• Irish Tracks of the Week – 17th November

    November 17, 2023 - By 

    It’s another stacked week for new Irish music. Delve into the best albums and singles of the last seven days from Joel Harkin, Nealo, pôt-pot, Akrobat, Stefan Murphy and more Joel Harkin – Sham Supermarket Sham Supermarket by Joel Harkin Nealo – November Medicine November Medicine by NEALO pôt-pot – No Friends Akrobat – Verlaine Stefan Murphy – Athlete of Seoul Sprints – Shadow of a Doubt Moon Landing – Blink Once and Miss the World Go By Blink Once and Miss the World Go By by Moon Landing Aoibha – Muddy Water

  • Irish Tracks of The Week – 15th July

    July 14, 2023 - By 

    Here’s the very best Irish tracks and videos of the week, from Joel Harkin, CMAT and John Grant, Krea, Soda Blonde and more Joel Harkin – Letters From Alan To George The Sleeveens – Give My Regards To The Dancing Girls CMAT and John Grant – Where Are Your Kids Tonight? Krea – The Callows Soda Blonde – Bad Machine Drew Makes Noise – Flame I Have A Tribe – Fly Like a Bird

  • Ireland Music Week Announced Line-Up

    July 28, 2021 - By 

    The line-up for this year’s Ireland Music Week has been announced. Taking place online across October 5-8th, this year’s showcases will be filmed at the Grand Social in Dublin. Over 500 acts applied, 50 of which have been revealed today. Among the names include the likes of M(h)aol, Pretty Happy, Cherym, Joel Harkin, Tolü Makay, Niamh Regan, Maria Kelly, Bicurious, Citrus Fresh, and Pixie Cue Rhythm Orchestra. Check out the full line-up below. “Selection for IMW is on most developing artists’ ‘to do’ list and brings with it opportunities to develop into international markets and networks,” said Angela Dorgan, CEO of…

  • Watch The Vox Set Episode 1: Joshua Burnside & Joel Harkin Live at Lost & Found

    February 5, 2021 - By 

    Featuring wonderful individual and collaborative performances from two of our finest alt. folk singer-songwriting talents, the first episode of The Vox Set is out now. Set in the intimate setting of one of Northern Ireland’s finest cups of coffee, Lost & Found, the increasingly world-beating Joshua Burnside – who recently released his second album Into The Depths of Hell – is joined by Donegal’s Joel Harkin – whose debut album Never Happy was shortlisted for the 2020 NI Music Prize. The series is supported by Help Musicians NI and Arts Council NI, with their team comprising Stuart Reid, Sam Kwan and Hannah McPhillimy. Their M.O. is as follows: “The Vox Set is a recorded, live…

  • The Thin Air’s Top 100 Irish Tracks of 2020 (#100-51)

    December 16, 2020 - By 

    Ah, 2020 eh? Unless you were living off the grid in a self-made banana bread house whilst rocking yourself gently to various iterations of ‘Happy Birthday’ as you washed your hands, then you will know that despite collectively living through the pandemic there were plenty of Irish songs to get excited about. 100 to be precise. We’ve listened to them on repeat since we couldn’t attend gigs, raves, or house parties so we’re certain we’ve selected the finest this little locked down island has to offer. It’s safe to say this year epitomised the true meaning of community in this country…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – December 11th

    December 11, 2020 - By 

    We’re a whisper away from Christmas, and Ireland’s creative community is showing no signs of slowing as we gather our End-Of-Year Lists™. This week sees a selection of new singles, seasonal covers, remixes and live sessions from the likes of Bicurious, Kneecap, Mark Loughrey, Citrus Fresh, Kojaque, Aislinn Logan, Joel Harkin, Conchúr White, SON, 1000 Beasts and Pollena. Kneecap – MAM Citrus Fresh – Dustpan Kojaque – Coming Up Aislinn Logan – Never Stay Low Joel Harkin – Christmas Conchúr White – Lungs Bicurious – B-Sides and Bangers (Live Session) Mark Loughrey – The Snake With A Tale For A Mouth On Through the…

  • One of These Albums Will Win The NI Music Prize Tonight

    November 12, 2020 - By 

    Much like the RTÉ Choice Music Prize every year, the annual Northern Ireland Music Prize is almost always too close to call. This year is no different. Going online for the first time due to social distancing restrictions, this year’s shortlist is a luminous, no-filler reflection of the state of independent music in the North right now. From the Americana-tinged alt-folk of Mark McCambridge aka Arborist to the considered electronica of Phil Kieran; the shapeshifting indie rock of Belfast threesome Careerist, to the ruminative pop of Kitt Philippa, it’s a list that also features stellar albums from Our Krypton Son, Herb…

  • Album Stream: Joel Harkin – Never Happy

    May 19, 2020 - By 

    Over the last few months, Donegal singer-songwriter Joel Harkin has steadily cast a spell upon us and many others via first-rate singles ‘Vada’, ‘No Recycling’ and ‘Thought I’d Go Home’. Collectively, they are but three peaks from Harkin’s exquisite debut album, Never Happy, which is released today. Produced by George Sloan at Half Bap Studios, it’s a masterfully focused, filler-free release from the Belfast-based artist, distilling his brand of alternative folk down to ten tracks, each as inviting and incisive as the next. Delve in below. Never Happy by Joel Harkin

  • Stream: Joel Harkin – Vada

    May 1, 2020 - By 

    In just under three weeks, Belfast-based songwriter Joel Harkin releases his debut album, Never Happy. A ten-track distillation of the Donegal artist’s singular alt-folk vision, it filters the influence of artists as disparate as Conor Oberst, Modest Mouse, Bjork and Gregory & The Hawk to deliver a compelling statement of intent. The follow-up to March’s ‘No Recycling‘, new single ‘Vada’ is an outright highlight from the album.  “The song creates a world in which my mates from Letterkenny and the main character of my favourite film, the 1991 classic ‘My Girl’, exist in the same universe,” Harkin says. “It’s about how they…

  • Watch: Joel Harkin – No Recycling

    March 16, 2020 - By 

    The name Joel Harkin is becoming increasingly synonymous with a brand of lo-fi alternative folk that digs a little deeper. Based in Belfast, the Donegal singer-songwriter’s craft brims at every turn with pathos and pure insight, and is rounded off with a melodic sensibility all his very own. Having recently delivered stand-out sets at Output Belfast and Other Voices Ballina, Harkin’s fast rise is masterfully mirrored on new single ‘No Recycling’. The lead single from his highly-anticipated debut album, Never Happy, it’s a wonderfully heart-stung effort ruminating on family life and witnessing inequality first-hand. Accompanied by a stellar and perfectly…