• Irish Tour: Frightened Rabbit

    Frightened Rabbit live at Belfast’s Limelight 1, Kilkenny’s Set Theatre and Galway’s Roisin Dubh. Photos by Colm Laverty, Ian McDonnell and Sean McCormark. Limelight 1, Belfast As strange as it may sound, Frightened Rabbit are at their best when they are on the verge of falling apart. Watching the band rip through selections from their back catalogue this evening, it is striking just how often they are precariously balanced on the edge of chaos. It is this very quality that makes their music so beguiling. The remarkable tension in any given Frightened Rabbit song stems from a finely wrought balance…

  • Frightened Rabbit – Painting of a Panic Attack

    The concept of painting a panic attack seems in keeping with the narrative Frightened Rabbit have followed since their debut album Sing the Greys in 2007. Documenting and finding beauty in the grip of anxiety has been a running theme for the Scottish group. Initially a solo project from singer and guitarist Scott Hutchinson, Frightened Rabbit have grown into a band proper and Painting of a Panic Attack is their fifth album. The title itself hints at the themes found over twelve damaged, imperfect but redemptive tracks. Lyrically, all the characteristics of a panic attack are here, from the paranoia and sickness to the dizzying rush and…

  • Stream: A Yes Playlist

    Very obviously completely unrelated to anything that is happening, anywhere in the world, pertaining to politics, nationalism and all things in between, we’ve decided to compile a ten-track Yes playlist, featuring affirmatively-inclined tracks by the likes of Tune-Yards, Mogwai, Elliott Smith, Beck and Surfer Blood. Stream that below once you’ve finished admiring the strawberry above.

  • Festival Mixtape: Stendhal Festival of Art

    Headlined by Derry punk pioneers The Undertones and Scottish indie-rock quartet Frightened Rabbit (above), Stendhal Festival of Art returns to the wonderfully scenic Roe Valley this weekend for two days of music, art, theatre, comedy and poetry. With tickets still available to purchase via the official website here, we’ve compiled a ten-track playlist featuring some our must-see acts to catch at the festival – everyone from Malojian and Go Wolf to Making Monsters and Ciaran Lavery.

  • Stream: We Were Promised Jetpacks – Safety In Numbers

    Gloomy Scottish alt-rock group We Were Promised Jetpacks have unveiled a new track from their just-announced album Unravelling, entitled ‘Safety In Numbers’. The track begins with pretty swells of vocals and driven piano chords, but builds into a fantastic crescendo in a way that Scottish groups always seem to do so well (think Arab Strap, Frightened Rabbit or Blackened Sky era Biffy Clyro.) The track features some of the more pop-sensible and catchy melodies from the bands previous releases, and is a triumphant return for one of Scotland’s strongest acts right now. Listen to the new track ‘Safety In Numbers’ below. [soundcloud params=”auto_play=true&show_comments=true&color=0ac4ff”]https://soundcloud.com/fatcatrecords/we-were-promised-jetpacks-10[/soundcloud]

  • Stendhal Festival Line-up Announced

    Scottish indie rockers Frightened Rabbit (pictured) and Derry punk legends The Undertones are amongst the many acts announced to play this year’s Stendhal Festival. Taking place at Ballymully Cottage on August 8 and 9, the festival will also see appearances from Paddy Casey, Bronagh Gallagher, Duke Special (Gramophone Club special), Tucan, The Emerald Armada, Making Monsters, Pørts (formerly Little Bear), Go Wolf, The Clameens, Paddy Nash and The Happy Enchiladas, Malojian, Ciaran Lavery, In An Instant, Bakken, Exit Pursued By Bear, Ryan McMullan, The Bobbie Harvey Band, Pitcher of the Moon, Glenn Rosborough, The Wood Burning Savages, August, Dramatic Tiger Club, Limavady Big Band,…

  • Watch: Frightened Rabbit – Holy

    Half way through their current tour Scottish indie rock band Frightened Rabbit have unveiled the video to ‘Holy’. A classic visual take on the general tediousness of modern life, the video features one woman’s kneejerk “return to nature”, culminating in a scene that will be familiar to anyone who has watched The Hours. The track itself is taken from the band’s fourth studio album, Pedestrian Verse. Frightened Rabbit will play Dublin’s Olympia on November 14 and Belfast’s Mandela Hall the following night. Watch the video below.