• Stream: More Than Conquerors – Jaw and Try-Antlers

    September 4, 2013 - By 

    Ahead of their release of the hugely-anticipated debut album, Everything I’ve Learnt, at the end of the month, Belfast-based quartet More Than Conquerors are streaming two new tracks – ‘Jaw’ and ‘Try-Antlers’ via the Smalltown America Soundcloud. The band are set to the launch the album at Belfast’s Limelight 2 on Monday, September 23. Support on the night comes from Fatherson and Craig Conkey. Check out the rest of the band’s tour dates below. September 11: The Workman’s Club, Dublin (supporting Jetplane Landing) September 12: Tower Records, Dublin September 13: The Stables, Derry (supporting Jetplane Landing) September 23: Limelight 2, Belfast (Everything…

  • Radar announces first line-up of new semester

    September 4, 2013 - By 

    Radar, one of Belfast’s best weekly showcases of establishing and up-and-coming musical talent, has announced it’s first line-up of the new semester on Thursday, September 12. Marking the return of headliners, Belfast-based electronic three-piece Not Squares (above), the line-up will also feature performances from Newbridge artist Gavin Elsted AKA Adultrock and Belfast indie-rock band Go Wolf, who make their return to the Radar stage at the QUBSU Speakeasy having last graced it with presence back in mid-May. Check out the Facebook event page for the show here and check out the poster (featuring a sweet new design) below.

  • Cut The Transmission: Fighting With Wire Interview

    September 4, 2013 - By 

    “We promise that this show will be something special.” Amicably bowing out after ten years and two stellar albums, Derry three-piece Fighting With Wire have more than left their imprint on Northern Irish music and modern alternative rock as a whole. A must-see swansong like few others, headlined by none other than Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, the band will play for one final time and curate Cut The Transmission at the Venue, Derry on Saturday, September 28 as part of the City of Culture celebrations. We catch up with the band’s frontman Cahir O’Doherty to learn more about what is…

  • Katie Richardson: Getting Lost In Belfast and Berlin

    September 4, 2013 - By 

    “Trying to find a time of no regret, my hungry heart has seen nothing yet.”  They say everything happens for a reason. As a real life grown-up I have found myself trying to make sense of lots of difficult and disappointing situations by using that very phrase. My reason for getting the hell out of Belfast this summer wasn’t just to escape the prospect of another couple of months of drizzle and grey skies (though it was definitely a big part of it), but to go on an adventure. I wanted to discover new creative lands, to challenge my boundaries,…

  • The Fall – 5 Albums

    September 4, 2013 - By 

    A story less visited than the personnel changes of The Fall is that of the myriad labels they have called home over the years. Despite Mark E Smith’s aversion to nostalgia, many fans would no doubt look back at the 5 years they spent in the care of Beggars Banquet with fond regard. Coinciding with (Smith’s first wife) Brix’s tenure in the group, 1984-89 marked (amongst other things) their unlikely flirtation with mainstream success – with a few proper singles actually making the actual proper charts. This 5 CD box set is perhaps optimum illustration of why that success was…

  • Gig of the week: Tweed Fest 2013

    September 3, 2013 - By 

    Our gig of the week this week was a bit of a no-brainer. Headlined by North Coast three-piece Axis Of (above) Ballymoney riff shingdig par excellence Tweed Fest returns for its fourth outing this weekend. Set to feature twelve performances from the likes of fast-rising hardcore band Lantern For A Gale, Belfast-based three-piece PigsAsPeople and sludge/doom five-piece 7.5 Tonnes Of Beard, co-organiser and freelance photographer Ciara McMullan said of the event: “It’s basically just a party. Back in 2010, Matthew Tweed and all his mates in one week managed to organise a gig in his barn while his folks where on holidays. His parents weren’t angry. In fact, his dad…

  • Watch: Gacys Threads – Salvation

    September 3, 2013 - By 

    Belfast progressive hardcore/metal quartet Gacys Threads have unveiled the video to their new single, ‘Salvation’. The track is taken from the band’s split 7″ with Swiss band Colossus Fall, available on clear yellow vinyl via Belfast imprint Savour Your Scene Records (founded by Gacy’s drummer Stephen Currie), French label Left Hand Records, Germany’s Incredible Noise Records and Black Lake Records, based in Scotland. Gacys Threads will launch the 7″ at Belfast’s Limelight 2 on September 7. Support on the night comes from Five Will Die, Lantern For A Gale and Tusks. Watch the video – featuring footage from the band performing…

  • The Emerald Armada announce mini-tour

    September 3, 2013 - By 

    One of Northern Ireland’s finest up-and-coming alternative folk band’s The Emerald Armada have announced details of a forthcoming mini-tour. Having been a hit at several of the country’s festivals this summer, the five-piece will kick off their tour on October 10 at Inverness venue Mad Hatters and will conclude at Voodoo, Belfast on October 26 with the launch of their new EP. Check out the full dates on the poster below and watch the video to the band’s recent single ‘I Don’t Mind’ below.

  • Watch: Savages – I Am Here

    September 3, 2013 - By 

    Having delivered an expectedly blistering performance at the tenth Electric Picnic at the weekend, London all-female post-punk quartet Savages have unveiled their video for ‘I Am Here’. Directed by Joshua Zucker-Pluda, the video employs a technique initiated by composer Alcin Lucier: recording the band’s performance, playing the performance back and recording it again, over and over and over again. “There’s a real emotional intensity to Savages’ live presence,” said Zucker-Pluda about the video. “I was interested in the idea that the band’s performance could be so powerful that it would leave a kind of psychic scar or echo within the…

  • Biffy Clyro amongst new acts announced for Arthur’s Day

    September 3, 2013 - By 

    Having headlined Reading and Leeds just last week, Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro are amongst a handful of new acts announced to play this year’s Arthur’s Day. Taking place on September 26 as always, fast-rising Dublin band Kodaline and Meath indie rock five-piece Ham Sandwich have also been added to the bill that already features legendary U.S. singer-songwriter Bobby Womack, The Script, James Vincent McMorrow, Manic Street Preachers, Emeli Sandé and Janelle Monáe. Set to take place at ticketed and surprise pub gigs right across the country, tickets go for Arthur’s Day 2013 go on sale tomorrow (Wednesday, September 4) at 9.00 via Ticketmaster…