• The Thin Air Podcast: Philip Christie (The Bonk)

    July 4, 2025 - By 

    In this episode, we talk to Philip Christie of The Bonk about their song ‘Future 87’. First released in May 2022 and featured on their excellent LP – and our album of 2023 – Greater Than Or Equal To The Bonk, we’ll hear about how the song evolved from a jam committed to a 4-Track Tape in 2017, as well as looking at the limitations and creative decisions that shaped the recording. You can support The Bonk’s music here: https://thebonk.bandcamp.com/ Tracklisting: 1. Future 87 2. Think (by James Brown) 3. Crazy He Calls Me (by Billie Holiday) 4. Thick Lines…

  • The Bonk and Clara Tracey Launch New Dundalk Series COLLIDE

    December 14, 2023 - By 

    As home to the likes of Just Mustard, Jinx Lennon, Elephant and The Mary Wallopers, world-beating venues including The Spirit Store and forward-pushing movers like Pizza Pizza Records, it’s safe to say Dundalk more than holds its own when it comes to representing what is setting Irish music apart in 2023. It’s a wonderfully independent spirit that runs through COLLIDE, a new, late-night series from An Táin Arts Centre and the Spirit Store. Beginning in winter 2023 and ending in spring 2024, the venues will collaborate on four downright unmissable bills featuring some TTA favourites. And how better to shine…

  • The Colour and the Shape: An Interview with The Bonk

    July 21, 2023 - By 

    Off the back of the release of their second LP, Greater Than Or Equal To The Bonk, and a much-hyped Irish tour, The Bonk’s Phil Christie talks with Jack Rudden about the orbits of rhythm, language as music and what it means to improvise Photos by Sean McMahon From time to time, you will come across a band that makes you rediscover why you love music. They’ll unearth that little spark that makes you go, “Of course, this is why we listen. This feeling is why our species decided to organise sound in the first place”. Other times, a band…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 5th May

    May 5, 2023 - By 

    It’s Bandcamp Friday once again, and it’s been yet another banner week for Irish releases. Dig into the best of them from The Bonk, Adjunct Ensemble, Chalk, Elaine Mai & MayKay, Pôt-Pôt and more The Bonk – The Blueshirt Shuffle The Blueshirt Shuffle by The Bonk Adjunct Ensemble – Sovereign Bodies/Ritual Taxonomy Chalk – Conditions Elaine Mai & MayKay – 3am Alpha Chrome Yayo – Hidden Earth Hidden Earth by Alpha Chrome Yayo Asi Nisi Masa – Cobweb Thread Daniel Luke – Shadow Dance Shadow Dance by Daniel Luke Raja Baal – I Will Never Be Cool (You Can’t Make Me)…

  • The Bonk Announce Irish Tour

    March 29, 2023 - By 

    The Bonk have announced details of an upcoming Irish tour. Almost certainly the country’s finest genre-warping proposition, the Philip Christie-fronted project will embark on the aptly-named Tour In The Month of May, an 11-date traipse across the island, playing various venues alongside the Maija Sofia, Elaine Howley and – at Dubln’s Sugar Club on 27th May – a “mystery legend” to be revealed. Check out the full dates and info below. The tour coincides with the release of The Bonk’s highly-anticipated second album, Greater Than Or Equal To The Bonk. Set for release via boutique label thirty-three45 on 12th May,…

  • Video Premiere: The Bonk – Trying On Oblivion

    December 12, 2022 - By 

    Long one of our favourite acts in Ireland, The Bonk‘s modus operandi is endlessly fascinating, playful experimentation in song and improvisation, led by (former O Emperor) songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Phil Christie. Gathering influences from 60’s garage, jazz and experimental pop, the band bring recursive rhythms and improvised melodies together in minimalist song forms. Their first record, 2017’s The Bonk Seems To Be A Verb had a limited cassette run through label thirtythree-45, and was a collection of one-off live studio takes patched together from various sessions over an 18-month period. Today, we’re pleased to announce that for their second long player, the Bonk have again teamed up with the thirtythree-45 imprint…

  • Preview: Spilt Milk Festival 2022

    November 15, 2022 - By 

    On these shores, few creative initiatives pair careful curation with an independent spirit as focused and informed as Spilt Milk. A year on from hosting the likes of School Tour, Syn and the sadly-missed Shammen Delly, the annual festival of music, art and film returns to Sligo town across 18th-20th November for its fourth outing, and arguably its strongest line-up to date. The programme from this year’s festival comprises four events, taking place at one of the island’s finest art centres, The Model – and it’s primed to be another wonderfully palette-spanning affair featuring several TTA favourites. From 7pm on Friday, the venue will…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 4th February

    February 4, 2022 - By 

    On this, the first Bandcamp Friday of 2022, delve into the very best Irish releases of the week, featuring Whozyerman?, The Bonk, Howlbux/Muireann Levis, Hannah Peel, Jane Deasy, No Monster Club, Wild Rocket, Laurie Shaw and more. Whozyerman? – Blink Blink by Whozyerman? The Bonk – Songs For The Mean Time Vol. 2 Songs For The Mean Time Vol. 2 by The Bonk Howlbux/Muireann Levis – Signs of Life: Part 1 Signs of Life: Part 1 by Howlbux/Muireann Levis Hannah Peel & Paraorchestra – The Unfolding Jane Deasy – Mouth of the Sound Mouth of the Sound by Jane Deasy No…