Björk has called her latest live show her “most elaborate staged concert to date” and the most ambitious project she’s ever conceived — strong words from one of the most singular artists working in music. […]
Category: Live reviews
Make it Rain: Slayer live in Dublin review
Slayer just kicked off the European leg of their final tour the same way they’ve played every gig in the last 35 years – a 20-song headbutt and a realisation there’s no metal band anywhere […]
Same as he ever was: When David Byrne played the Galway Arts Festival (2004)
Any anoraks out Byrne-watching on July 26 might have bumped into a stranger in a strange land. According to his online tour journal, the singer took his fold-out bike for a ride on Salthill Prom […]
It’s Brittany, Bitch: La Route du Rock 2018 review
There’s something Narnia-like about getting an overnight ferry in Portsmouth and waking up in Saint-Malo on the coast of Brittany. After leaving England with a belly full of Wetherspoons’ fried chicken and a vista of […]
Novi Sad’s EXIT strategy
Most festivals in Ireland or the UK boast about their wonderful setting, usually in the grounds of some stately home that’s fenced off from the session ruffians. It probably makes sense – protecting against the elements, […]
Can’t get No Sleep: Going the extra mile at Exit Festival in Serbia
It’s lunchtime in a sweltering Belgrade airport and Nina Kraviz glides past me and joins the queue, as if she hasn’t just banged out techno to thousands of diehards in the moat of a Serbian […]
It gets you right down to your soul: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at Kilmainham
I’m going in for a hug with Nick Cave and I’m pretty sure he could use one. We all could, it’s been one of those nights. I’ve just crashed the stage with 50 wannabe Bad […]
Satisfaction guaranteed: Rolling Stones at Croke Park review
When the Rolling Stones announced this latest tour, Keith Richards claimed they were here for an even longer haul than we’d imagined. “There’s no stopping us – we’re only getting started,” he reckoned, with a […]
Dutch and go: 20 things to take away from Eurosonic 2018
The dust has settled on this year’s Eurosonic – the annual showcase in the Dutch city of Groningen that’s a platform for breaking new bands, filling Europe’s festival line-ups and bookers, labels and industry heads […]
The Warp Magic Tour Bus parks up in Dublin (2002)
A band of modern-day merry pranksters has rolled into Dublin – a busload of DJs and expert knob-twiddlers creating an alternative summer holiday soundtrack. After 100 releases, the Warp Record label is taking its Magic […]
They’ll make you a believer: Depeche Mode live in Dublin
At a Depeche Mode gig you can spend an outlandish amount of time working out your favourite Dave Gahan dance move – and he’s got dozens. After their 3Arena show I’ve a shortlist: Jesus pose; […]
We’re going Dutch: Lowlands 2017 recap
Even as the hype over Irish festival season fades and your wellies are dumped in the cupboard, it’s not that insane to start thinking about next year. After all, Electric Picnic tickets went on sale before […]
Still Dicking Around: Sparks at BBC 6 Music Festival
Sparks have always been the daft uncles in my record collection, prancing with an arched eyebrow over everything they do. Ron & Russell Mael are one of the most singular double acts in pop history, […]
Mallorca feature: Stormzy takes over BCM
Magaluf has a reputation as the maddest party town in Europe — with the word ‘infamous’ popping up as soon as the Mallorca town is mentioned. For a few decades it’s been the ultimate lads/lasses […]
Snow Solid Crew: Rise Festival in Les Deux Alpes
Hitching a cable car down the French Alps with So Solid Crew at Rise Festival goes down as my most surreal festival moment of 2015 — and that includes Grace Jones hula-hooping her way through […]
Moo Kid 