• Moon Duo, Deptford Goth, Kelpe – The MAC, Belfast

    October 2, 2013 - By 

    For the final instalment of ‘In the Court of Tom Ravenscroft’, the eclectically curated mini-festival at The MAC,  we are being treated to a somewhat canonical foray into the tastes of a man who, like his father before him, has ample time for exploring the realms of music that’s slightly further away from left of the field. Approaching the venue from the courtyard at around 8.30, a surprising mix of young, fresh faces and Cathedral Quarter veterans mingle around the box office and bar area, debating and discussing topics that will ultimately become fond memories of the evening; the mightiest…

  • Manic Street Preachers – Ulster Hall, Belfast

    September 24, 2013 - By 

    Manic Street Preachers are the great survivors of British rock music. In an era where the touring landscape is awash with bands of their vintage (and younger) on money-spinning reunion tours, the Manics keep racking up the albums, the tours and the years – 27 at the last count. And yet here they are, packing out the Ulster Hall again as they tour to promote their eleventh studio album, Rewind The Film – yet another top five chart hit. Given that album’s delicate nature – all acoustic guitars, slow tempos and snatches of brass – it’s not surprising that tonight’s…

  • In Review: Culture Night Belfast 2013

    September 23, 2013 - By 

    With the dust having settled on just about one of the most absorbing nights of art, culture and music that Belfast has ever seen, we gather the thoughts and verdicts of various people who experienced Culture Night Belfast 2013. If the following short selection impressions and opinions isn’t a glowing testament to the power and need for such an annual event, what is? Congratulations to all the participants, organisers and volunteers. We can’t wait for next year already. Andrew Lemon, The Thin Air reviews editor and freelance music writer: “The official attendance figure for this year’s Culture Night stands at 42,000. It’s impressive…

  • Festival Diary: Way Out West 2013

    August 29, 2013 - By 

    In its seventh year, Way Out West has grown to one of the biggest music events in the Swedish calendar. Held every year in the city of Gothenburg since 2007, it is only the second time it has been run over three days. The festival is divided into two parts Way Out West (WOW) and Stay Out West. The former is held in the west side of the city in Slottskogen the city’s biggest park, the latter at selected venues around the city throughout the day and night. Being Swedish it is also environmentally friendly. Serving only vegetarian food to…

  • Belsonic: Nine Inch Nails

    August 23, 2013 - By 

    With their eagerly anticipated eighth studio album, Hesitation Marks, primed for release at the beginning of next month, Trent Reznor’s genre-defining, decade-spanning Nine Inch Nails stop off in Belfast for Day Three of Belsonic 2013 experiencing quite possibly their most marked period of acclaim to date. Twenty-five years since Reznor formed the band as an effective solo project, there is an almost touchable urgency about the band and the music following a four-year incubation period. As fans rove in their thousands, everything, it would seem, is pointed in the general direction of a monumental first visit for the five-piece. Having endured the…

  • Spiritualized @ National Concert Hall, Dublin

    August 15, 2013 - By 

    There was no small sense of anticipation in the run-up to this one. Not only did Spiritualized announce that they were playing their Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space album in its entirety, they were doing so in Dublin’s National Concert Hall with an orchestra, and it would be the only such performance of 2013. So, tickets were duly snapped up for what was a pretty low-key announcement, all things considered. As the more NCH-savvy members of the audience file in for the eight o’clock sharp start time, there is a palpable air of excitement in the ornate…

  • Forfey 2013 Roundup

    August 14, 2013 - By 

    Miles from civilisation, in the scenic Fermanagh countryside, the Forfey Festival  is the destination for music fanatics around the country. The small farm site which plays host to the festival provides a communal atmosphere, where strangers are family and the reasonably small crowd overflows with passion and enthusiasm for each act. Early on Friday evening, Enemies’ semi-instrumental showcase of melodic math-rock impresses with a soulful ambience coupled with sheer head-bopping tunes. Usage of two drum kits heightens the intensity and kick-starts a seemingly tremendous weekend. Next up in the aptly named ‘Hayshed’ stage, Sons of Burlap put together a globe-spanning…

  • Transmit: Kasper Rosa, Lantern For A Gale, Vanilla Gloom

    August 12, 2013 - By 

    This gig was brought to you by Transmission; a regular showcase taking shape with some interesting and varied line ups drawing a respectable crowd on a nondescript Wednesday night. Belfast-based three-piece Vanilla Gloom take to the stage and start into their rain-soaked grunge pop to open the evening. A band whose name pretty accurately describes their music, the gloomy yet dreamy tone provides a good counter to the high pitched vocals which come across clearly and strongly, especially when delivered by all three members. Heavily indebted to the sounds of Seattle, with quite a nod to Weezer in the more mid-paced…

  • We Are Scientists, More Than Conquerors – Limelight 2, Belfast

    August 6, 2013 - By 

    Tonight, the Limelight 2 has had the pleasure of welcoming back the effortlessly dapper We Are Scientists for a gig that is a touch earlier in the evening than usual. By 7.20pm the room is filling up nicely with some familiar patrons of the adjacent Katy’s bar and folks stream in from haunts further afield, all of whom seem to be eagerly anticipating what is looking to be a slightly more intimate experience compared to the bands’ previous appearances in venues like the Mandela Hall and The Spring and Airbrake (now Limelight 1). With the bar area starting to look like…

  • Peace, Superfood – Limelight 2, Belfast

    July 11, 2013 - By 

    With the era of Pagers and Kenan & Kel back in fashion of late, tonight is a night that plays host to two tight bands with their fingers very much in the 90s pie. Up first is Birmingham quartet Superfood (below), whose brand of alternative rock is filled with catchy and rigid melodies, combined with lovely sharp percussion, strongly reminiscent of Cake (these food references aren’t intentional). Sporadic, unconventional harmonies are provided seemingly on a whim by the guitarist which are slightly unusual but spice things up nonetheless. Superfood round off their intriguing warm up set with a self titled…