• Cinema 16 For ’16: A Bigger Splash

    February 16, 2016 - By 

    An alternative guide to this year’s cinematic offerings, we trawl through the dilapidated rows of seats in the back alley ‘art’ cinemas and crumbling picture palaces so you don’t have to. Rescuing gummy Venus de Milos from sticky crevices and fishing midget gems out of cold cups of tea. Diaries at the ready cinephiles. The sun-kissed Mediterranean, The Rolling Stones, four of the hottest actors in cinema and a story of desire, jealousy and deceit. A Bigger Splash sees Tilda Swinton reunite with director Luca Guadagnino – the two previously collaborated on I Am Love – to rework Jacques Deray’s…

  • Visual Arts Outlook (16/2)

    February 16, 2016 - By 

    After a brief January hiatus The Visual Arts Outlook is back and bringing you a selection of the best Irish Contemporary Arts this week. There is a whole bunch of great events happening and even though it’s cold and raining, I think you won’t regret getting out there to see what’s on. If you are in Belfast on Saturday, head over to Source Photo Day, on the first floor of Castle Court at 1pm. A talk from John Duncan will be delivered followed by a discussion. Also on Saturday evening at Void, Derry is the Abridged 0 – 14: Floodland Magazine…

  • New Pope’s Guide to Galway

    February 9, 2016 - By 

    Having released one of our favourite Irish records of 2015 in Youth, Galway dream-folk artist David Boland AKA New Pope sings the varied praises of Galway and all it has to offer in 2016. Galway is great. Everybody loves it. You love it, I love it, she loves it, we all love it. Sometimes I feel weighed down by the love of it. I love it so much that it’s crushing my soul. I feel oppressed by the loveliness of it all. I think someday I’ll go mad with the love of it. The sick smothering love, the clawing breathless…

  • Oscars 2016: Will Leo Finally be the King of the World?

    February 2, 2016 - By 

    New year, new awards season, same old Hollywood. The 88th Academy Awards ceremony takes place on 28th February and, post-Golden Globes, pre-BAFTAs, we’re smack bang in the middle of the media storm, but the storylines seem oddly familiar. Much like the remakes, reboots and sequels that dominate the box office, the Oscars seem to be recycling old plot lines – could JJ Abrams be producing it perchance? Even before the nominations were announced there was one story that was dominating the awards agenda – is this Leo’s year? In a re-run of the 2013 Oscars, everyone is desperate for the…

  • Speed of Life: David Bowie

    January 11, 2016 - By 

    For a long time, it looked entirely likely that David Bowie’s final musical statement would be a number entitled ‘Funny Little Fat Man’, performed in an episode of Ricky Gervais’ comedy series exploring the underbelly of celebrity, Extras. Gervais was a massive Bowie fan (as was his character, Andy Millman), and in the scene, he struggles to hide his obvious delight that his idol is in on the joke, acerbically skewering Andy Millman (and by extension, Gervais) as an unfunny, unloveable loser, with the entire world joining in on the chorus. Bowie, in total contrast to Gervais, is imperial, every…

  • Visual Arts Outlook (11/11)

    November 11, 2015 - By 

    If you don’t have a car, buddy up with someone who does, because you might need one of you are going to get to all the great stuff happening this week across Ireland. Failing that, obviously just head out to the ones closest to you (I won’t judge, I don’t drive either). Limerick and Galway are the places to be this week, and I can really recommend that you make the effort to head out to some of the events and exhibitions they have going on over the next couple of days. (See below) On Friday at 9.30 there is…

  • Roving Eye: The Strypes in Hamburg

    November 8, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of her regular feature Roving Eye – in which she travels across far and wide shooting some of the best Irish acts on tour – Tara Thomas captures a heady Hamburg date on The Strypes’ latest European tour. Hamburg, the second largest city in Germany is steeped in music legend from Brahms to the Beatles. It’s maritime history has resulted in vibrant multicultural neighbourhoods and palpable social tolerance. Making my way from the airport to a hotel in the infamous St Pauli quarter it’s easy to understand how this northern German metropolis is also gaining a reputation as an entertainment…

  • Visual Arts Outlook (3/11)

    November 3, 2015 - By 

    Well, it’s now November. I can’t believe it! The beginning of the month can only mean one thing: Late Night Art, or ‘First Thursday’. That is, on the first Thursday of the month many  galleries in Belfast open their doors late, to entice you lovely viewers in to see what’s new. So, with that being said, there is plenty to keep you going for the next week. Also, not forgetting that this is ‘Belfast Design Week’ there are lots of events happening across the town, check out their schedule here. To coincide with Belfast Design Week, the Arts and Disability Forum…

  • Hyperbolex with Ray Wingnut: Nevermind The Zogabonds

    October 28, 2015 - By 

    ‘Oooh… that Benjamin Netanyahu, he’s a card, isn’t he??’ It’s 7.04am on May 9, 1996 and Zig and Zag are holding it down on The Big Breakfast. They are about to interview and host a live session with Eels who have earlier that year released their wonderful breakthrough album, Beautiful Freak. They go on to show Eels snippets of their favourite television program about Pike and Chubb fishing. In a few minutes time the band perform ‘Going Over To Susan’s House’ live and acoustic. Zig and Zag trip out to the groove, air guitaring, bugging out. It is beautifully and boldly…

  • Visual Arts Outlook (27/10)

    October 27, 2015 - By 

    Hello all once again. Seasonal, spooky, autumnal week ahead, even better if you happen to be lucky enough to be on half term break! (sadly not me). This week  I’d like to draw your attention to the ARTS MATTER ‘Red Alert, State of Emergency’ Stormont Rally that will be taking place next Tuesday afternoon at 1pm. This is a rally to protest about the cuts being made to the arts in Northern Ireland. If you feel that the arts need support in this community, please go along and show your commitment at this positive event. Banners and placards welcomed! If…