You’ll be seeing a lot of Gabrielle Aplin over the coming months, with her debut album English Rain due for release at the end of April and a Dublin show at the Academy booked for 5th of that month. She was recently in town for a more flying visit to promote the single ‘Please Don’t [...]

Last weekend saw The Futureheads bring their acapella and acoustic tour to Dublin and, as such, State took the opportunity to put them in a room with Andrew Jordan and his video camera. The result is a spirited version of ‘Old Dun Cow’, a traditional folk song from their native North East England and a [...]

Liz Lawrence has spent a lot of time in Ireland of late, the UK singer songwriter choosing to launch her fine Bedroom Hero album here. State took the opportunity to put her together with Andrew Jordan for a version of ‘I’d Rather’ down by the Grand Canal in Dublin.

Last week saw the release of Elaine Mai’s debut EP Dots (hear it on Nialler9, buy it here) and to mark the event we bring you this lovely video from Simon O’Neill and regular State cohort Myles O’Reilly. It captures her mixture of acoustic music and technology perfectly, something you can see for yourselves when [...]

If their album The Lion’s Roar suggested that they were firmly on the path to Americana, First Aid Kit‘s recent show at the Workman’s Club in Dublin saw them take the full plunge. The track ‘Emmylou’ displays those influences more than most, a tribute to the great artists who have informed the Swedish duo’s sound. [...]

Grouplove were in Dublin town recently for a live show at the Academy, part of their ever increasingly packed schedule on the back of their fine 2011 album Never Trust A Happy Song. Straight off a ferry from Glasgow and obviously dead on their feet, they were still good enough to run through the track [...]

Amongst many guests performing live in Tower Records to celebrate International Record Store Day on Saturday, it was the prospect of a set from Lykke Li that perhaps got us here at State the most excited. So much so, in fact, that we couldn’t resist sending Stephen Mogerley and his crew to squeeze their way [...]

Met with a rave review from our own Dara Higgins the pale beauty, soulful voice and skilled guitar playing of rocketing star that is Anna Calvi cast a spell over The Workman’s Club late last month. Filmmaker and musician Stephen Mogerley was there to capture then night and the song ‘Love Won’t Be Leaving’ for [...]

Last week saw us host two State Intervention shows with KT Tunstall playing in Dublin and then Republic Of Loose performing a stunning unplugged set at the Viva Retro vintage store in Belfast. Bandwidth Films were on hand to capture it, teaming up with Redcap Productions for our first non-Dublin Intervention. Thanks to all involved, [...]

For most of the diners in Tower Records’ Soundbites cafe, Monday lunchtime was just another opportunity to grab some food and a chat. For State readers however, it was a chance to catch KT Tunstall perform at the ninth State Intervention. Treating us (and Bandwidth Films) to three tracks from her latest Tiger Suit album [...]

The first intervention of 2011 happened last Tuesday in Sam’s Barber on Dame Court. Broken Records were in Dublin for the second night of their UK and Ireland tour before they head to the States in two weeks time. Before the Edinburgh six-piece played Crawdaddy half the band took a guitar, violin and a borrowed [...]

Last night saw Myles O’Reilly pick up the hugely deserved award for best director at the 2010 IMTV Awards. To celebrate we present his latest project for State, this gorgeous video of James Vincent McMorrow at his recent live show in the Button Factory. As with his Villagers shoot, Myles has captured the mood of [...]

It was time for tea when our seventh State Intervention saw Heathers perform in the intimate surroundings of the Tea Garden in Dublin. Joined by their cello player Paddy, they treated us to a mixture of the old and the new – all captured, as ever, by Bandwidth Films. Photo: Yan Bourke

It was a typical wet and windy day when we took to the streets of Dublin with Brighton’s Sons Of Noel & Adrian. Fortunately a break in the weather enabled us to set up camp on Coppinger Row and for our friends at Bandwidth Films to capture this superb session. Stay tuned for the results [...]