• Northern Ireland Music Prize 2015 @ Mandela Hall, Belfast

    November 16, 2015 - By 

    “Don’t stop going to silly rock and roll concerts. Don’t stop enjoying silly rock and roll… if we keep going, they can never win. Now let’s go play some silly rock and roll!” Neil Hannon, The Divine Comedy On a night that not once threatened to descend into a sombre affair, there remained a feeling of solidarity within the Mandela Hall in Belfast on Saturday night. Undoubtedly one of the most important dates in the Northern Irish music calendar, in this third instalment of the NI Music Awards we once again saw performances from some of the best acts this…

  • Watch: Malojian – No Alibis

    September 8, 2015 - By 

    One of our favourite Irish singer-songwriters, Stevie Scullion AKA Malojian knocked us for six with his second stdio album, Southlands, back in May. The latest single to be lifted from that, ‘No Alibis’ is a typically Americana-inflected effort from the Lurgan songsmith, conjuring the likes of Elliott Smith, Wilco and – in its more swaggering passages – Tame Impala and T-Rex. Featuring another sublime animated accompaniment by Richard Davis, the track – assumingly named after the Belfast-based bookstore of the same name – was produced by Malojian drummer and Mojo Fury frontman Michael Mormecha. Malojian plays Belfast’s Empire Music Hall on…

  • Lavery’s Set For Tall Ships Event

    June 23, 2015 - By 

    With Belfast set for the return of the Tall Ships at the Belfast Maritime Festival from July 2-5, Lavery’s have announced that they will host some of the North’s best live acts on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday at their Continental Market-style beer tent on the Odyssey Arena’s front lawn. With the full timetable to be announced, Runaway Go will play on Thursday, indie pop quartet Go Wolf (pictured )will play on Friday and Wonder Villains will play on Saturday. Elsewhere, Stevie Scullion & co. AKA Malojian, Stephen Macartney and Rachel Coulter, New Ancestors and Chris Wilson, The Salt Flats, Loris, Michael Mormecha and…

  • Watch: Malojian – Bathtub Blues

    May 11, 2015 - By 

    The follow-up to the sublime ‘Communion Girls’, released back in February, Stevie Scullion AKA Malojian has unveiled the video for jaunty new single, ‘Bathtub Blues’. A brilliantly breezy effort, the video for the track features Scullion and his music-making cohorts Joe McGurgan and Mike Mormecha performing the track in a bathroom. We see what they did there. Malojian launch their new album, Southlands, at Belfast’s No Alibis on May 29 and 30. Buy tickets here and watch the video for ‘Bathtub Blues’ – directed by Tommy Keery – below.

  • Inside Out

    August 8, 2014 - By 

    Taking place at Belfast’s Arthur Square from August 9 to August 30, Inside Out will see some of the country’s finest musical talent – everyone from Malojian (above) to Sons of Caliber – play a series of free, unplugged gigs. Culminating in a showcase event at City Hall, the gigs will last 45 minutes and take place every Saturday (1pm and 3pm) and Thursday (at 5.30pm) throughout the month of August. Here’s the full line-up and schedule: Malojian: August 9 Silhouette: August 9 Master and Dog: August 14 Zarah Fleming: August 16 The Hardchangers: August 16 Wookalily: August 21 Silences: August 23 Linley Hamilton: August 23 Emerald Armada: August 28…

  • Festival Mixtape: Stendhal Festival of Art

    August 4, 2014 - By 

    Headlined by Derry punk pioneers The Undertones and Scottish indie-rock quartet Frightened Rabbit (above), Stendhal Festival of Art returns to the wonderfully scenic Roe Valley this weekend for two days of music, art, theatre, comedy and poetry. With tickets still available to purchase via the official website here, we’ve compiled a ten-track playlist featuring some our must-see acts to catch at the festival – everyone from Malojian and Go Wolf to Making Monsters and Ciaran Lavery.

  • Alabama 3 – Mandela Hall, Belfast

    July 2, 2013 - By 

    It has been an interesting time for Belfast in terms of some of the gigs hosted here in the last couple of weeks. The Breeders entertained Limelight recently, with Kim Deal announcing her departure from the Pixies the day before. Now it is the turn of Alabama 3, who are playing at the Mandela Hall just a few days after the death of James Gandolfini, star of the Sopranos, which helped introduce the band to millions by using their song in the credits. But before we experience the diverse palette of Alabama 3, it is up to the last minute…

  • Malojian, Robb Murphy, Kat Hepworth – Black Box, Belfast

    June 4, 2013 - By 

    The lights dim and all of a sudden a big, yet soft voice comes from nowhere; so begins a lovely song by tonight’s first support act, Kat Hepworth, called ‘New York’. Each song that follows is just as honest and pure, the guitar finely picked, and all with a modest quirk and charm. In all, a fine start to the night’s proceedings in the Black Box. Next up, Robb Murphy and his band; their steady whimsy doffing a cap to the Lisa Hannigans of this world, they are happy to let their songs build steadily. Damien Rice meets Belle &…