• A Litany Of Failures Vol. II Announced

    Following the limited release of cross-Ireland Little L Records compilation, 2016’s A Litany of Failures – featuring Oh Boland, Shrug Life, That Snaake and Junk Drawer – an expanded second edition has been confirmed for release on July 13. Set to be released on 180g gatefold double vinyl, as well as through Bandcamp, Spotify and the usual outlets, it features 18 acts from Belfast, Cork, Derry, Donegal, Dublin, Galway & Limerick. The DIY, co-op endeavour aims to provide an opportunity to perform outside each of their hometowns, shortening the mental distances between bands, and encouraging a cross-pollination of musical communities. Splitting costs between artists and the organisers, a sense of…

  • Premiere: Damo Suzuki with Blue Whale and Paul Stapleton

    Last May, we teamed up with Moving On Music to host a fully-improvised show with legendary CAN frontman Damo Suzuki, alongside experimental rock maestros Blue Whale and Californian improviser, sound artist, inventor and writer, Paul Stapleton, at Belfast’s Black box. Ahead of Blue Whale launching this year’s (sure to be brilliant) Brilliant Corners alongside A.R.C. in the same Cathedral Quarter venue this Saturday, we’re pleased to present a first look of Xray Films’ document of last May’s performance in full.

  • Belfast, Don’t Miss This Party on Saturday

    The third installment of an ongoing series, a downright unmissable party featuring Not Squares, Twitch DJs, Robocobra Quartet, Chris Hanna, Blue Whale and much more will take place in a secret location somewhere in Belfast this Saturday, October 7. Want in? Here’s the lowdown: Location: TBA (Belfast) Doors: 8:30pm Last Entry: 9:30pm Min. Donation: £10 BYOB With live music ‘til late from: Not Squares Blue Whale Robocobra Quartet Hornets CATALAN! Beauty Sleep Plus DJ sets from – Twitch DJs Chris Hanna Marion Hawkes Chill & Nephillim Cardinal & Underdog Gav Williams Mista Meez Crilli DJs Anton K + More Places are…

  • Damo Suzuki w/ Blue Whale & Paul Stapleton and Robocobra Quartet @ Black Box, Belfast

    When former Can drummer Jaki Liebezeit died in January this year, the tributes that poured in were a potent reminder, if one were needed, of just how influential the krautrock pioneers were. With the German band’s original American vocalist Malcolm Mooney leaving the band at the dawn of the 70s, erstwhile Japanese busker Damo Suzuki was installed in time for 1971’s seminal Tago Mago, remaining with the group for the equally classic Ege Bamyasi and Future Days, albums that within just a few short years were influencing Berlin-era Bowie and the entire post-punk scene, not to mention countless rock bands…

  • The Thin Air and Moving On Music present: Damo Suzuki (CAN) with Blue Whale and Robocobra Quartet

    Presented by The Thin Air and Moving On Music, the legendary Damo Suzuki, vocalist of pioneering Krautrock group CAN, will return to Belfast for a fully improvised show with experimental rock maestros Blue Whale, and Californian improviser, sound artist, inventor and writer, Paul Stapleton. Support on the night comes from one of the country’s very best bands, Robocobra Quartet. This is set to be an unmissable event for anyone with even a passing interest in experimental and improvised music. Featuring “an assembly of sound carriers to communicate with each other and the audience”, Damo Suzuki has performed as ‘Damo Suzuki’s…

  • Watch: Blue Whale – Jack Irons

    Ex-drummer for the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam and Eleven, Jack Irons has an interesting and illustrious CV – one which he can (yet probably won’t) now add, “Title of instrumental banger by Belfast-based experimental band Blue Whale” to. A collaboration between the band, filmmaker Tom Hughes and contemporary dancer Maeve McGreevy, the quartet’s new single is a potent, wonderfully emphatic audio-visual creation, fusing Blue Whale’s bombastic, Battles-esque experimental instrumental rock with Hughes’ sublime directorial eye and a truly compelling performance by McGreevy throughout. The track was recorded by Start Together’s Ben McAuley and is available to download here. Blue Whale play…

  • Gigs of the week: Slint, Blue Whale, The Charlatans, DJ Food, Squarehead, Deafheaven

    It’s somewhat of a dow-time for gigs these days, with Electric Picnic looming in just a few weeks, it seems that the smaller shows have dried up just a little bit. That’s not to say that there are not numerous shows taking place right across around the country this week, and we’ve picked out a few that are most definitely worth checking out. Slint, Girl Band – Limelight 2, Belfast; Monday, August 18 Louisville post-rock pioneers Slint make their Belfast debut on Monday, August 18 at Limelight 2. Hands down one of the most influential bands of all time, they will…

  • Gig(s) of the week: Desert Hearts, Record Store Day & More

    A year into our existence – hey, it’s been fun – we’ve decided that it’s both wise and opportune that we started expanding out horizons when it comes to our regular “gig of the week”. Ireland is a relatively big-ass country (the technical description for you, there), after all; one single show, exceptional as it might be, is simply not worth singling out at the expense of similarly awesome prospects in different areas across the city. And it is upon which note that we arrive, rather comfortably, at this week’s gig(s) of the week. The return of Desert Hearts Standing just…

  • Gig of the week: Solar Bears, Ryan Vail, Blue Whale @ Voodoo

    We hope we’re not accused of too much bias with this one but… our gig of the week for March 17-24 is our next showcase at Belfast’s Voodoo Bar on Saturday, March 22. Supported by Belfast jazz-punk masters Blue Whale and fast-rising Derry electronic duo Ryan Vail, Dublin electronic pair Solar Bears – currently in the process of writing their third studio album – will make their long-awaited return to Belfast with a headlining DJ set. Doors are at 8.30pm, door tax is £8 (pay at the door) and the first 10 people through the door get a poster from the…