• The End of an Era: Radar 2005-2015

    October 20, 2015 - By 

    “Institution” is a word that seems to be all too wantonly applied to every other gig night across the country nowadays. After ten years positively both capturing and shaping local live music in the North of the country, Radar at Belfast’s Queens Student Union is most definitely an exception to that rule. Ahead of its final (inevitably somewhat emotional) outing on Thursday night, Brian Coney chats with Radar founder and main man Damien McAdams about the decade-long highs and highlights of a soon to be much-missed Belfast institution. Hi Damien. It should go without saying but Radar is and was a…

  • Gigs of the Week: Patrick Kelleher, Kab Driver, Dear Desert, Gifted, The Wedding Present, Radar

    November 4, 2014 - By 

    You’re looking well, you know that? Really well. Gym, is it? Cutting back on the soft drinks, was it? Walking to work in the morning, are we? But enough of the flirting: here’s our Gigs of the Week. Slick back that hair and get out there: much toe-tapping, gallivanting and/or wrecking the gaff awaits. New Natives: Patrick Kelleher, Bouts, Fangclub, Psychics @ The Grand Social, Dublin – Thursday, November 6 The humongously tasteful folks at New Natives will host a stellar four-act bill at Dublin’s Grand Social on Thursday night. Headlined by the inimitable and sorcerous Patrick Kelleher, the show will also features…

  • Stream: PigsAsPeople – Foundling

    September 16, 2014 - By 

    Belfast-based post-hardcore/noise rock trio PigsAsPeople have made the track ‘Foundling’ – the first to be unveiled from their upcoming mini-album The Plot Against Future Plans – available to buy on their Bandcamp from September 25. This comes ahead of their free-entry Radar mini-album launch at Mandela Hall on Thursday, September 25 – during Freshers Week – at which support comes from The Emerald Armada, Gascan Ruckus, Team RKT and Spittin’ Teeth. Check it out below: Foundling by PigsAsPeople

  • Interview: Tera Melos

    January 19, 2014 - By 

    There are few bands who can write a song that is equally melodic, complex, and crushingly heavy in quite the way that Tera Melos do. Even in their earlier, scuzzier part of their career – when the three-piece’s songs really just sounded like a patchwork of fairly disparate ideas and virtuoso instrumentalism – their first, self-titled release was a group of nine songs, ‘Melody 1’ to ‘Melody 8’. The band have always shirked the “math-rock” genre that is often applied to them, and as their sound has developed it becomes easier to see why. Their sound has followed a very…

  • 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…

  • Gig of the Week: Two Glass Eyes, Safe Ships, The Wood Burning Savages @ Radar

    November 25, 2013 - By 

    One of their final line-ups before Christmas, our gig of the week this week is the latest installment of Radar at Belfast’s QUBSU Speakeasy on Thursday, November 28. Headlined by alt-rock three-piece Two Glass Eyes, the bill will also feature performances from equally excellent Belfast-based punk band Safe Ships (above) and hugely promising Derry quartet The Wood Burning Savages. Check out the typically gleaming poster for the show: As you can see above, doors are at 9pm and admission is free. Stream ‘Fighting Fit’ and ‘Safest of Ships’ by Safe Ships below.

  • PigsAsPeople, El Ten Eleven, Droids @ Radar

    October 29, 2013 - By 

    Since resuming service in September Radar has hosted numerous strong acts, and tonight proves to top them all, should you have a taste for a bit of noise and jumping around. Droids open the night up with a guitar-led onslaught of enormous chords and hooks, alongside big vocal anthems. They play 30 minutes to a relatively quiet Speakeasy, but the slowly growing numbers in front of them doesn’t put them off. There are more than a few nods given to post-hardcore band Thrice throughout, with distorted walls of sound topped by piercing melodic riffs being a common factor in most of…

  • PigsAsPeople, El Ten Eleven, Droids @ Radar

    October 26, 2013 - By 

    Gentleman, scholar and masterful photographer Diarmuid Kennedy was there to capture Belfast-based three-piece PigsAsPeople launch their Idles & Us EP at Belfast’s Radar on Thursday, October 26. Rather inexplicable support came from U.S. post rock duo El Ten Eleven (bassist/guitarist Kristian Dunn, above) and Derry riffmasters Droids. Check out Diarmuid’s photos below!