• Spectrum Festival 2014 announced

    Featuring an eight-band bill comprised of both fast-rising and established homegrown talent, this year’s Spectrum Festival will take place at Belfast’s Speakeasy on Saturday, June 7. Headlined by Lisburn alt-rock maestros Mojo Fury and England-based quartet A Plastic Rose (above), prog rockers Kasper Rosa, alt-fock duo New Ancestors, five-piece The Late Twos, electronic trio Affleck, and indie pop bands Hurdles and Go Swim will also play the one-day festival, kicking off at 6.30pm. Admission is £12 and it’s £10 for students. Go here for the show’s Facebook event page. Check out the poster for the show below.

  • Forfey 2013 Roundup

    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…

  • Track Record: Tree (Kasper Rosa)

    In the first installment of Track Record, Belfast musician, photographer and filmmaker Colm Laverty captures James Bruce AKA Tree, drummer with Belfast-based prog quartet Kasper Rosa choosing a section of his favourite and most treasured records from his collection – everyone one from Barbara Streisand to obscure big beat duos hailing from Birmingham. Nice. ___ Rush – A Farewell To Kings A proper Rush record of over the top pro rock greatness. Tough to pick a Rush record out the discog but I decided on this one simply for the triumphant cry of “XANADU”. Barbara Streisand – Classical   This holds…

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

    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…

  • In Conversation: Kasper Rosa, Lantern For A Gale, Vanilla Gloom

    Ahead of their show at Belfast’s Limelight 2 on Wednesday, August 7, Ryan McCormick (guitarist/vocalist, Kasper Rosa – pictured above), Danny McConaghie (guitarist, Lantern For A Gale) and Grace Leacock (drummer, Vanilla Gloom) participate in the first ever In Conversation, a feature in which we get members of three local bands to discuss different aspects of writing, performing and touring both at home and abroad – as well what ever conversational tangents take their fancy… ___ The Death Knell of Local Music? Danny: So is the Northern Irish music scene on its knees? Praying for forgiveness? Grace: “Aww, I feel sad when I hear that!Good music comes in…