7. Thinkerrs (Dublin/Mayo)
Friday – 8:30pm @ The Mercantile
Patrick Hallinan leads Thinkerrs, a folk/rock band of Mayo men based in Dublin who have released three albums to date. This year’s release Black Dog contains their best work yet like ‘April’, a lilting melodious song and ‘Quantum Universe’, a raucous grunge-rock track. Those tracks represents the two sides of Thinkerrs’ sound.
8. Cove (Tipperary)
Friday – 8:10pm @ The New Theatre
Alternative electronic rock is shorthand for this Cashel-based group who released their debut EP back in February. Think synthesizers, gurgling vocals and M83 sky-scrapping ambience.
9. Carriages (Dublin)
Friday – 9:30pm @ The New Theatre
Experimental folk, the kind that uses off-kilter rhythms, electronics and a likening to bands like Tunng is the vibe of this new band from producer Harry Bookless (also of littlexsforeyes and Fearsome Floors) and singer-songwriter Aaron Page.
10. Tvvins (Dublin)
Saturday – Midnight @ Bad Bobs
Edit: OK, When I first planned this post, I hadn’t written about these guys but since have. So there.
The first live show from Conor Adams (The Cast Of Cheers / Charmers) and Lar Kaye (Adebisi Shank, No Spill Blood) as tvvins. The music is synth-pop, electro-rock, vocodered and anthemic.
11. Floor Staff (Dublin)
Saturday – 8pm @ Bad Bobs / Friday – Powerscourt Centre @ 3pm
Anthony Donnelly and Stephen Murray are the core members of this two piece experimental pop band. A debut EP was released in July and the songs could be described as mature elegaic dancefloor-shuffling pop tracks with brass tone, backing vocals and nods to the sound of Bon Iver. Saturday will be a full-band show.
12. Garrett Moore (Dublin)
Saturday – 10pm @ Bad Bobs / Friday – 2:30pm @ Designist
Alternative pop that can sound ragged one minute, due to Moore’s gravelled voice or anthemic due to some rich and reaching piano-featuring arrangements.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
Carried By Waves new single is amazing and live show is well worth seeing at HWCH, best producer to come out of Ireland in the last 2 years!