• SPECTRUM 2017: An Interview with IMC and HomeBeat

    Presented by Improvised Music Company in association with Note Productions and HomeBeat, SPECTRUM is a new festival experience for fans of innovative music-making. Set to present three days of stimulating music “at the creative intersection where jazz, contemporary, rock and electronic music collide”, the Dublin festival – which runs from March 10-12 at Whelans and The Opium Rooms on Wexford St, Dublin – will have a focus on the live and improvised, complimented by a compelling programme of talks. In the first of a two-part feature, Brian Coney chats to Kenneth Killen (director of Improvised Music Company) and Emmet Condon of…

  • Spectrum Festival 2015

    Spectrum Festival kicked off in Mandela Hall over the weekend with live performances from R51, Hot Cops, Echo Raptors, Joshua Burnside, New Ancestors, Loris, In An Instant and The Emerald Armada. Photos by Sara Marsden.

  • Gigs of the Week: The Emerald Armada, Angel Olsen, Spectrum Festival

    For the first time in a few weeks, our three gigs of the week take place across Belfast over the next few days. Which once again has had us thinking: there was a time, not that long ago, when the phrase, “There’s nothing on in Belfast” was all-too regularly uttered by the best of us. While this was something of a myth, there can be no denying that there is an absolute abundance of shows, nights, clubs, happenings and events right under our noses, night in, night out. Never, ever hanker for “the good ol’ days”, eh? As far as we’re concerned,…

  • 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.