• Preview: The Undertones @ The BBC

    Having formed in Derry in 1976, it’s a fact universally acknowledged that The Undertones have spent the last 40 years establishing and re-establishing themselves as one of the country’s most treasured acts. With their equally enduring legacy, back catalogue and inimitable charm, the band have just marked the milestone by recording a special live show for BBC Radio Ulster in front of a live studio audience at Blackstaff in Belfast. Hosted by Stephen McCauley, the resulting one-hour programme – set to broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster and Foyle at 3pm on Monday afternoon – is a perfect distillation of why the band are still a homegrown live proposition at the peak of…

  • Stendhal Festival of Art 2014

    Make no bones about it: the Glasgowbury-shaped hole in the Northern Irish summer festival calendar is indeed a sizable one. But as is equally apparent to those of us in eager search of its successor, it’s all very much a case of one door closes, another door opens. Teetering right on the precipice of ascending to the enviable rank of Northern Ireland’s singular unmissable two-day music and arts festival, Stendhal Festival of Art, with its glorious rural expanse and wonderfully kaleidoscopic eclecticism, is set to do just that this weekend. Here’s how things went down. Held on the barley-bordered fields of Ballymully Farm…

  • Festival Mixtape: Stendhal Festival of Art

    Headlined by Derry punk pioneers The Undertones and Scottish indie-rock quartet Frightened Rabbit (above), Stendhal Festival of Art returns to the wonderfully scenic Roe Valley this weekend for two days of music, art, theatre, comedy and poetry. With tickets still available to purchase via the official website here, we’ve compiled a ten-track playlist featuring some our must-see acts to catch at the festival – everyone from Malojian and Go Wolf to Making Monsters and Ciaran Lavery.

  • Stendhal Festival Line-up Announced

    Scottish indie rockers Frightened Rabbit (pictured) and Derry punk legends The Undertones are amongst the many acts announced to play this year’s Stendhal Festival. Taking place at Ballymully Cottage on August 8 and 9, the festival will also see appearances from Paddy Casey, Bronagh Gallagher, Duke Special (Gramophone Club special), Tucan, The Emerald Armada, Making Monsters, Pørts (formerly Little Bear), Go Wolf, The Clameens, Paddy Nash and The Happy Enchiladas, Malojian, Ciaran Lavery, In An Instant, Bakken, Exit Pursued By Bear, Ryan McMullan, The Bobbie Harvey Band, Pitcher of the Moon, Glenn Rosborough, The Wood Burning Savages, August, Dramatic Tiger Club, Limavady Big Band,…

  • Good Vibrations up for BAFTA Award

    Having been chosen by movie critic Mark Kermode as his #1 film of 2013, Good Vibrations has been nominated for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer category at this year’s BAFTA Awards. The film – chronicling the rise of Terri Hooley’s legendary Belfast record shop and his discovery of Derry punk upstarts the Undertones at the height of the Troubles – was released at the start of last year to a wave of critical and commercial attention. The nomination is in recognition of Colin Carberry and Glenn Paterson’s stellar screenplay for the film. This ceremony will take place on…