• The Song (Struggles) To Remain The Same: Led Zeppelin at Live Aid, 13th July 1985

    July 14, 2015 - By 

    In no uncertain terms, Live Aid was a turning point in the history of popular music. Never before on this scale had pop and rock musicians striven to present themselves as a community, a socially conscious bunch of friends who were just trying to, y’know, save the world, man. But rather than a collective of friends, this was more like a club, and the membership was pretty damn exclusive. As the cream of the pop scene clamoured to be involved, one of the most exclusive bands in rock history was waiting in the wings, ready to play it low key.…

  • Rave New World (10/7)

    July 10, 2015 - By 

    Aidan Hanratty delivers the lowdown on all the very best electronic gigs, tracks, mixes and releases of the week. Antóin is off at the fabled Freerotation weekender in Wales, but despite the Twitter buzz it’s not the only place to be seen this weekend. There’s a rake of stuff happening, even into next week, so don’t feel like you’re missing out too much. Subject – DJ QU at Pacino’s Friday 10 July 2015 House mainstay DJ QU brings his stately presence to Pacino’s, while a host of local talent is set to play at this three-room affair. Lubomyr Melnyk with Otto…

  • Visual Arts Outlook (30/6)

    June 30, 2015 - By 

    It’s a busy week ahead with the first Thursday of July bringing the usual round of Late Night Art Openings here in Belfast, writes Mary Stevens. However Thursday is not the only night this week when good things are happening. There is a closing event for Product Recall at the Galway Arts Center on Friday evening at 6.30pm with work from the Red Bird Youth Collective who have collaborated with US artist Sarah Baker. The final event of the seemingly endless  BASS Belfast Artists’ Sonic Showcase Event #6 at Framewerk takes place on Saturday evening with the final lineup of…

  • Rave New World (26/6)

    June 26, 2015 - By 

    Antoin Lindsay and Aidan Hanratty deliver the lowdown on all the very best electronic gigs, tracks, mixes and releases of the week. GIGS Celtronic present Derrick May, Clark, Francesco Tristiano, Objekt and The Cyclist at St. Columb’s Hall, Derry Saturday, June 27 Probably the most ridiculous lineup Celtronic, or Derry, has ever witnessed is tomorrow. Derrick May is the closest thing to a deity in techno. Warp’s Clarke has been smashing it for ages and is currently releasing his best material for years. Francesco Tristiano is a classically trained pianist who plays house and techno whose repertoire includes as absolutely stunning version of…

  • Track Record: Laura Ann Brady

    June 23, 2015 - By 

    Dublin dark ambient folk singer-songwriter Laura Ann Brady is our latest willing subject for Track Record, a regular feature in which we delve into the prized record collections of some of the country’s finest creative minds. Dublin dark ambient folk singer-songwriter Laura Ann Brady Photos by Abi Denniston. Leonard Cohen – New Skin for Old Ceremony Leonard is a hero of a man and this is one of my favourite Cohen albums, which Leonard himself calls a little gem rather than a masterpiece. There is a much bigger sound going on here than on his previous recordings. Lots of lovely woodwind…

  • Deep Down South: Music and the “Cork Brand”

    June 22, 2015 - By 

    The past two weeks (for this column is now fortnightly) have been marked by two weekends of the Cork Midsummer Festival, a celebration of the arts and culture in Cork City that’s sprawled all over the city’s venues and spanned the axis of artistic endeavour. From critiques of capitalism draped in Northside accents and caffeine-fueled hyperkinesis, to the sight of a string quartet welcoming the first sunrise of the season at 5am in the company of tired but elated attendees, it’s been something else to see the extent to which the town opens its arms to the arts, and the…

  • The Hefty Fog: Naked Aggression

    June 19, 2015 - By 

    If the sight of a fully-grown man’s bare arse bathed in blue LED light has you shuddering with disgust, then you simply aren’t acculturated to the ways of Metal. If you are willing to sit through songs detailing gruesome acts of murder and purchase merchandise emblazoned with decapitated infants, but you suddenly become grossed out as a lead singer’s testicle peeps at you momentarily from its loin cloth, you’ve got a long way to go, kid. Impetuous Ritual’s performance in Dublin earlier in the month raised a few questions about the visual effect that nudity has on the overall presentation…

  • Rave New World (19/6)

    June 19, 2015 - By 

    We have it on pretty good authority that it’s the weekend. Celebrate that very distinct possibility with Antoin Lindsay’s latest traipse into the world of all things electronic: Rave New World. GIGS Jika Jika! present Danny Tenalgia at The Bunker, Derry Saturday, June 20 After the unmitigated success of the last night at The Bunker with Marcel Dettmann, Jika Jika! return with Danny Tenalgia. He’s playing a 3 hour set so if you fancy catching a dance music legend in a massive car park this weekend, then Derry is the only place to be. Celtronic present Recondite and Fort Romeau…

  • Visual Arts Outlook (15/6)

    June 15, 2015 - By 

    June is always a nice month to see some exciting new arts projects due to the College shows and the lovely summer weather (hopefully!). If you haven’t been to your local end of year degree show, I would very much recommend you do! Aligned, the NCAD awards exhibition (undergraduate) is on this week 1pm-5pm Monday – Friday. There is also the continuation this weekend of the BASS Belfast Artists’ Sonic Showcase Event #4 with artists Bernadette Comac, Die Hexen and Aghori at FRAMEWERK. This will be happening on Saturday evening at 7pm so be sure to check it out. If…