Writes Fionn Kelleher Inheritance is the latest release from Arvo Party, pseudonym of Belfast’s Herb Magee. Magee’s published a multitude of EPs and LPs over the years, and Inheritance is undoubtedly his best work yet. ‘ABCD’ opens the experience, transporting the listener to a vast jungle of reverberated vocals and layered pads into the calmer…
Things I’ll Never Say is Cork producer Gadget and the Cloud’s (GATC) latest project since 2018’s Songs For Sad People To Dance To. Her skilfulness as an experimental electronic artist with an ability to explore feelings and moments with a blend of compassion and astuteness has seen her garnering acclaim in Cork and far beyond….
2020’s been a milestone for Irish music, even in a year without gigs. Denise Chaila’s gone from underground to RTÉ darling, while artists like Jafaris and Nealo are making airplay and playlist waves, disproving notions about race and heavy brogue in Irish rap. But meanwhile—and more importantly—the fight against Direct Provision has become more prominent,…
It’s the same and yet brand new. I scan the Kino and see the faces I’ve seen at gigs across the city for the last four years. We’re here for what will be the last Pretty Happy gig for the foreseeable future. It comes with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Excitement for what is,…
By Elle Kelleher Dublin-based alt-rock powerhouse Bitch Falcon have conquered festival stages from Cork to Toronto, from Los Angeles to Cheltenham, causing pounding hearts and pounding eardrums wherever they go. University Express sat down with guitarist/vocalist Lizzie and drummer Nigel, to chat about their upcoming album, the situation with the scene and surviving a pandemic…
In a moment in time where the existence of live venues and the live music industry itself rest on increasingly fragile ground, many artists are in a financially precarious position. In the age of streaming, platforms like Spotify perpetuate the idea that music is something that can be procured for €9.99 a month, while the…
Welcome to UCC, or welcome back! I’m hoping this finds you in good health and with an inbox free of emails that contain the line ‘In These Troubled Times’. Unless Fiona, Maeve or Fergal have used it in their editorials. Jesus, am I going to get fired before we even go to print? Forget it….
by Elle Kelleher The Irish music industry was severely impacted during COVID-19. With all gigs cancelled, professionals around the country suddenly found themselves without income and, as the majority of full-time musicians are self-employed, with their eligibility status for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment in a precarious position, unsure if taking the odd gig here or…
The live music industry has been devastated by COVID-19. Cyprus Avenue, The Roundy, Cork Opera House: They’ve all been shut since March, and the future is uncertain as phase four stretches into the future. With the law restricting indoor gatherings of fifty-plus (inclusive of staff and band), many venues are waiting it out or still…
Mick Flannery’s latest album, Alive, is a live recording of a concert performed way back in 2019 at the Cork Opera House. At a time when much of the live music industry has been thrown into uncertainty due to COVID-19, the proceeds of the album are going to Mick’s band and sound engineers. Alive wonderfully…