Articles by Patrick Conboy
Author of 146 posts.
Patrick has been writing for State since 2008. He is also a regular contributor to AU, a music and culture magazine based in Belfast. When he's not writing he works on his own music project, dreams of owning a collection of vintage synthesizers, thinks he can play football and embarrasses his friends with his general nerdiness. www.twitter.com/patrickconboy
Website:http://www.state.ie
State is feeling surprisingly fresh this morning and a quick glance outside reveals another fine, sunny day. The bands may not start playing until this evening but there’s plenty of activity around the festival site at this early hour, with small but lively groups of journalists, promoters, booking agents and festival organisers gathering in the…
It’s been a long day, starting with a 6am flight to Amsterdam, then a transfer to Paris and a tedious three-and-a-half hour train journey but State has finally arrived in Clermont-Ferrand. And as beers are sipped-upon under the cloudless sky of a balmy French summer’s evening, it already feels like it’s been worth the effort.…
Here’s hoping a certain Icelandic volcano behaves itself this week because State is set to travel to the French town of Clermont-Ferrand for the fifth edition of Europavox. The festival is based around a city centre venue called La Coopérative de Mai and augmented by Spiegel Tents in an adjoining park, while behind the scenes…
Ronnie James Dio has passed away at the age of 67. The singer, who at various times fronted Rainbow and Black Sabbath in addition to his own solo career, had been battling with stomach cancer for some time. The news was broken by his wife Wendy, who posted the following message on his official website…
Grand Pocket Orchestra will be launching their new single ‘Basketballs’ in the Twisted Pepper on May 22nd before they depart on a European tour this summer. Special guests on the night will be Futures Apart and No Monster Club.
The band have also produced a video to accompany the single, which you can see below.…
Now here’s one we didn’t see coming. It turns out Shakira’s new single ‘Explore’ borrows samples and lyrics from the XX’s ‘Islands’ and despite our worst fears it’s actually not all that bad. See for yourself in the clip below:…
Bangor indie-pop sensations Two Door Cinema Club look to be hitting all the right notes with audiences over in the States, with sold-out shows and now with performances on national television. Yesterday saw the band appear on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live show, where they performed ‘I Can Talk’ – taken from their debut album, Tourist …
After five weeks on the road, the 2010 IMRO Showcase Tour comes to an end with a special ‘Best of Tour’ show at The Academy on May 1st. Taking to the stage on the night will be The Cast of Cheers, Mia Sparrow, Miracle Bell, Jody Has A Hitlist and The Minutes, with more acts…
Dublin-based DJ/producer iRate Soundsystem (aka Dylan O’Neill) has taken time out of his busy schedule to put together this exclusive mix for State – ‘State of Yer Face’: a half hour eclectic rollercoaster ride through electro, indie and classic rock. Oh, and a bit of Hall & Oates!
Dylan has a number of residencies in…
The end is in sight for this year’s IMRO Showcase Tour as it enters its fifth and final week. Fifty acts have taken part in this year’s nationwide trek, including the seven who will grace the stages of Dublin’s Sugar Club and Dolan’s of Limerick this weekend. A number of the featured bands will also…
Dublin bands Scarecrow Disco and The Hot Sprockets have teamed-up to release a limited edition split 7″ single on their own Go Splitzy Records label. The double A-side record features the Hot Sprockets’ track ‘Honey Skippin” and Scarecrow Disco’s ‘Your Parrot’s Low on Batteries’. The songs will also be available for download from leading digital…
…And then there was three. In a short notice posted on their website and MySpace profile, Fight Like Apes have announced that drummer Adrian Mullan has left the group due to “creative differences.”
Fight Like Apes statement:…
“Due to creative differences, Adrian Mullan and Fight Like Apes have parted company. MayKay, Pockets and Tom wish
Time is flying! The 2010 IMRO Showcase Tour is one month old now and this week sees it pay two visits to Derry for dates at Masons and The Cellar, as well as a trip to Kildare’s Late Lounge in-between. Altogether, a whopping 16 acts will be involved, making this the busiest week of the…
The fifth edition of Europavox takes place in the French town of Clermont-Ferrand from May 21st-23rd, with warm-up gigs on May 20th. The full line-up has now been published and highlights include performances from Peter Doherty, The Kissaway Trail, Band of Skulls, Unknown Pleasures – a Joy Division tribute from Peter Hook, and Ireland’s own…
