• Watch: Blue Whale – Was

    September 9, 2013 - By 

    Belfast jazz-punk quartet Blue Whale have released the video for ‘Was’, the lead single from their forthcoming self-titled EP. Crated by Stuart Sloan, the video splices footage of the band performing the track with an array of contorted, skittering, warped images. The band’s self-titled EP will be releaesd on 7″ vinyl on Friday, September 20 at Culture Night Belfast, when the band will be performing a “rooftop tour” in the City Centre from 4-8pm followed by their EP launch party in St. Anne’s Car Park at 10pm. Watch the video for ‘Was’ Below.

  • Watch: Axis Of – The World’s Oldest Computer

    September 6, 2013 - By 

    As part of their “Sharing St. Kilda” Day – and ahead of their performance at the fourth annual Tweed Fest tomorrow – North Coast three-piece Axis Of have unveiled the video to their new single, ‘The World’s Oldest Computer’. For all of today, the Ewen Friers-fronted band have asked the fans to the spread the word about all things Axis Of via social media and other platforms. Earlier today, they announced details of a forthcoming thirty-two date tour. See below for the dates. September 7: Ballymoney – Tweedfest 11: Dublin – Workmans w/ Jetplane Landing 12: Dublin – Tower Records…

  • EP Stream: The Last Generation – Torann

    September 6, 2013 - By 

    Having come on serious leaps and bounds over the last few months to establish themselves as one of the most promising rock acts in the country, Mid-Ulster four-piece The Last Generation have unveiled their new four-track EP, Torann. Displaying a more progressive, decidedly metal-influenced sound, the four-track follow-up to last year’s Revelation EP is the band’s first release with new drummer Conchobhar Ó Dochartaigh, also of Mid-Ulster acid-prog band The Institute*. The Last Generation hold their hometown launch of the EP tonight (Friday, September 6) at Draperstown’s soon to be sadly-missed Cellar Bar. The EP will see its Belfast launch…

  • Watch: VerseChorusVerse – No More Years (Live)

    September 5, 2013 - By 

    Belfast-based singer-songwriter Tony Wright AKA VerseChorusVerse has unveiled a the third installment of his four-part live video sessions. Featuring a full band comprising members of LaFaro and General Fiasco, the video was filmed by the lovely chaps at Bandwidth. You can check out some of their other work here. ‘No More Years’ is set to feature on Wright’s forthcoming debut album. Watch the live video right here.

  • Belfast Festival 2013 programme unveiled

    September 5, 2013 - By 

    Now in its 51st year, the programme for Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queens 2013 was launched today. Taking place from October 17-27 the annual multi-disciplinary arts festival will take place across various venues and feature countless continent-spanning events and showcases in music, arts, dance, theatre, film, talks and more. Acts set to play the festival include New York indie-folk/roots band Hem, Copenhagen classically-infused indie rock three-piece Efterklang (above) and cult blues American guitarist Eric Bibb and his band. Other highlights of the festival include a performance by world-renown Spanish tenor José Carreras, a staging on Samuel Beckett’s iconic absurdist play…

  • Hard Working Class Heroes 2013: 10 must-see acts

    September 5, 2013 - By 

    Set to take place from Thursday to Saturday 5 October, Hard Working Class Heroes – hands down the country’s leading independent music showcase – is soon set to take place right across Dublin. Over three days and nights, 101 acts will perform at 7 venues across the city for the annual event, now in its eleventh year. From Northern Irish singer-songwriters Joshua Burnside and Little Rivers to Dublin noise pop-quartet September Girls and Cork psych-rock band The Altered Hours, the very best of the country’s musical talent is represented right across the board. Go here to check our the full schedule for…

  • Birth of a Label: Broken Melody Records

    September 12, 2013 - By 

    Having recently released their first ever compilation – featuring tracks from seven of the country’s best unsigned band including Seven Summits and Hurdles – Broken Melody Records is a brand new record label based in Belfast City Centre that has got off to an extremely promising start. We chat to the guys about the first few months of the imprint, what lies in store over and their passion for showcasing the very best in homegrown untapped talent. Hi guys. First off, could you tell us how Broken Melody Records come about and what is the “mission statement” so to speak? Broken Melody…

  • Watch: New Ancestors – A Hard Heart

    September 4, 2013 - By 

    Originally from Belfast, Glasgow-based alternative folk pop duo New Ancestors have unveiled the video to their latest single, ‘A Hard Heart’. Illustrated and animated by Debbie Montgomery, the video is a simple but wonderfully poignant accompaniment to the two-minute track, exquisitely propelled by restrained fingerpicking phrases, subtle ambience and the dual harmonies of Jonny Solari and Andrew Cameron. Watch the video below.

  • End of an Era: Sketchy Bids Farewell

    September 4, 2013 - By 

    After eight long years and hundreds of unforgettable – and, for many, forgetful – Thursday nights at the Stiff Kitten, legendary Belfast club night Sketchy comes to an end tomorrow night (Thursday, September 5). Touching on the colourful past, present and (potential) future of the club, we speak to its founder and resident DJ Rigsy about the end of a clubbing era. As the club’s final ever flyer says: one more time with feeling, eh? Hi Rigsy. The last ever Sketchy is before us. Firstly: why’s it coming to an end? Is there “why”? In short, because it had to end some time.…

  • Glen Hansard announces Autumn tour

    September 4, 2013 - By 

    Dublin singer-songwriter Glen Hansard has announced a string of Irish and European dates across the months of October and November. Starting off on October 20 in Sligo, the tour will pass through several European cities before concluding in Dublin’s Vicar Street on November 26. The Frames frontman will stop off at Belfast’s The Mac on October 21. Oct 20: Hawkswell, Sligo Oct 21: MAC Theatre, Belfast Oct 22: Spirit Store, Dundalk Oct 24: DeBarras, Clonakilty Oct 25: Blackbird, Ballycotton Oct 26: Blessings Bar, Cavan Oct 28: Cyprus Avenue, Cork Oct 29 : Town Hall, Galway Nov 07: Moscow Hall, Moscow, Russia Nov 09: Kosmonavt Club, Saint Petersburg, Russian…