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Watch: Villagers' New Video For 'The Waves'

Posted 9-6-12 by
Tags: Villagers

Villagers has digitally released a new single, "The Waves," which will be available in a physical format on October 22. No more substantive details yet on the next album, due out in 2013, but the band, led by singer and songwriter Conor J. O'Brien will be touring with Grizzly Bear in the UK and Europe this fall. After the jump, watch the retro-80s style video for the new track, pointing to Villagers' slight shift to a more electronic direction.

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Villagers, Foals, Everything Everything, the xx Earn Ivor Novello Nods

Posted 4-19-11 by
Tags: Bombay Bicycle Club, Everything Everything, Foals, Plan B, The xx, Tinie Tempah, Villagers

Villagers' Conor O'Brien, Oxford rockers Foals, Manchester's gleefully verbose Everything Everything and Mercury Prize winners the xx are among the excellent nominees for the 2011 Ivor Novello Awards, the UK's most prestigious songwriting award.

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TAS Live Review: Villagers at Mercury Lounge, November 3

Posted 11-8-10 by
Tags: Villagers

Although Villagers' Conor O'Brien has toured on his own this year, supporting the group's debut Becoming A Jackal, the Irish folk rockers have been touring the States as a full band this fall. The Alternate Side's Eric Holland slipped into Villagers' sold-out Mercury Lounge show on Wednesday, November 3, and had the strong feeling that it might be the last time he'd see O'Brien and his compadres in such a small venue.

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The xx Win The 2010 Barclaycard Mercury Prize

Posted 9-7-10 by
Tags: Corinne Bailey Rae, Dizzee Rascal, Foals, Laura Marling, Mumford and Sons, Paul Weller, The xx, Villagers

The xx, early favorites to take home the most prestigious music award for British or Irish artists, triumphed at tonight's Mercury Music Prize ceremony and took home a £20,000 ($30,600) cash award and accolades for their 2009 debut album, xx.

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TAS in Session: Villagers

Posted 8-23-10 by , Rita Houston
Tags: Bob Dylan, Conor J. O'Brien, Nina Simone, Villagers

Villagers is both a band, depending on the gig, and the acoustic solo project of Dublin's Conor J. O'Brien, former member of Ireland's regrettably short-lived The Immediate. O'Brien's debut, Becoming a Jackal, dropped on Domino in June, around the time he visited WFUV and The Alternate Side to chat with Rita Houston and play an exquisite quartet of songs. Villagers, the full band version, will be touring North America in the fall with New York dates planned on November 2 (Knitting Factory) and November 3 (Mercury Lounge).

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SXSW 2010 Recap: Rita Houston's Whole Wide World

Posted 3-10-10 by
Tags: Casiokids, Cate Le Bon, Chew Lips, Freelance Whales, Local Natives, Margaret Cho, Melissa Auf der Maur, Phantogram, Savoir Adore, Spoon, The Chapman Family, The Morning Benders, The xx, Villagers

Team WFUV and The Alternate Side interviewed 23 bands at SXSW 2010 - from the xx to Neon Indian to Frightened Rabbit.  Rita Houston, Alisa Ali and Kara Manning convened for a very special edition of Rita's Whole Wide World to discuss the highlights of SXSW 2010 and revisit interviews and new music courtesy of the xx, Margaret Cho, Melissa Auf der Maur, Phantogram, Chew Lips, Cate Le Bon, Villagers, Savoir Adore, Morning Benders and many more. Audio link after the jump.

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