Jennifer Evans likes to keep herself occupied. Not only has the Dublin-based singer recorded and released her debut EP in recent times, but she also landed a prestigious slot in the ‘Other Room’ section of RTÉ’s Other Voices… series. And that’s all in addition to a rather full gig schedule, which included a date at

Villagers, Grand Pocket Orchestra, Prince Kong, The Ambience Affair, Heathers, O Emperor, Patrick Kelleher, Two Door Cinema Club – just some of the bands that we’ve featured over the past two years of our annual Faces Of…. round up of new Irish talent. This year is no exception, except for the fact that the class…

State was hoping to provide in-depth coverage from last month’s Europavox II event in Brussels (preview here) but flight cancellations due to the heavy snowfall meant we had to stay home by the fire instead. But, while we can’t offer a full report, we were still able to asemble this collection of photographs taken for us by Thieva…

Quarter Inch Collective have announced they are to release the first in a new compilation album series called, quite cleverly, Quompilation…. It will feature Irish acts performing re-worked and re-imagined versions of their favourite songs of 2010. Here’s the full list of artists involved:
Cloud Castle Lake
Flok
Ginola
Hipster Youth
Kid Karate
Market Force
No Monster Club
Patrick Kelleher

Laura Marling‘s Irish tour dates have been postponed due to illness. The news comes after the singer pulled out of her performance on RTÉ’s Other Voices concert series, which is being filmed this weekend in Dingle. The gigs affected are as follows:
The Pavilion, Cork (December 5th)
Black Box, Belfast (December 6th)
Vicar St., Dublin (December…

We conclude our run of State vs… gigs for the year with the big one, the rematch they all wanted to see. It wasn’t so long ago that we did battle with them on the decks at this year’s HWCH, but tomorrow night will see us once more lock horns with AU Magazine, this time…

Following a busy summer in the recording studio, Ladytron will release ‘Ace of Hz’, the first single from upcoming album Ladytron 00-10, at the end of this month. The track, which also features on the soundtrack to the recently released FIFA 11 videogame, possesses a sound which suggests the new album will continue in the same vein as 2008′s Velocifero….

State isn’t supposed to be here tonight. Okay, it’s the right show and it’s the right place. Only, this was all supposed to happen back in April. That was until some pesky Icelandic volcano threw international air travel into disarray, forcing bands and promoters into carrying out some funky re-jigging of tour schedules. There was also irony in it…

We’re delighted to announce that State will be taking part in this year’s Culture Night (this Friday 24th) by joining IMRO in hosting an public evening of public interviews and live performances. Our guests will Thomas Walsh of Pugwash / Duckworth Lewis Method. James Vincent McMorrow and Fight Like Apes – all of whom will…

Marina and the Diamonds have announced that ’Shampain’ will be the fifth single to be taken from the singer’s debut album, The Family Jewels….
Here’s the video produced to coincide with its release next month:  

After the chaotic ending to their set at the Reading festival last weekend, Guns N’ Roses appear to be continuing their rock diva antics at tonight’s concert in Dublin’s O2. According to reports reaching us here at State HQ, the band arrived on stage behind schedule and played for around 20 minutes before Axl Rose departed the stage after missiles were apparently thrown…

Dublin band Subplots have revealed dates for their forthcoming tour of Ireland and the UK, which includes a performance alongside Field Music at Dublin’s Crawdaddy.
Friday, August 13th – The Quad, Cork w/ Sideproject
Thursday, September 9th – Crawdaddy, Dublin w/ Field Music
Saturday, October 2nd – Club Fandango, London, UK
Sunday, October 3rd –…

Shane MacGowan and Sharon Shannon are the latest headline acts to be announced for the Beamish Cork Folk Festival. Both will take to the stage at the Savoy on Friday, October 1st, as part of the festival which takes place from September 30th to October 3rd in venues throughout Cork city. Tickets for the Savoy show cost €35…

Uber-producer and former Roxy Music man Brian Eno has announced the release date for his new album, Small Craft On A Milk Sea…. The LP, recorded with Jon Hopkins and Leo Abraham, will go on sale on November 12th through Warp Records.
As well as standard CD and digital formats, the album will be available as a limited editon