• Emma Sweeney & Friends @ The Mac, Belfast

    October 9, 2013 - By 

    Fast-rising musician Emma Sweeney and guests will perform a night of cutting edge Irish traditional music at Belfast’s MAC on Thursday, October 10. A finalist at the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award in 2003, Sweeney will perform music from her album Pangea, which was released early this year to critical acclaim. Despite her age, Sweeney she accumulated an impressive amount of live experience performing alongside a host of respected traditional musicians including Dick Gaughan, Cara Dillon, Mike McGoldrick and Dezi Donnelly. The performance is part of Not So Trad, a new series of MAC music events offering traditional music with a fresh, modern approach…

  • Gig of the week: The Bonnevilles, Tied To Machines and more

    October 1, 2013 - By 

    Our gig of the week this week is the wonderfully-titled Oktobersesh, a four-band, riff-fuelled charity show at Banbridge Town Football Club on Saturday, October 5. Set to be headlined by Lurgan garage-blues duo The Bonnevilles, the line-up for the fundraiser also features the mighty talents of hardcore heroes Tied To Machines (above), Co. Down “experimental alternative indie” quartet AudioCavalry and Dromore post-rock band The King Said. Check out the poster for the event (overlooking Abandcalledboy, who had to pull out) below and go here for the event page.

  • Gig of the week: Cut The Transmission

    September 22, 2013 - By 

    Our gig of the week this week will see some of the best riff-fuelled band’ – both homegrown and from across the water – assemble to bid the finest of farewell to Derry alt-rock heroes Fighting With Wire. Taking place through the day and night of Saturday, September 28 at Derry’s The Venue, Cut The Transmission – headlined by Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls – will feature performances from And So I Watch You From Afar, Future Of The Left, LaFaro, More Than Conquerors and more. See below for the full poster. Tickets for the event are £20 and available…

  • Adam Buxton presents: BUG Radiohead Special

    September 17, 2013 - By 

    Having brought The Best of Bug to Belfast in May as part of Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, English comedian, writer and broadcast Adam Buxton returns to the city with a special BUG show focusing on Radiohead. This unique show will see the band’s amazing music video output celebrated on the big screen – their greatest videos, their collaborations with directors such as such as Jonathan Glazer, Grant Gee, Shynola, Garth Jennings – and BUG’s very own Buxton – and also rareties, seldom seen on the big screen, or indeed any screen. Don’t miss what promises to be a very special night…

  • Gig of the week: Sea Pinks, September Girls, Affleck

    September 17, 2013 - By 

    After much deliberation and chin-rubbing, our gig of the week this week takes place at Belfast’s Oh Yeah Centre on Friday, September 20. Surely set to be a highlight of this year’s Culture Night Belfast, Belfast-based surf-pop band Sea Pinks will headline a three-band bill also featuring fast-rising Dublin all-female noise-pop quartet September Girls and new-fangled Belfast electronic trio Affleck. Doors are at 6pm and admission is free. Go here to learn more. Check out the poster for the show below. Stream the excellent Freak Waves by Sea Pinks below.

  • Gig of the week: Champion Sound Showcase

    September 11, 2013 - By 

    Our gig of the week this week is set to be an outright highlight of this year’s CultureTECH in Derry/Londonderry: a showcase by Belfast-based label Champion Sound at the most excellent Sandinos on Friday September 13 featuring performances two of the label’s most exciting names. Fast-rising Derry electronic artist Ryan Vail (above) and decidedly anonymous producer Unknown lead the way on the night. Visuals coming courtesy of award-winning Belfast collective DSNT, the labels bosses of both Planet Mu (Tom Quaye) and Champion Sound (Lyndon Stephens) will also perform DJ sets on the night Tickets are five pound at the door. Check out ‘Fade’ by Ryan Vail below.

  • Culture Night Belfast line-up revealed

    August 29, 2013 - By 

    Set to take place on across over six hours on September 20, the impossibly eclectic line-up for this year’s Culture Night Belfast has been announced. The city’s self-proclaimed “biggest and boldest cultural celebration” will see 250 events take place across 100+ venues to over 30,000 people in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter beyond from 4-10pm. A Banksy exhibit in the city’s smallest contemporary art gallery, an evening of drinks and book-readings with local novelists in McHughs basement, a poetry slam at Golden Thread Gallery, “new tunes and new talents” live at the check-out of a Tesco… the lists of things happening goes on…

  • Voodoo Fiend Club

    August 29, 2013 - By 

    A new monthly metal, hardcore and punk night in Belfast’s Voodoo Bar, the Voodoo Fiend Club is presented in conjunction with Belfast-based independent label Savour Your Scene records. Proposing to “bring you the best in alternative music on a night out – metal, hardcore, punk, crust, d-beat, noise prog and thrash – the next club night is on Friday, August 30. Hit up the club’s Facebook page to keep up to date with future nights. Watch ‘Cut Throat Blues’ by Belfast-based Savour Your Scene band Lantern For A Gale below.  

  • No Alibis Bookstore present: Jo Nesbo @ Ulster Hall

    August 29, 2013 - By 

    Internationally acclaimed and best selling Scandinavian author Jo Nesbo will hold a special talk at Belfast’s Ulster Hall on Sunday, September 15 in association with No Alibis Bookstore. Also a musician, songwriter, economist and ex-footballer, Nesbo will discuss his new book, Police – the tenth installment of his Harry Hole series. Tickets are priced at £7 and are available purchase here.

  • CultureTECH: Champion Sound Showcase @ Sandinos

    August 25, 2013 - By 

    One of the more enticing prospects of this year’s CultureTECH in Derry, Belfast-based label Champion Sound will hold a showcase at the wonderfully inimitable Sandinos on Friday September 13. The line-up is comprised of two of the label’s most exciting names: fast-rising Derry electronic artist Ryan Vail and decidedly anonymous producer Unknown (above – sort of). With visuals coming courtesy of award-winning Belfast collective DSNT, the labels bosses of both Planet Mu (Tom Quaye) and Champion Sound (Lyndon Stephens) will also perform DJ sets. Tickets are five pound at the door.