• Watch: Rainy Boy Sleep – Ambulance

    August 1, 2014 - By 

    Considered by many to be one of the country’s brightest and most promising young songsmiths, Northern Irish singer-songwriter Stevie Martin AKA Rainy Boy Sleep has unveiled the video to ‘Ambulance’, the first track taken from his forthcoming debut album, Waiting Games. Having been busy supporting the Waterboys on a few Irish shows – not to mention performing at this year’s Glastonbury – Martin has delivered quite a slick, infectious little package, the song’s earworming refrains and airy disposition gelling nicely with the accompanying video, which features the young songwriter going on a bit of a journey. Waiting Games will be released via Universal…

  • Download: Robocobra Quartet – Artbook Flipping/Spring Rounds

    July 14, 2014 - By 

    The follow-up to their double single ‘Threnody for Vengaboyz/Snake Charmin’, self-proclaimed “chamber punk” four-piece Robocobra Quartet have made their latest double single, ‘Artbook Flipping/Spring Rounds’, available as a Pay as You Like download. A heady and compelling sonic concoction evoking Soul Coughing, Gil Scott-Heron, Charles Mingus, Allen Ginsberg, Isotope 217, John Zorn and Rage Against The Machine, the quartet’s blend of hip-hop, jazz, beat poetry-inspired vocals (courtesy of drummer/vocalist Chris Ryan) and improvisational noise is captured very nicely over the two tracks, alliterative throwdowns blending with frenetic sax overtures and some wonderfully boss bass work. Stream/download the double-single via Abbreviated Records on…

  • Watch: FLAWS – Feels Like Home

    June 23, 2014 - By 

    Ahead of their debut EP launch on Wednesday night, Belfast-based three-pieceFLAWS have released their video for their first single, ‘Feels Like Home’. Evoking the stadium-worthy melodic rock of In Case of Fire – a band that two thirds of FLAWS, Steven Robinson and Thomas Camblin, were once members – the track is an infectious three-and-a-half minutes of melodic alt-rock, redolent of a certain increasingly bygone sound of in Northern Irish music, Indeed, according to the band’s label, OLD FANG, FLAWS “pack a welcome punch not seen in Belfast this side of the late-noughties banjo haze”. A battle cry in favour of…

  • Watch: The Wonder Villains – Zola

    June 23, 2014 - By 

    Featuring Italian footballing legend Gianfranco Zola himself (actually), Derry pop quartet the Wonder Villains have unveiled the video for the typically starry-eyed new single, ‘Zola’. Filmed in London, the video was produced by Bradley Quinn and directed by Robin Morgan of Little Giant Films. The track is taken from the band’s debut album, Rocky, released via No Dancing/Third Bar. Watch the video below.  

  • Sons of Caliber – Albatross

    June 19, 2014 - By 

    Having been exclusively previewed here at the Thin Air last month, Northern Irish folk singer-songwriter Andrew Farmer and friends AKA Sons of Caliber will release their spellbinding debut album, Albatross, on Sunday, June 22. Taking place as part of this year’s Open House Festival, Farmer & Co. will release the nine-track album at Belfast’s Black Box, supported by Lonesome George. You can buy tickets for the launch right here. Stream Sons of Caliber’s last EP, Tundra, below. The Tundra by Sons Of Caliber

  • EP Stream: Making Monsters – Attention

    June 16, 2014 - By 

    Having released the stellar ‘Nosebleed’ just last week, Derry alt-metal band Making Monsters have released their new five-track EP, Attention. Produced, mixed and mastered by Neal Calderwood at Manor Park Studios, the EP – an extremely impressive and powerfully attacking release – is the follow-up to the band’s promising 2012 self-titled debut EP. Check out the band’s forthcoming tour dates and stream Attention via Bandcamp below. Attention by MakingMonsters

  • Watch: Go Swim – Animal

    June 11, 2014 - By 

    The follow-up to their February single, ‘Call Sign’, Belfast-based indie pop five-piece Go Swim have released the video to ‘Animal’. Filmed in Belfast’s Belvoir forest, the video – featuring Jennifer Marshall and Dan Cullen – was directed by Darren Lee of Maverick Renegade. The concept of the video – which we shan’t ruin for you – was created by the band’s singer, Steve Smith. The track is taken from the band’s forthcoming EP of the same, set for release at White’s Tavern, Belfast on Friday, June 27. Go here to buy tickets and watch the video below.

  • Watch: Making Monsters – Nosebleed

    June 9, 2014 - By 

    Taken from their forthcoming EP, Attention, Derry alt/metal band Making Monsters have unveiled the video for their new single, ‘Nosebleed’. Directed by Darren Lee of Maverick Renegade Productions, the video – a very well shot and edited visual accompaniment to the track features Dee Kivelehan from Sandstone. The single will be released via Death By Records on June 16. Making Monsters will kick off a UK and Irish tour one June 13. Check out the poster for all the date and watch the video for ‘Nosebleed’ below.

  • Watch: Skymas – Hey Porter

    June 5, 2014 - By 

    Having recently kicked into gear on the live front, Belfast-based electronic-rock trio Skymas have unveiled the animated video to their pounding second single, ‘Hey Porter’. The follow-up to the Martin Corrigan-fronted three-piece’s debut single ‘This River’, the video for the track features an series of interesting characters busting shapes to the song’s wonderfully propulsive rhythm. Having formed last year, Skymas will play the following shows over the summer: Saturday, June 28: Craft Village, Celtronic Festival (3pm, admission free) Saturday, July 5: Aether and Echo, Belfast Saturday, August 9: Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh Go here to read our Inbound interview with the band here…

  • Celtronic 2014

    June 4, 2014 - By 

    Ireland’s premier electronic musical festival, Celtronic will return to Derry for its fourteenth year from Wednesday, June 25. Running to Sunday June 29, some of the finest producers and DJs in dance and electronic music including Ben UFO, Derrick Carter, Karenn Feat Blawan and Pariah, Magic Mountain High, Pearson Sound and Space Dimension Controller will perform in various venues such as Sandinos, The Nerve Centre and Masons across the city over five days. Check out the full line-up for the festival and buy tickets here. Watch a fifty minute Boiler Room set from Ben UFO below.