• Watch: Slomatics – Troglorite

    January 14, 2014 - By 

    Belfast-based doom overlords Slomatics have long been one of our favourite riff-heavy Irish acts. Ten years and a couple of line-up changes into their evolution, the three-piece have just unveiled the video to their latest single, the decidedly crushing ‘Troglorite’ The four-and-a-half minute minute opening track to the band’s forthcoming fourth album, Estron, the creeping, drop-tuned offering evokes the likes of Sleep/early High and Fire and Conan (a band the guys released a split with back in 2011) in equal proportion. Set to be released next month, Estron was recorded and mixed at Belfast’s Start Together Studios and is a concept album…

  • Several Irish Acts Set For SXSW 2014

    January 10, 2014 - By 

    Several Irish acts have been confirmed to play this year’s South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. The annual U.S. showcase – now in its 28th year – will feature performances from Unknwn (above), Wonder Villains, RAMS’ Pocket Radio, Foy Vance, and from the south, September Girls, Heathers, Hozier, DOTT, O Emperor, Wounds, The Strypes, The Young Folk and Nightbox. Inaugurated in 1987, South by Southwest 2014 will run from March 11-16 and feature thousands of acts from across the world.

  • 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…

  • The Thin Air’s Top 100 Irish Tracks of 2013 (50-35)

    December 24, 2013 - By 

    With 2014 fast approaching, we’re very itchy underfoot to wrap up our countdown of our top 100 Irish songs of 2013. A veritable wealth of great music of practically every shade of genre featured in the first and second installments of the list and we very much continue on that trend on from tracks #50 to #35. Check back next week for tracks #34 to #1 and have a very merry festive period from us in the meantime! 50. Linebacker Dirge – Words Are Missing Fronted by Jason Gibson, Belfast-based alt-rock quartet Linebacker Dirge are comprised of members of bands including…

  • 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.

  • Watch: We Cut Corners – Every Thief

    December 18, 2013 - By 

    Having really hit home with the superb ‘YKK’ last month, Dublin indie rock duo We Cut Corners have unveiled the video to their  new single, ‘Every Thief’. Set to feature on their forthcoming debut album, Think Nothing – out via Delphi in April – the track is, for the most part, a decidedly more restrained affair than ‘YKK’ from Conall Ó Breacháin and John Duignan. Sparse and delicate in equal proportion for the first half, the track erupts at its climax – the refrain of “Will you be mine?” cutting off in striking fashion at the end. Watch the video for the…

  • Watch: Hornets – Stay Free

    December 14, 2013 - By 

    Ahead of supporting LaFaro at Belfast’s Voodoo tonight, Saturday, December 14, Belfast-based punk metal band Hornets have unveiled the video to their new single, ‘Stay Free’. Shot and produced by Patrick McElwee,  the video for the single – released via Start Together Singles Club – was shot on location in Belfast city and features a guest appearance from Steven Toner from Belfast glam punk five-piece The Unprotected. Having recently expanded to a four-piece (as the only photo of the new line-up, above, shows), Hornets have just finished recording their latest EP, No Faith, with Rocky O’Reilly. The EP is expected to be release…

  • The Thin Air’s Top 100 Irish Tracks of 2013 (74-51)

    December 13, 2013 - By 

    Love, hate or merely tolerate them, end of year lists come in all different shapes and sizes. From the finest EPs of the last twelve months to the most questionably-named bands to emerge throughout the year, there is currently no shortage of lists and countdowns around to remind us of what went down in the world of music, both international and much closer to home, in 2013. This is our humble little offering – the Top 100 Irish Tracks of 2013. Feel free to go here to check out the first installment of the countdown, featuring tracks 100-75. 74. The…

  • The Thin Air’s Top 100 Irish Tracks of 2013 (100-75)

    December 10, 2013 - By 

    It’s that time of year again: End Of Year” lists are steadily rolling in from every conceivable direction, many of us are still debating the BBC Sound of… verdict for next year and we’re all silently pondering our own favourite albums and EPs of the last twelve months. Closer to home, it’s been yet another ridiculously impressive year for Irish music, both North and South. Since January 1, right up until the writing of this article (December 10), a single week hasn’t gone by that wasn’t soundtracked in some way by the very best in new, homegrown music. As such –…

  • Video exclusive: Seven Summits – Little Twist

    November 11, 2013 - By 

    Just over a year since the release of their stellar second album Fossils, Belfast-based indie rock band Seven Summits have unveiled their ridiculously infectious new single ‘Little Twist’ – and we have an exclusive first look at the video. Directed by the band’s guitarist and keyboardist Dominic Coyle, the black and white video features, among other things, some of the most hypnotising slow-motion flapping of the lips that has ever been committed to film. The single – released as part of Belfast Music Week – was recorded by Phil D’Alton and mastered by Jon Moorehead. You can stream/buy it via…