• Visual Arts Outlook (1/6)

    June 1, 2015 - By 

    Perhaps the main event happening this week in the Visual Arts in Belfast would be the Launch of the Annual Belfast Photo Festival. This year running from the June 4-30 there are lots of events throughout the month to go and check out, in various venues across Belfast. This weeks opening for the Photo Festival include (both on Thursday evening) The Golden Thread: To Camera: Lorraine Burrell, Amanda Coogan, Tony Hill, Tom Lovelace, Moira McIver, Maria Platero, Manuel Vason, and Ai Wei Wei. And Body of Work: Jordan Hutchings (project space) QSS Bedford Street: Metamorphosis: Thorsten Brinkmann, Alma Haser, Christiane…

  • What Happens When You Add Toto To David Lynch

    June 1, 2015 - By 

    On paper, there seems no situation that would combine the disparate elements of film-maker and master of the surreal, David Lynch, future Captain Picard and Professor X, Patrick Stewart, former Police-man Sting, ambient music guru and former glam rock icon Brian Eno, and soft-rock superstars Toto. Surely, you might say, if there was something that brought all these people together and united them on one project, that project would be a crazy, unwieldy thing, probably unloved by all? Well, if you did think that, you’d probably be right. Released in 1984, Dune was intended to cash in on the sci-fi…

  • Monday Mixtape: Elaine Howley (The Altered Hours)

    June 1, 2015 - By 

    Since we kick-started out Monday Mixtape back in January, we’ve had some truly excellent playlists courtesy of Niall Kennedy of ASIWYFA, Ciaran Lavery, Pavement’s Bob Nastanovich, Girls Names’ Claire Miskimmin, Ciaran Smith of Crayonsmith, Quasi’s Sam Coomes, September Girls, No Spill Blood’s Ror Conaty, Ricki O’Rawe of Not Squares, Sargent House’s Cathy Pellow, The Mighty Stef’s Stefan Murphy, Dara Kiely of Girl Band, Built to Spill’s Doug Martsch, Ryan Vail and Autumns’ Christian Donaghey. Today, we continue that altogether tasteful tradition with none other with Elaine Howley of Cork psych-rock wizards The Altered Hours, who selects ten of her all-time favourite songs…

  • Rave New World (29/5)

    May 29, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Rave New World, Aidan Hanratty delves into the very best electronic gigs, mixes, tracks and release of the week, featuring Luke Abbott, hold mc, Tamo Sumo (pictured) and more. GIGS Pender Street Steppers at Opium Rooms Friday, May 29 Pender Street Steppers and the whole Mood Hut crew have conquered all before them lately, and with the tiniest hint of warmth in the air now is the perfect time to catch their buoyant brand of house music. Underlying Form w/ Bruno Schmidt (hifi) at The Bunatee (Belfast) Friday, May 29 We’ve already had extensive coverage of the…

  • Independents in Paris: NØ FØRMAT!

    May 27, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Independents in Paris, photographer Tom McGeehan visits independent record label NØ FØRMAT!, home to the likes of Chilly Gonzalez, Mélissa Laveaux, Ballaké Sissoko and more. Chatting to co-manager Thibaut Mullings, he’s granted an insight into the workings of one of the country’s most vibrant and promising indie imprints. Read the first installment – looking at InFiné – here. For those unfamiliar with the world of NØ FØRMAT, tell us a little about how the label came to life? Laurent Bizot founded the label in 2004. At this time the music business was still driven by major companies who…

  • To Equality… And Beyond

    May 27, 2015 - By 

    May 22, 2015 saw a historical change in the Irish mindset. Our nation voted, resoundingly, in favour of Marriage Equality and, for the first time in our history, the LGB community of Ireland was seen as no different from their heterosexual brothers and sisters. Ireland voted against bigotry and hatred and in favour of a world where we no longer allow deeply personal religious beliefs to infringe upon the freedoms of those untied to institutional religion. We broke free from the traditional shackles which have restrained progression and said a massive “fuck you” to those who want to hold us…

  • Front of House: Davy Matchett (Third Bar)

    May 26, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Front of House, Cathal McBride chats to Davy Matchett of Belfast’s Third Bar Artist Development. Co-ran with Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody, Third Bar have mentored, managed and planned single and album campaigns for the likes of Desert Hearts, Robyn G Shiels, Ed Zealous, Wonder Villains, A Plastic Rose and many more. Photos by Ryan Richards. Hi Davy. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and Third Bar? Certainly. My name is Davy Matchett and I have been following Manchester United since 1985, Ards Football Club since 1986 and going to gigs since 1987. My first…

  • Roving Eye: SOAK in Berlin

    May 26, 2015 - By 

    Are you craving a 72-hour raving session in a techno temple? Do you want to watch an impromptu Opera performance in a leafy park? Are you hankering after a jazz jam in a smoky basement? Whatever your passion Berlin will satisfy. I never understood the fascination people had with Berlin until the latest Roving Eye took me on my virgin visit to this glamorous yet gritty city; so easy to navigate, serving up a smorgasbord of life, entertaining you for as long as your stamina can sustain its offerings. I’d travelled to see Bridie Monds-Watson AKA SOAK perform in Kantine…

  • Inbound: Pleasure Beach

    May 25, 2015 - By 

    Belfast’s newest dream-pop outfit Pleasure Beach dazzled into our ears at the end of April with their shimmering and uplifting first release ‘Go’. The song emerges from a haze of wavey synths, which envelope and carry the twanging 50’s diner guitars and driving drums. The five-piece seem to have put enormous concentration into the sound they are hoping to achieve and into how each instrument would play off the other on their glamorous debut. With ‘Go’ being the first and, thus far, only thing we have to go on with Pleasure Beach it is safe to say that anticipation is…

  • Visual Arts Outlook (25/5)

    May 25, 2015 - By 

    After last weeks break, we are back with a full schedule of arts events to enhance your week. Coming into June we are readying ourselves for the wave of the annual end of year Art College shows – most of which will be taking place next week so keep an eye out for more details on them. In Catalyst Arts on Thursday there is an exciting event called BYOB (not the rather more well known Bring Your Own Bottle) which stands for Bring Your Own Beamer, Beamer being the casual name for a projector in most parts of Europe. BYOB…