One would think that the arrival of one of the most exciting alternative hip-hop acts to emerge in recent years would have created quite a stir in Dublin, yet a strangely subdued atmosphere awaits Mercury Award winners Young Fathers on their much heralded visit to the Academy. Given the band’s reputation, not to mention the […]

Transatlantic flights, guzzling and gulping in London and now a headline show in Whelans, all in a matter of days. They may be hyped, handsome and so hot right now, but you none-the-less feel for All Tvvins and the momentum their juggernaut is starting to accumulate with only a sole single release to their name. […]

Despite what recent events might have you believe, it’s doubtful whether the world spent the years between 2007 and 2013 discussing the merits of Call The Doctor as opposed to The Hot Rock or One Beat. Yet the news that Sleater-Kinney were to restart their career (they never actually split up) created such a buzz […]

Last time State talked to Rusangano Family, they described their gigs in three words – ruckus, energy and family. This description proves to be incredibly apt as they put on a display that makes a claim for them having one of the best live shows in Ireland at the moment. Every aspect of the set […]

You have to admire their dedication. In eight hours time, Fight Like Apes will be boarding a plane to Texas to make their first visit to SxSW in eight years. There’ll be a lot of that in 2015, making up for lost time. Instead of spending the night packing, however, the band are getting back […]

Oxford natives Glass Animals are slightly overwhelmed by the adoration shown to them by the Academy crowd tonight. Having only played in Ireland once before, they seem genuinely thrilled by the heaving, undulating sea of faces that stands before them; faces taking photographs of the band, of themselves, of themselves looking at the band, of […]

While most of us probably take it for granted, you have to admit that the Olympia Theatre is an impressive building. It’s probably quite intimidating for a band too, especially if you’re not used to playing places of such stature. Royal Blood don’t say an awful lot tonight, but do remark that it’s a “privilege […]

Ryan Adams is in good form tonight, perhaps too good a form.  During the first of two sold-out nights at Dublin’s Olympia, he spends an immoderate amount of time chatting to the audience.  Early in the set there’s the old de rigueur, “Dublin, you are amazing. I wish I could play here every damn night!” […]

Over the years of State Faces – both on these pages and on stage – one of the aspects that we’re most proud of has been the range of musical styles that we have highlighted, proof of wide breadth of talent working in Ireland today. Tonight is no exception, with the three acts from our […]

Apparently when they were starting out, many record labels refused to sign Clean Bandit because they were convinced that it was some kind of joke. Now, almost three years after the release of their first single, after being graced with a Grammy Award and a slew of chart-topping songs, people are taking Clean Bandit very […]

“Unfortunately they can’t be with us tonight….” It’s the Choice Music Prize’s tenth birthday but it’s not quite the party it might have been. As host Paul McLoone points out, the fact that so many of tonight’s nominees are off being successful round the world is something to celebrate yet it not only means that […]

Trying to explain tUnE-yArDs’ sound to people in the days leading up to their Dublin show proved an impossible task. For the usual “Who do they sound like?” question has never applied to a band less. Queue a lot of “errmm…they don’t… hmm” from someone who usually has a description for everything musical. Eventually settling […]

You really have to hand it to Noel Gallagher. Tonight in front of a capacity 3Arena he has the demeanour of a man on top of the world but with no way of showing it; his new album is getting generally positive reviews and you would be almost forgiven for finally losing sight of him […]

We’re drained, excited and more than a little emotional. The Gloaming have just blown us away, taken us on a trip that can only be described as heart stopping. It’s hard to believe that live music can get better than this. It might have to, though, as we’re only at the end of their opening […]