• The Thin Air’s Top 50 Irish Releases of 2020

    December 20, 2020 - By 

    In years to come, when someone asks me what The Thin Air was and represented, I’ll likely direct them to features like the one you have just opened. Much like other publications of our ilk – Nialler9, The Last Mixed Tape, Goldenplec and others – we spend 52 weeks of the year relentlessly championing what truly makes Irish music special and, very occasionally, genuinely world-beating. We all do it in different ways, and to slightly different audiences, but the impetus and desire to shine a light on what we have is one and the very same. Although they’re almost never…

  • Other Voices Announce Digital Festival Bringing It All Back Home

    November 11, 2020 - By 

    Other Voices have announced a new digital festival. The Irish live music institution today revealed details of Bringing It All Back Home, a five-day festival coming in December. Though full dates and acts are yet to be confirmed, organisers have already confirmed appearances from For Those I Love, Niamh Regan, Luz, Nealo, Rhiannon Giddens, Francesco Turrisi, Peter Broderick and Pillow Queens. As ever, sets will be performed via St James church in Dingle, West Kerry. In a statement, Other Voices founder Philip King said, ‘We are absolutely delighted that Other Voices will be going ahead in Dingle again this year,…

  • Irish Releases of the Week – October 30th

    October 30, 2020 - By 

    Another phenomenal week of Irish music, we’ve expanded this time around to feature full length releases, including Nealo’s long-awaited debut LP, Kobina’s phenomenal charity compilation -featuring Jape, Arvo Party and more – a Tuath & Lunch Machine collaboration, Bitch Falcon, Dunluvly, Rebekah Fitch, Mick Flannery, Jackie Beverly, Silent Ghost and more. Nealo – All The Leaves Are Falling Kobina – For Nora For Nora by Kobina Tuath & Lunch Machine – Mountains and Grooves Dunluvly – Something On My Mind Mick Flannery & Anais – Minnesota Rebekah Fitch – Game Over A.S. Fanning – All Time Jackie Beverly – Sea Glass…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – October 9th

    October 9, 2020 - By 

    It’s only right that a week that gave us innumerable incredible performances at Ireland Music Week would also deliver on the releases front. We’re here with some of the best, including Loah & Bantum, Erica Cody, Tau, Ross Hamer’s Safe Neighbourhood, the returning M(h)aol, Nealo, Eve Belle, Lucy Gaffney, a kraut-punk Organs & Mike Watt collaboration, R.S.A.G., B.K. Pepper, Tolü Makay, and Owen Lamont. Tau – All That Is ft. Deirdre Mulrooney Safe Neighbourhood – Big Decisions In the Heart of the Heart of The by Safe Neighbourhood Loah & Bantum – NGLA M(h)aol – Laundries Erica Cody – Calculated feat. Hare Squead…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – July 17th

    July 17, 2020 - By 

    See in the weekend with the very best Irish tracks released this week, from Silverbacks, Nealo & Uly, to Swimmers Jackson God Knows featuring BONY & MuRli. God Knows (feat. BONY & MuRli) – We Move The Needle Who’s Asking? II EP by God Knows Nealo & Uly – You Can’t Go Home Again Silverbacks – Drink It Down Fad by Silverbacks Swimmers Jackson – Birthday Girl Bitch Falcon – Gaslight The Zang – Football Sundays Comrade Hat – Summer of Glove

  • Nealo w/ C.o.B and Jeorge II @ The Grand Social, Dublin

    October 2, 2019 - By 

    In the crowded smoking area of The Grand Social, fans and members of Ireland’s Hip Hop scene have congregated for a triple threat from some of the community’s heavy hitters. Tickets are presented at the door, wrists are stamped and drink is confiscated from a few younger attendees. Starting off the evening is Cork native C.o.B. Blasting the audience with a blend of old school horrorcore and contemporary trap beats, C.o.B parades the stage thrashing about whilst illuminated by glaring red visuals. While it may not be everybody’s cup of tea, a select few audience members at the base of…

  • Nealo w/ Alex Gough @ Whelans, Dublin

    March 31, 2019 - By 

    From the smoking area of Whelans, dull rhythmic thuds can be heard from within the venue’s upstairs stage. Alex Gough has just begun his very first live set and for the few that have gathered to watch, it is apparent that he is no ordinary hip-hop act. Clad in what could be described as 1960s beach-wear, the 19-year-old Waterford-born prodigy is not only the on-duty MC, but also the resident drummer. Gough effortlessly juggles J-Dilla inspired beats with flows that are as smooth in delivery as they are sticky with funk. Although stiff at first, Gough (below) and his band…

  • 19 for ’19: Nealo

    March 8, 2019 - By 

    We continue 19 for ’19, our feature looking at Irish acts we’re convinced are going places in 2019, with Dublin MC Nealo. Photo by Zoe Holman If the name Nealo is unfamiliar to you I have two very simple instructions: firstly, get your head out of the sand, and secondly, lend your ears to one of this country’s finest MCs. Nealo, real name Neal Keating, is a rapper from North Dublin that has exploded onto the Irish music scene over the last few months. Having first found international recognition as the vocalist of hardcore punk band Frustration, he has since…