• DIY Dublin: Homebeat

    April 8, 2015 - By 

    In the second of a new regular feature called DIY Dublin, we talk to various people setting up their own businesses and doing it for themselves in the heart of the city. Aidan Hanratty chats to Emmet of DIY, alternative space loving music promoter Homebeat about getting started, nurturing talent and the dynamics of space. Photos by Abigail Denniston. From home to Homebeat I’m from a little town called Newcastle West in Limerick, but I’ve been living in Dublin for the bones of about 15 years. I was in college in the late 90s/early 2000s when things were kind of horrible in…

  • Outburst Queer Arts Festival 2014

    October 14, 2014 - By 

    Taking place from November 14 to November 22, the eighth annual Outburst Queer Arts Festival will return with eight days and nights of world class and new local, theatre, performance, film, visual art and discussion, celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender creativity in venues across the city of Belfast. From neo-cabaret duo Bourgeois & Maurice (pictured) and a screening of 52 Tuesdays to David Hoyle’s Queer History Tour and Gayllifrey: a queer celebration of Doctor Who, the festival traverses each and every creative medium to deliver a festival “sharing and exploring LGBT experiences and bringing exciting, entertaining and challenging new work to…

  • Festival Mixtape: Body & Soul 2014

    June 13, 2014 - By 

    Boasting one of the strongest festival line-ups this summer, Body and Soul returns to the labyrinthine and picturesque Ballinlough Castle, Co. Westmeath from June 20-22. Closely connected to the tradition of the Summer Solstice –  a thousand year old celebration to honour the sun – the festival has struck a fantastic balance between the very best acts in electronica (and elsewhere) and visual/performance art over the last few years, increasingly establishing itself as an annual showcase with its very own unique draw and charm. With exactly one week to go to the festival, we have compiled a fifteen-track Body & Soul…

  • Castlepalooza Announces First Acts

    April 22, 2014 - By 

    An annual fixture at the breathtaking Charleville Castle in Tullamore, Castlepalooza have announced their line-up for 2014. With a handful of acts yet to be announced, Super Furry Animals’ main man Gruff Rhys (pictured), indie-pop duo Summer Camp and Franco-Swiss DJ Gilles Peterson top the bill of acts performing this year. Several Irish acts including Hurdles, We Cut Corners, The Clameens, TVVINS, Affleck and Ships also feature 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. Here’s the launch poster for the festival and…

  • Derry set for “major” two-day festival

    April 15, 2014 - By 

    As was exclusively revealed by the Derry Journal earlier today, a major two day music festival “will take place in Derry this September”. Although details are few and far between at this early stage, the newspaper reported that “initial local investment [in the festival] amounts to approximately £1,000,000. It is also believed the event will attract well known international bands and singers.” Followed last year’s hugely successful City of Culture drive in Derry/Londonderry, many have wondered if Ebrington Square would see the arrival of a Derry-based showcase or festival in 2014 and beyond. The rumour mill is turning – with the…

  • The Flaming Lips and more for Forbidden Fruit

    March 12, 2014 - By 

    Oklahoma psych-pop masters The Flamings Lips are amongst several acts announced to play the Saturday of this year’s Forbidden Fruit festival. Taking place at Royal Hospital Kilmainham,  the festival organisers have also revealed that Bell X1, Fuck Buttons, Nils Frahm, The Young Knives, Vann Music and Flying Lotus (3D Show) will also play this year’s two-day event, taking place on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1. Priced at €49.50 for one day and €99.50 for the two, early bird tickets for the festival are currently on sale via Ticketmaster. Check out the video for the timeless ‘She Don’t Use…

  • Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival announce line-up additions

    March 3, 2014 - By 

    With the likes of The Selecter, Tinariwen and Shonen Knife already announced, several new acts have been confirmed for this year’s Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. Arguably topping the lot is American groundbreaking hip-hop trio De La Soul (above), who join Ginger Baker’s Jazz Confusion, DBC Pierre, Wilko Johnson, Rubberbandits, Fuck Buttons, Wild Beasts, Jimi Goodwin and The Third Policeman. Now in its fifteenth year, Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival 2014 will run from May 1 to May 11. Go to the official CQAF website for ticket info.

  • First acts announced for Body & Soul 2014

    February 27, 2014 - By 

    Canadian musician Caribou, American singer-songwriter John Grant and London-based electronic producer Jon Hopkins (pictured) are amongst the first acts announced for this year’s Body & Soul Festival. Taking place at Ballinlough Castle, Co. Westmeath during the summer solstice weekend of June 20-22, the first wave of acts to the play the festival also include Goldfrapp, Darkside, Mount Kimbie and Buraka Som Sistema. See below for the current poster for Body & Soul 2014. Varying in price and description, go here to buy tickets for the festival.

  • Belfast Film Festival 2014

    February 3, 2014 - By 

    Now in its 14th year, the Belfast Film Festival makes its return to various cinemas, theatres and venues across the city from March 27 to April 6. With the bulk of the this year’s line-up yet to be announced, there has already been three special screenings confirmed to whet our collective film-going appetite: a live soundtrack performance of zombie classic Dawn of the Dead at the Waterfront on Saturday, April 5, a one-man show by Jon Ronson on being the keyboard player in Frank Sidebottom’s band and the debut film by Benedikt Erlingsson’s, Of Horses and Men. Go here to learn more…