In celebration of the current music scene, a collection of Irish labels are working in conjunction with POD to showcase their talents in a series of live shows.
Over four consecutive weekends, Smalltown America, +4 Promotions, Delphi, Bluestack, Quarter Inch and Popical Island will host their acts in Crawdaddy, Dublin. Full line-up details below, entry…

More than just a button pressing beatsmith, Cork lad Toby Kaar makes groove-laden electronica so danceable that he just can’t help himself. His live show is one of infectious enthusiasm, with Toby throwing shapes to a melting pot of hip-hop, house and IDM. He also knows how to cut a remix, having reworked music by…

In an effort to shift the January blues, the very good people over at Out On A Limb Records are putting the majority of our back catalogue up as free downloads for the remainder of the month.
Starting from today:
… a digital download will be put for free download for one day only. Each…

Produced by members of MSTRKRFT and Death From Above 1979, the music of Wicklow-raised Montreal-based five-piece Nightbox couldn’t be better suited for their stable at French label Kitsuné. Their debut eponymous EP is electronic flavoured indie dance-pop, with taut guitar lines, synth-key flourishes and instantly catchy choruses.
Describe yourselves and your music.…
We’re a five-piece

A six member band from North Co. Dublin, The Notas play expansive indie rock in the key of Wu Lyf with dash of Foals. Cranking up the reverb on guitar and deploying electronics the band keep the subtleties in the rhythm section on songs informed by their varying cultural backgrounds – French, Indian, Nigerian, Zimbabwean…

Originally from West Somerset, England but now Dublin-based, Simon Bird produced five EPs in total last year hitting off hip-hop, noise, post-rock and electronica along the way. His amazing V… EP captured all these beneath a sheen of ambient drone, while is live show is as engaging as it is experimental. It’s impossible to predict

In a bought to address ticket demand the Coachella Music Festival, held in the California Desert near the city of Indio, will this year be hosted over two consecutive weekends with the exact same line-up playing each.
The 2012 line-up has been announced and The Black Keys, Radiohead and Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg are…

From behind a looping station and an acoustic guitar, Elaine Mai sings with a voice that is striking with a nuanced accent and ringing clarity. Delivered with certainty, Mai’s songs have layers of vocal harmony and direct lyrics. She played a series of support slots in 2011, including a stunning set in Dublin’s Unitarian Church…

It’s a match of doubles from Hidden Agenda and Nightflight. The 2 Bears, featuring Hot Chip-er Joe Goddard and Raf Rundell (Greco-Roman Soundsystem) have teamed up with Benoit & Sergio for a joint headline show at The Button Factory on Friday February 17th.
The 2 Bears were originally due to play Crawdaddy on this date.…

With the release of Yeah Nothing… and a series of energetic festival and headline slots, Squarehead had a roaring year in 2011. Before they head back to the studio the lads will play Whelan’s in Dublin on on Friday 3rd February.
Support on the night comes from Hello Moon & The Bridges Of Madison County,

State has been choosing its favourite new Irish acts for three years now, delving into every corner of the land – both geographical and musical – to bring you what we consider the most exciting artists for the coming twelve months. Ever since we put Villagers on the cover of the first digital Faces magazine,…

The second album by Swedish sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg was reorded with producer Mike Mogis in Omaha, Nebraska.
‘Emmylou’ is the follow up single to ‘The Lion’s Roar’ from the record of the same name. As the name suggests it’s a tribute to Emmylou Harris as well as June Carter and Johnny Cash –…

Presented by Waltons New School of Music, Saharan desert guitar band Tinariwen are set to play the National Concert Hall in Dublin on Thursday, April 12th.
Tickets are priced at €26, €34 and €40 (choir balcony €20) available from NCH.ie.
Lead by Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, the six member Malian band will perform tracks from Aman …

With the Olympics around the corner, London-based crew Clock Opera are destined to soundtrack the coverage and highlights – their music being immediately emotive and rousing.
‘Once And For All’ has been knocking about for a while now, but a new sleek version will be the opening track to the band’s anticipated debut record Ways …