• Spectrum Festival 2014 announced

    Featuring an eight-band bill comprised of both fast-rising and established homegrown talent, this year’s Spectrum Festival will take place at Belfast’s Speakeasy on Saturday, June 7. Headlined by Lisburn alt-rock maestros Mojo Fury and England-based quartet A Plastic Rose (above), prog rockers Kasper Rosa, alt-fock duo New Ancestors, five-piece The Late Twos, electronic trio Affleck, and indie pop bands Hurdles and Go Swim will also play the one-day festival, kicking off at 6.30pm. Admission is £12 and it’s £10 for students. Go here for the show’s Facebook event page. Check out the poster for the show below.

  • Watch: Little Matador – Stitch Yourself Up

    Having had an extremely encouraging first year together, alt-rock band Little Matador have unveiled the video for their debut single, ‘Stitch Yourself Up’ A self-proclaimed “earth-quaking stomp full of swagger and intent; dripping aggression, danger and sex in equal measure” the video features the band’s frontman, Nathan Connolly, getting a little more than he bargained for. ‘Stitch Yourself Up’ will feature on the band’s forthcoming self-titled debut album, set for release on April 21. You can pre-order that here. Watch the video for the single below.

  • Interview: Dave Lombardo

    Ahead of an unforgettable drum workshop at Belfast’s Crescent Arts Centre, Brian Coney and photographer Liam Kielt met up with boundlessly influential metal drummer Dave Lombardo for a career-spanning interview, touching upon everything from his legendary work with and acrimonious departure from Slayer, his latest string of musical projects and keeping grounded and being at one with his fans. You’re hear from the drum workshop in Belfast. What encouraged you to go off and do these things? It’s a good way for me to get out there and talk to the fans and get in touch – get at ground level.…

  • Breadcrumb Trail screening w/ Lance Bangs @ The Garrick

    In association with Bunch of Cults, we will present the Northern Irish premiere of Breadcrumb Trail, the eagerly-anticipated forthcoming documentary on enigmatic Louisville post-rock pioneers, Slint, at Belfast’s The Garrick Bar on Thursday, March 27 As well as screening the documentary in full, we will also have a very special Q+A with its director, Lance Bangs, on the night. The event will also be followed with a full vinyl playback of Spiderland and various Slint-related tracks until late. Doors are at 8pm and admission is £8. As the back room is relativelysmall, capacity is limited to around 100 people, so we’ll be working on…

  • Watch: The Shaker Hymn – The Runaway

    Featuring visuals by Brendan Canty of Feel Good Lost, Cork alt-rock four-piece The Shaker Hymn have unveiled the video to their new psych-tinged single, ‘The Runaway’. The second single to be lifted from their forthcoming debut album – the altogether curiously-titled Rascal’s Antique’s – the song was mixed alongside the album’s other nine tracks by Christian Best, who has worked with Mick Flannery and O Emperor. Check out the artwork for the single and its video – also featuring liquid footage by Paulski of Nano Projections – below.

  • Stream: Keith Moss & The Tightrope Walkers – Troubled Troubadour

    Dublin four-piece Keith Moss & The Tightrope Walkers have released their latest slice of self-aware indie-pop in the form of single ‘Troubled Troubadour’. Released via independent label Reekus Records, the track is a self-proclaimed taste of what’s to come from the quartet’s forthcoming Reject the Robots EP, due out later this year. Keith Moss & The Tightrope Walkers play the following dates in Dublin over the next few weeks: March 14: Sweeneys, Dame Street (Human Music showcase) March 15:  The Mercantile, Dame Street (Reekus Presents: w/ Death In The Sickroom + Buffalo Sunn) March 28: Whelans, Wexford Street (The Midnight Hour…

  • Watch: Sullivan & Gold – Glory

    Having descended from The Good Fight, Derry singer-songwriter duo Adam Montgomery and Ben Robinson AKA Sullivan & Gold have unveiled the video to their new single, ‘Glory’. Vividly capturing a sense of everyday paralysis and unspoken interpersonal deliberation – much like the videos for Feet For Wings‘ ‘Cathedral St.’ and Kodaline’s ‘All I Want’ – the video features a cameo from the duo’s fellow Smalltown America-signed songsmith, Our Krypton Son. ‘Glory’ is the second single taken from Sullivan & Gold’s hugely promising debut album, For Foes. Check out the video for the song – shot and edited by Michael Barwise…

  • EP Stream: The Bedroom – The Graveyard of Ambition

    Having well and truly shed the skin of his previous outfit, Eatenbybears, London-based, Galway-derived musician Olan Stephens AKA The Bedroom has self-released his debut EP, The Graveyard of Ambition. Accompanying the five-track release is the video to its fourth track, the stellar ‘Disconnect’. It’s the follow-up single to last year’s equally impressive ‘Basquiat’ and ‘The Big Up’. Watch the video for ‘Disconnect’ and stream/pay what you like for The Graveyard of Ambition below.  

  • Gig of the week: Mojo Fury, Emerald Armada, Two Glass Eyes

    Our Gig of the Week sees a special tenth anniversary headline set from Northern Irish alt-rock trailblazers Mojo Fury at Belfast’s Limelight 2 on Thursday, March 6. Two stellar full-length albums in – the landmark Visiting Hours of a Travelling Circus and last year’s The Difference Between – the show will also double up as a homecoming show for the Mike Mormecha-fronted band, who have spent the last few weeks touring around Europe. Supporting Mojo Fury on the night are two hotly-tipped Northern Irish acts: alt-rock three-piece Two Glass Eyes and fast-rising folk band Emerald Armada. Go here to win tickets…