• Exclusive album stream: Captain Kennedy – Draw It In Chalk

    October 24, 2013 - By 

    Ahead of its release next week, we have an exclusive first listen of the fantastic Draw It In Chalk, the long-awaited new album from Lurgan band Captain Kennedy. Recorded live and in one session at Mogul Studios, Portadown exactly two years prior to its November 1 release, the album mark encapsulates Captain Kennedy’s change to a 4-piece line-up and reveals the path the band were headed prior to their indefinite hiatus. Ahead of our review of the album, check out the artwork and listen to the stream below!

  • Watch: Ciaran Lavery – Left For America (Live)

    October 14, 2013 - By 

    Aghagallon singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery has unveiled a live video for a new song, ‘Left For America’. Recorded for Dublin-based live music platform BalconyTV, the  track follows in the vein of his superb debut album Not Nearly Dark, which was released in March to a wave of critical acclaim. Lavery is is currently on a brief UK and Irish tour. The remaining dates over the next two weeks are: October 15: Broadcast, Glasgow October 16: Dublin Castle, London October 18: The Revelry, Exeter October 19: Exwick Mill, Exeter October 26: Voodoo, Belfast (Emerald Armada EP launch) Read our review of Lavery’s recent…

  • Ciaran Lavery – Other People Wrote These

    September 25, 2013 - By 

    Having released one of the finest Irish albums of last year – his mesmerising debut full-length release Not Nearly Dark – Aghagallon-based singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery is an artist who clearly lives and breathes his craft. When he’s not honing and delivering his own uniquely longing brand of alt-folk he refers to the tales of others and revisits the sweeping imprint of influence that has helped shape his own wonderfully distinctive sound. A four-track manifestation of this, Lavery’s aptly-titled new covers EP, Other People Wrote This, offers a ideal opportunity to re-assess his talents from a totally new and interesting perspective. Starting…

  • Album stream: Ciaran Lavery – Other People Wrote These

    September 22, 2013 - By 

    Having already released an album and EP of his own material – the exceptional Not Nearly Dark and You Will Be A Stranger Now respectively – Aghagallon singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery has unveiled an EP of cover versions, the aptly-titled Other People Wrote These. Produced by Mike Mormecha of Mojo Fury and featuring superb additional instrumentation by Joshua Burnside and Rachael Boyd, Lavery’s re-imagining of tracks from artists as diverse as Talking Heads, Pat Benatar, Lionel Ritchie and Cyndi Lauper bring another dimension of the singer-songwriter’s huge talents, effectively confirming his status as one of the country’s finest artists. Ahead of…

  • 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…

  • OST: Ciaran Lavery

    July 18, 2013 - By 

    In the latest installment of OST we get totally enchanting Aghnagallon singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery to select and talk about ten tracks that have irrevocably altered his music listening, loving and making life; everyone from Tom Waits to Travis. ___ The Band – ‘It Makes No Difference’ The Band are a special collective I felt personally proud enough to have ‘got’ in my late teens. Their back catalogue is frightening but the amount of heartbreak in this song has always grabbed me, maybe due to Rick Danko’s vocals or generally the story of possibly one of the most under-rated bands to ever exist. I…