• NI Music Prize Line-Up Announced

    September 20, 2018 - By 

    The nominated artists set to play this year’s Northern Ireland Music Prize have been announced. Previous winner Ciaran Lavery, Brand New Friend, The Wood Burning Savages, Hannah Peel, Ryan Vail (featuring the Arco String Quartet) and Roe will perform at the event, which takes place at Belfast’s Ulster Hall on Thursday, November 11. The event host is Rigsy (BBC Radio Ulster), with the winners of all four categories to be announced by special guests on the night. The evening will end with an after party at Limelight 2. Charlotte Dryden of Oh Yeah said: “After five fantastic years at the…

  • NI Music Prize – Best Single (Public Vote)

    September 11, 2018 - By 

    Set to take place at Belfast’s iconic Ulster Hall on Thursday, November 15, we’re pleased to team up with the Northern Ireland Music Prize for the Public Vote for the Best Single award. This year, twelve singles – from Arvo Party’s ‘Liberté’ to The Wood Burning Savages’ ‘I Don’t Know Why I Do It To Myself’ – are vying for the prize and £1000 on the night. Check out the full list of shortlisted singles and the voting form below. Go here for full information about this year’s Northern Ireland Music Prize. Arvo Party – Liberté Ash – Buzzkill Brand New Friend…

  • Shortlists Revealed for Northern Ireland Music Prize 2018

    September 10, 2018 - By 

    The shortlists for this year’s Northern Ireland Music Prize has been announced. Set to take place in Belfast’s iconic Ulster Hall on November 15, the event – which is now in its sixth year – returns with three categories that formed part of the first NI Music Awards back in 2011: Best Live, Best Single and the Oh Yeah Contender Awards for best emerging act. Over 80 industry and media cast their vote for all four categories over the last few months. The winners of each category will be awarded a cash prize. Best Single, Best Live Act and Oh Yeah…

  • Shortlist Revealed for Northern Ireland Music Prize 2017

    September 14, 2017 - By 

    The shortlist for this year’s Northern Ireland Music Prize has been revealed. Set to take place at Belfast’s Mandela Hall on Saturday, November 11, the following twelve albums will vie for the annual prize, as voted for by more than 70 people from the Irish music industry and media: Arborist – Home Burial Arvo Party – Arvo Party Bap Kennedy – Reckless Heart The Divine Comedy – Foreverland Gross Net – Quantitative Easing Hannah Peel – Awake But Always Dreaming Invaderband – Invaderband Joshua Burnside – Ephrata Malojian – This Is Nowhere Our Krypton Son – Fleas & Diamonds Robocobra…

  • Inbound: Hiva Oa

    December 15, 2016 - By 

    Despite having released a debut album and EP back in 2012 while based in Edinburgh, Hiva Oa had gone pretty quiet until recently. As it turns out, a relocation back home to Ireland was on the cards for core members Stephen Houlihan and Christine Tubridy, not to mention a change in direction. Where that previous work traded on a sparse, minimal folk sound mainly built around guitar and cello with occasional forays into loops and effects, their aptly titled new EP mk2 (part 1) sees those electronics completely take over their sound, with single ‘A Great Height’ perfectly juxtaposing sinister…

  • Northern Ireland Music Prize Shortlist Announced

    September 15, 2016 - By 

    Having been awarded to Foy Vance, Robyn G Shiels and SOAK in the last three years, the shortlist for this year’s Northern Ireland Music Prize has been revealed. With the overall winner set to be announced at a special event at Belfast’s Mandela Hall on Friday, November 11 – a night which will also feature live music from Girls Names, Jealous of the Birds and PORTS – the following shortlist was compiled via an academy of NI music industry and media. The Bonnevilles – Arrow Pierce My Heart Ciaran Lavery – Let Bad In David C Clements – The Longest Day…

  • Northern Ireland Music Prize 2015 @ Mandela Hall, Belfast

    November 16, 2015 - By 

    “Don’t stop going to silly rock and roll concerts. Don’t stop enjoying silly rock and roll… if we keep going, they can never win. Now let’s go play some silly rock and roll!” Neil Hannon, The Divine Comedy On a night that not once threatened to descend into a sombre affair, there remained a feeling of solidarity within the Mandela Hall in Belfast on Saturday night. Undoubtedly one of the most important dates in the Northern Irish music calendar, in this third instalment of the NI Music Awards we once again saw performances from some of the best acts this…

  • Shortlist Revealed for Northern Ireland Music Prize 2015

    September 14, 2015 - By 

    Having previously been scooped by Foy Vance and Robyn G Shiels, the shortlist for this year’s Northern Ireland Music Prize has been revealed. Set to take place at Belfast’s Mandela Hall on Friday, November 14, the following twelve albums will vie for the annual prize, as voted for by more than 70 people from the Northern Irish music industry and media: A Plastic Rose – Flickering Light of an Inner War And So I Watch You From Afar – Heirs Axis Of – The Mid Brae Inn BeeMickSee – Belfast Yank Ciaran Lavery and Ryan Vail – Sea Legs Duke Special – Look Out Machines The Lost…

  • AAA: Therapy? @ Mandela Hall, Belfast

    November 17, 2014 - By 

    In an AAA (Access All Areas) set Shaun Neary shoots Northern Irish alt-rock legends Therapy? before, during and after their spectacular Troublegum set at Belfast’s Mandela Hall on Saturday night as part of this year’s Northern Ireland Music Prize.