• Villagers Irish Tour

    May 27, 2015 - By 

    Our writers and photographers report back from three of Villagers’ hugely successful dates across Ireland, including shows at Dublin’s Olympia, Cork Opera House and Belfast’s Mandela Hall. Saturday: Opera House, Cork w/ Gavin Glass Photos by Brid O’Donovan May 23rd, 2015 will forever be remembered as a landmark in Irish history, a momentously happy day, as the passage of the marriage referendum finally allows two people that love each other to marry and be recognised as equal citizens of our young, progressive nation. The eyes of the world are upon us, and they are smiling warmly as word filters around the world. The…

  • Villagers – Darling Arithmetic

    April 21, 2015 - By 

    Villagers has always been something of a vehicle for Conor O’Briens creative vision. Early on as a band it enabled him to explore the rich soundscapes we heard on Becoming A Jackal; the arrangements were complex, brooding and gave more than a tip of the cap to Nick Drake’s darkest days and recordings, but was most certainly foregrounded with O’Brien’s soloist vernacular. {Awayland} had a different, but no less focused modus operandi, with O’Brien and co. expanding a sound that ultimately felt like a more colourful, collaborative experience. Now on album number three, Villagers’ Darling Arithmetic goes beyond a back…

  • Watch: Villagers – Everything I Am Yours

    April 13, 2015 - By 

    Showing one man’s sad spiral of rejection on city streets, Villagers’ video for ‘Everything I Am Yours’ is a harrowing yet remarkably touching supplement to one of the highlights from their new album, Darling Arithmetic. Directed by Jeremy Thraves – responsible for videos for the likes of Radiohead’s Just, Blur’s Charmless Man and Sam Smith’s Stay With Me – the video cuts between the aforementioned struggle – one man’s desire for love and to be loved – and footage of Conor O’Brien performing the song on guitar, drums and piano. Make sure to check out our main interview feature with O’Brien in the current issue of…

  • Watch: Villagers – Hot Scary Summer

    March 10, 2015 - By 

    The second single to be released from his forthcoming third studio album, Darling Arithmetic, Conor O’Brien AKA Villagers is streaming the exquisite ‘Hot Scary Summer’. An outright highlight from the album – released via Domino on April 13 – the track is one features instrumentation written and recorded exclusively by O’Brien in the loft of a converted farmhouse that he lives in in Malahide. Pre-order the album here. Go here to check out Villagers’ forthcoming tour dates and watch the video for ‘Hot Scary Summer’ below.

  • Front of House: Ber Quinn

    February 16, 2015 - By 

    In our fifth installment of Front of House, we chat to Cork native Ber Quinn about his life as a sound engineer in Dublin and his current work with Villagers. Photos by Brid O’Donovan. Hey Ber! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Hi! I’m a Cork man living in Dublin on and off for the last 7 or so years. As a live engineer, I mix front of house sound for Villagers, The Magic Numbers, Cathy Davey, Wallis Bird, Duke Special and a German classical ensemble called Stargaze. I’m also a studio engineer fighting the tide of click tracks and…

  • Villagers announce European tour

    February 9, 2015 - By 

    Ahead of the release of the highly anticipated third album, Darling Arithmetic, Villagers have announced a run of dates across Ireland this May. Starting in Rotterdam on Saturday, April 11, the tour will conclude at Belfast’s Mandela Hall on Monday, May 25. Check out the full dates below. Sat 11 Apr ROTTERDAM Motel Mozaique Tue 14 Apr BRISTOL St Georges Wed 15 Apr FALMOUTH Pavilions Thu 16 Apr EXETER Phoenix Fri 17 Apr BRIGHTON The Old Market Sun 19 Apr LIVERPOOL Epstein Theatre Mon 20 Apr MANCHESTER Concert Hall Tue 21 Apr LEEDS City Varieties Thu 23 Apr PORTSMOUTH Wedgewood…

  • Watch: Villagers – Courage

    February 2, 2015 - By 

    Having received its premiere on Lauren Laverne’s BBC 6Music show this morning, Villagers have unveiled the video for their new single ‘Courage’. Taken from the band’s forthcoming third album, Darling Arithmetic, the track is a typically exquisite effort from Conor O’Brien and co., beautifully propelled in its harmonic simplicity and lyrical incisiveness. According to the band’s YouTube page, Darling Arithmetic was “written, recorded, produced and mixed by O’Brien at home – the loft of a converted farmhouse that he shares in the coastal town of Malahide to the north of Dublin – revealing a single-minded artist at the peak of…

  • Christmas Hearts Single Launch @ Whelan’s, Dublin

    December 16, 2014 - By 

    Christmas Hearts launched their very special charity single for Peter McVerry trust last Thursday in Whelans, featuring live performances from Swimmers, Brian Kelly of So Cow, Paddy Hanna and a very special guest appearance from Villagers frontman Conor O’Brien who also appeared on the record. If you haven’t done so already, please buy the single here. Photos by Colm Moore.