The National live at the 3Arena in Dublin last night. Photos by Gemma Bovenizer
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The National live at the Marquee in Cork and at the Docklands in Limerick with support both nights from Eve Owen. Photos by John Sheehy and Aoife Moloney. Live at the Marquee in Cork by John Sheehy Live at Docklands in Limerick by Aoife Moloney
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Solo albums, for the most part, present artists with the opportunity to indulge in experiments their bandmates would reject. Take Thom Yorke going fully electronic on The Eraser, or Sigur Ros’ Jónsi’s journey into glitch-pop on his new album Shiver: Neither proved to be too much of a deviation from their main projects’ sound, but provided them with a detour that musicians often need to get out of their system between “proper” albums. The lowered expectations that can come with a solo album free up an artist to make whatever they want without restriction, and can sometimes lead to something…
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In recent years, The National have shifted towards a communal approach in music making, altering their compositional practices to be more inclusive, and concerned with offering new perspectives. With Aaron and Bryce Dessner’s involvement in PEOPLE – a collective of creatives collaborating on music projects, live performances and podcasts – The National have embraced a collaborative space, and I Am Easy To Find may be the absolute embodiment of this new form. Maintaining some of the gloomy aura of 2016’s highly acclaimed Sleep Well Beast, the record avoids burden, chiefly due to the addition of vocals from artists like Lisa…
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Having had an extremely strong first outing this year, All Together Now has announced that the National will headline the festival next year. When it returns to Curraghmore House in Co. Waterford across the August Bank Holiday (2nd-4th) weekend, the festival will now boast 16 stages, featuring natural amphitheatres, the iconic Spiegeltent, secret woodland stages and the All Together Now Bandstand, across a 3000 acre setting. General and family tickets for next year are on sale now, priced at just €199.50 until December 31. Installment plan options are also available. Revisit our top 10 sets for All Together Now 2018…
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The National just can’t seem to stay away from Dublin. Not ten months since their intimate double-bill at Vicar St., they made their return this Friday, nestled away in the leafy Donnybrook suburbs at the Energia/Donnybrook Stadium, for their own miniature two-day festival, with support acts including Lisa Hannigan, John Grant, Villagers and Rostam. The Friday gig featured the aforementioned Lisa Hannigan and John Grant, as well as Jay Som, and Preoccupations. Not your typical outdoor venue, this weekend was an opportunity for Donnybrook Stadium to showcase itself as one – with surprisingly strong acoustics, and the high suburban trees…
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Big Red Machine (A Bon Iver + The National collaboration) live at St.Luke’s in Cork as part of Sounds From A Safe Harbour. Photos by Jason Lee.
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After a four year period rich in collaborations, side-projects and production work, the build-up to this, The National‘s seventh album was a carefully crafted and ubiquitous one. Teaser clips hinted the release of its first single, ‘The System Only Dreams In Total Darkness’ and a blue-coloured, minimal take on the album’s cover art popped up in different cities across the globe. What is interesting is how this bold, outward looking campaign stands in a sharp contrast to the songs themselves. Here we find album that at its core is an intimate reflection on failing relationships both personal and universal, one that confronts…
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Having been dropping hints over the last while, The National have announced that they will release their seventh studio album, Sleep Well Beast, via 4AD on September 8. To coincide with its release, the band will kick off a word tour at Cork’s Opera House as part on September 16 as part of this year’s Sounds from a Sae Harbour Festival, followed by two night at Dublin’s Vicar Street (September 17 and 18). Tickets – priced €60 for Cork and Dublin TBC – go on sale on Friday, May 19 at 10am, with pre-sale tickets on Tuesday, May 16 at 10am. This…
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It’s not the norm for a three-day music festival here to have perfect weather from start to finish. It just isn’t. Yet somehow it’s clear to all that the sun gods are well and truly shining down on the side of Longitude’s promoters and its thousands of sun cream covered attendees this weekend. Upon entering the main arena there is a noticeable throwback to the early days of Oxegen where the bars and countless food stalls attempt to keep everyone penned in due to its arching layout. Not to be left out, there is a palpable Electric Picnic vibe when you…