Voted for by over 19,000 music fans, the Irish Festival Awards were set up in 2007 by the people behind the Castlepalooza event. This year’s results have just been announced and see the Electric Picnic dominate proceedings:
Best Large Festival: Electric Picnic
Best Medium Festival: Rory Gallagher Tribute Festival
Best Small Festival: Body & Soul…

Enjoying a quiet start to the year after a fine 2011, Ham Sandwich ease back into action with a special vinyl and digital release of their superb White Fox… album. The physical, black plastic version will be available from February 14th and will be available from the band’s website as well as selected record stores.

Having taken a small break in January, State returns to live action later this month with the latest in our series of Vs… shows. Joining us on Friday Feb 17th are the Loud Mouth collective, a bunch of like minded musicians, producers, DJ’s, vocalists, artists, designers, photographers and film makers. Musically LM crosses several genres…

Welcome to a new month and yet more quality Irish music here on State. Grand Pocket Orchestra release their second album Ronald & Sylma… on 24th and we’re delighted to bring you the stream of lead single ‘Wednesday’. Having spent their time off indulging in various side projects, the track sees one of our favourite

Based in East London but, as we shall see, with an Irish connection, Django Django have just released their self-titled debut album and play Crawdaddy in Dublin on Feb 23rd. We already know that they make an intriguing electronic rock ‘n’ roll sound, but what else makes them tick?
Who are you and where are …

It’s always one of the highlights of the Irish music year – certainly in terms of a discussion point – and March 8th will see the Choice Music Prize host its first live event in new home the Olympia Theatre. All ten nominees for the album of year (And So I Watch You From Afar,…

Having moved to London last year, The Cast Of Cheers take their first step into the world of traditional record releases with new single ‘Family’, due on February 3rd via School Boy Error.
As previously reported, the quartet tour their new homeland in support of the release along with new-wavers Theme Park.
The video for…

Since the shenanigans surrounding their second album release, Delorentos have found everything they do framed by that certain part of their back story. It didn’t help that, despite the promise of lead single ‘S.E.C.R.E.T.’, You Can Make Sound… was not quite the record it could have been. Since its release, the band have maintained their

This Friday night sees the launch of Quompilation 2…, the second compilation from the fine indie label Quarter Inch Collective. As with the first release, it features a number of Quarter Inch related acts performing a selection of covers – with inspiration coming from Jedward and Tieranniesaur and all points inbetween. The launch gig

After a few years that saw a drastic deterioration in her health, soul and blues legend Etta James passed away on Friday – a few days short of her 74th birthday. The singer, who released her final album The Dreamer in November, had been suffering from chronic leukemia, hepatitis C and dementia. Beyonce, who played…

Located in the basement of the old Shebeen Chic (now The Speakeasy Cafe), new venue The Electric Lounge launches tomorrow night (20th) with a very much State approved bill. Based on Dame Lane, the boutique venue is completely curated, designed and run by artists and musicians – with a booking policy to match. The first…

We already know about their two Dublin live shows later in the year, and now full details of the new album from Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. Wrecking Ball… is released on March 1st, described by Springsteen’s manager Jon Landau as “a rock record that combines elements of both Bruce’s classic sound and

Once a member of The Dears and The Social Register, Montreal native Jon Cohen is now stepping out on his own. Having recently released his debut album Behold…, featuring guest spots from the likes of Murray Lightburn (The Dears) and Evan Cranley (Stars, Broken Social Scene), The Jon Cohen Experimental plays The Grand Social

It looks like being the most notorious name in hip-hop has paid off for Odd Future, with their next album set to see them move to the world of major labels. Released in March, The OF Tape Vol 2… will be the first album under the Odd Future Records imprint, which has heavyweight distribution through