s Mike Mormecha. First album you bought? Lets be honest shall we? It was a Shania Twain album. Come On Over. I was off school sick and I remember gathering the money together and sending my mum to go and buy me it in Woolworths in Dungannon. I’m pretty sure I loved it. The first album I remember buying myself was Anthony & The…

  • Alana Henderson – Green Room, Black Box (CQAF)

    May 8, 2013 - By 

    One of the things that marks Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival out as a bit different is the inclusion of the Artist In Residence. Every year a locally based musician is chosen for this coveted title, a badge saying this person is a cut above the rest and a badge that is proudly displayed throughout the festival, the artist in question playing several showcases as well as supporting international acts playing during the festival. Joining previous success stories of Rachel Austin, Aaron Shanley and Glastonbury performer Isobel Anderson is this year’s choice, cellist-singer-songwriter Alana Henderson. It’s no surprise then that…

  • Alana Henderson – Wax and Wane EP

    May 3, 2013 - By 

    Alana Henderson’s debut EP is a strong statement of intent. These dark folk songs are dominated by her powerful, nuanced cello playing and clear voice, with an able supporting cast complimenting each dramatic stroke with subtle harmonic flicks, background croons and interpretive percussion. It’s a beautifully organic sound, one which should appeal more to followers of the US indie end of the folk spectrum than to Mumford devotees. The opening title track is a thing of wonder, immediate and striking but revealing more of itself with every listen. Henderson’s confident cello stabs take centre stage, plucking, swooning and swelling round…