• Johnny Marr @ Ulster Hall, Belfast

    “Sorry, I forget to say shit in between songs. Oh yeah, politics. Fucking great, right? Don’t worry. This is a safe politics-free zone for tonight. I’m allowed to take the piss, though…” 34 years on from gracing its hallowed walls with the Smiths, Johnny Marr is mid-way through a generation-blurring set at Belfast’s iconic Ulster Hall. He’s one day into his 55th year, and with his recently-released third solo album, Call The Comet, marking a new creative resurgence, he’s twice the character and poise of that 21-year-old back in 1984. Kickstarting a new European tour, tonight bridges three eras into one seamless celebratory whole…

  • Johnny Marr To Play Dublin and Belfast

    It’s been announced that Johnny Marr will play Dublin and Belfast in November. The guitarist, solo artist and Smiths legend will play Belfast’s Ulster Hall on November 1 and the National Stadium, Dublin on November 2. Tickets go on sale on Friday at 9am, priced €33.50 inc. booking fee for Dublin, and £28.50 inc booking fee standing/£31.00 inc booking fee seated for Belfast.

  • Johnny Marr Set For Album Launch Show in Dublin

    Johnny Marr will play a show at the Button Factory on Saturday, May 12 to mark the release of his third album, Call The Comet. The Smiths legend and solo artist will play the Dublin venue as part of a 12-date run across Europe and the US. “Call The Comet’ is my own magic realism,” says Marr. “It’s set in the not-too-distant future and is mostly concerned with the idea of an alternative society. The characters in the songs are searching for a new idealism, although there are some personal songs in there too. It’s something that people like me can relate…

  • Irish Tour: Johnny Marr

    Johnny Marr is a man in a rush right now. This past March’s sophomoric effort Playland arrived a little more than a year after his solo debut The Messenger and he’s already trying out new material live. “This is a new song, but don’t be afraid,” he says with a smile before launching into ‘Spiral Cites’ to the approval of the crowd. It seems architect of some of the indie pop’s best loved songs seems to be working at a pace we haven’t seen since the mid 80’s when classic songs were falling out of Rickenbacker back in his bedroom…

  • Gigs of the Week: Ryan Vail, Groom, The Minutes & Johnny Marr

    With the majority of the Summer festivals already behind us (boo, hiss, etc.) we’re pretty much all going to have to centre our gig-going attentions firmly towards venues with roofs and walls and stuff. Devastating, we know, but sure it could be a whole lot worse. Having taken a fine toothcomb of good taste through our own Gig Guide and elsewhere, here’s our Gigs of the Week for the next few days, every single one of which involve absolutely zero chance of you getting drenched and/or sunburned. Ryan Vail, Affleck – The Twisted Peppper, Dublin; Saturday, August 9 Two of the…

  • Live At Leopardstown Announces Line-up

    The Bulmers Live At Leopardstown has announced its return for a sixth year with eight dates lined up for the summer season. The series of dates, which feature a live performance after a day of racing, will include Irish acts Raglans, Heathers, Ham Sandwich, Sharon Shannon and The Stunning. A selection of Manchester veterans will also be performing; The Charlatans, former Smiths’ guitarist Johnny Marr, and former Joy Division/New Order bassist Peter Hook . Check out the line-up below. Thursday June 12 – Raglans Thursday June 19 – Heathers Thursday July 3 – Ham Sandwich Thursday July 10 – Peter Hook…