• AVA Festival announce Bicep, Or:la, Sunil Sharpe, Saoirse and many more for 2018 Edition

    January 24, 2018 - By 

    Belfast’s AVA Festival and Conference has announced the huge line-up for its fourth edition between 1 – 2 June 2018. While talks, panels and workshops will make the bulk of the first day of the festival, Friday 1 June, the Saturday will feature a huge cast of DJs sets and live performances spread across four stages. The legendary Boiler Room stage will run for two days this year while Red Bull Music Academy and Smirnoff will host two others. The line-up consists of some massive international acts such as Floorplan, Helena Hauff, Midland, Jayda G, Dennis Sulta, Hunee and Job Jobse. Not only that, but the Irish are very well represented with sets coming…

  • Bicep – Bicep

    September 13, 2017 - By 

    As well known in recent years for their 4/4 bangers as their spacey, off-kilter musical segues from the dance floor to the chill-out room, it’s not entirely surprising that Belfast native, London-based duo Bicep have found a home for their eponymous debut LP on Ninja Tune. Historically, the label’s indie ethos has allowed those artists straddling experimental electronica and the left-field to develop a cult following before propelling them into the greater public depth-of-field. What’s interesting here is that Bicep, having already garnered such an intensely outspoken following on home soil in a relatively short space of time (all things considered),…

  • Stream: Bicep – Aura

    June 15, 2017 - By 

    Hold the phone: London-via-Belfast electronic duo Andy Ferguson and Matt McBriar AKA Bicep are back with one almighty banger. Lifted from the pair’s forthcoming Ninja Tune-released debut album – set to drop on September 1 – ‘Aura’ is a slick, beat-heavy and brilliantly propulsive five-minute effort that aims straight for the sonic jugular.

  • AVA Festival 2017 Line-Up Announced

    January 25, 2017 - By 

    Returning for its third annual outing, grassroots Audio Visual Arts festival and conference AVA will return to Belfast’s iconic T13 for an expanded two-day line-up on June 2-3. Set to feature the UK and Irish debut of Jeff Mills and Guillaume Marmin’s collaboration, Marcel Dettman, Bicep, Ben UFO, Fatima Yamaha, Midland, Rebekah, Job Jobse, Denis Sulta, Or:La, Hammer, Saoirse, The Cyclist, Ryan Vail, Jordan, JMX and much more, tickets for the festival are available to buy here priced £50. The festival says, “Alongside a solid roster of incredible artists playing across the two days, there’s an emerging DJ and Producer…

  • AVA Festival 2015

    June 1, 2015 - By 

    Well, here we are.  After months of anticipation and the mandatory, giddy daily countdown, the moment has arrived for Belfast’s inaugural AVA (Audio Visual Arts) Festival.  We’ve entered the Titanic Qtr and are making our way to the goliath T13 warehouse and playing spot the raver as we increase our pace, beyond excited for what we’ll see when we get there.  When we do, a multitude of coaches indicates that although it won’t kick off for some time yet, there’ll be a sizeable crowd inside.  There is, to our relief, a mass of music fans buzzing around the gargantuan space.…

  • Festival Preview: AVA Festival

    May 17, 2015 - By 

    Billed as a “one day-&-night grass roots Audio Visual Arts festival”, AVA Festival aims to promote the wealth of talent in Northern Ireland’s electronic music and visual arts scene. Taking place in the Titanic Quarter’s formidable T13 Building on Saturday, May 30, the one day event will be split into two broad sections: a daytime conference from 11am-4pm with a series of keynote speakers and panels, and an evening showcase from 4pm with some of the stars of Northern Ireland’s impressively healthy electronic and club scene. The likes of Bicep, Space Dimension Controller and Optimo are all involved in what…

  • Eleven Must-See Shows in Belfast This Christmas

    December 3, 2013 - By 

    Whilst we haven’t exactly been neglected of great shows of every conceivable kind all throughout 2013, there’s something about the Christmas period that somehow brings together some of the most downright irresistible line-ups of homegrown (and occasional international) musical talent. This year is no different, both across Belfast and much further afield. That said, keeping our eyes (and ears) firmly fixed upon the aforementioned hub of seismic musical happening, we present to you our eleven “must-see” shows in Belfast this festive period.  Radar: Feet for Wings – Speakeasy, Thursday, December 19 Radar at Belfast’s QUBSU Speakeasy has delivered for some…