• Premiere: Gross Net – Gross Net EP

    November 27, 2014 - By 

    Recently-arrived post-punk/neue Deutsche welle-influenced duo Gross Net – comprised of Girls Names‘ Philip Quinn and Autumns‘ Christian Donaghey, completed by programmed drums – have announced a brooding, excellent new three-track self-titled EP in the form of a cassette, recorded by the band themselves over the course of a day. The EP is out on Sligo label Art For Blind, who have accommodated releases from The Altered Hours, Hands Up Who Wants To Die, Perfect Pussy and more. The limited edition coral red cassette is available to pre-order for just £3.50, with a free download code – or simply only £2 digitally – from the Gross Net Bandcamp. You can…

  • “We Are…” by Diarmuid Kennedy

    August 13, 2014 - By 

    Whether you’ve encountered him or not – and chances are many of you have – self-professed “unprofessional photographer” Diarmuid Kennedy has been a veritable fly-on-the-wall of Belfast music over the last couple of years. A masterfully discreet operator, he is often one of a small handful at people to brave line-ups of all-but anonymous debutantes and furtive young musicians; his photography – just like his work capturing bigger, more established local bills – providing a priceless insight into an ever-evolving, somewhat maligned but, for the most part, consistently impressive music scene. Sitting outside the Pavilion Bar on Ormeau Road – a venue in which the photographer has shot innumerable up-and-coming bands…

  • Gigs of the Week: Arcade Fire, Hands Up Who Wants To Die, Wellington Weekender

    June 23, 2014 - By 

    The World Cup has proven to be quite the entertaining sporting event thus far (even if it hasn’t been very kind to England). If you can manage to pull yourself away from the spectacle, there are the usual host of gigs and festivals happening right across the country throughout the week, so let out Gigs of the Week help you out in finding the best football alternative. The Wellington Weekender: Delorentos, Girls Names, Lisa O’Neill and more – The Workman’s Club, Dublin; Friday June 27 – Sunday June 29 Well, how about this for an absolute cracker of a festival? Check…

  • Playlist: Ten Must-See Acts at Forbidden Fruit 2014

    May 27, 2014 - By 

    With the final acts being announced at the start of the month, the stage-times and running order for this year’s Forbidden Fruit festival have just been announced. Featuring the likes of The Flaming Lips, Flying Lotus and Public Enemy, this year’s festival will also include sets from Irish acts including Girls Names and And So I Watch You From Afar. Set to take place on the grounds of Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin on the June bank holiday weekend of Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1. Check out the final poster and stage-times for the festival, as well as our…

  • Final acts announced for Forbidden Fruit 2014

    May 14, 2014 - By 

    And So I Watch You From Afar, Girls Names (pictured) and Lisa O’Neill are amongst twenty-one final acts announced to play this year’s Forbidden Fruit festival in Dublin. Also the likes of The Flaming Lips, Flying Lotus and 2manyDJS at the annual Summer festival at Dublin’s Rotal Hospital Kilmainham include Erol Alkan, dOP, Detroit Swindle, Gavin James and more. Check out the full festival poster below. Forbidden Fruit 2014 takes place on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1. Go here to buy tickets and watch the video for ‘The New Life’ by Girls Names below.  

  • In Review: Choice Music Prize 2014

    March 1, 2014 - By 

    Now in its ninth year, perhaps the most pleasing thing about the Choice Music Prize – the undoubted impact of ten grand in a talented act’s bank account aside – is the chance to slow the pace and take a languid gander at just how much is good about the modern Irish music scene. The annual debate on those who lost out highlights encouraging depth (see Enemies, Nanu Nanu, Axis Of and God Is An Astronaut this year), and – as smaller past winners Julie Feeney, Super Extra Bonus Party, Jape and Adrian Crowley can attest – the award does…

  • 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…

  • Girls Names announce European tour

    December 9, 2013 - By 

    Starting to crop up in all different kinds of end of year lists, Belfast-based four-piece Girls Names have announced details of a forthcoming European tour. Starting in London on February 5 and concluding in Italy’s Savignano Sul Rubicone on February 13, check out the eight dates below. February 5: The Lexington, London February 6: Espace B, Paris February 8: Ferme de Biereau, Louvain-la-Neuve February 9: Rössli, Bern February 10: Blah Blah, Turin – door sales only February 11: Garage Genova, Genova – door sales only February 12: Off Modena, Modena – door sales only February 13: Sidro Club, Savignano Sul Rubicone Watch the wonderfully…

  • Watch: Girls Names – The New Life

    October 21, 2013 - By 

    Belfast quartet Girls Names have unveiled the video to their new single, ‘The New Life’. Directed by the wonderfully-named Dan Tombs,it  is one continuous take of improvisation, shot in an old industrial textile warehouse and filmed with a single static camera. According to Tombs, “the intention is to induce a hypnotic state that compliments the track and captivate an audience.” ‘The New Life’ is the closing track from the band’s second album of the same name, released back in February. Nip over to Noisey to watch the video.