• Premiere: Andrew McGibbon – We’ve Got Horns

    November 4, 2020 - By 

    As one-half of acclaimed Northern Irish garage blues duo The Bonnevilles, Andrew McGibbon has spent the last few years underscoring his status as one of the island’s most captivating frontmen. After zig-zagging across Europe once again with The Bonnevilles back in 2018, McGibbon found himself burnt out and staring into a creative abyss with a self-described “PTSD – post touring stress disorder”. It kickstarted a period of creative metamorphosis that has resulted in Northern Gothic, a wonderfully idiosyncratic debut solo release that reveals the full breadth of his songwriting voice. “I’d get quite blue on the run up to leaving for…

  • Stendhal Festival of Art 2016 (Day One)

    August 15, 2016 - By 

    Growing stronger each year, there’s a pretence-dodging spirit about Stendhal Festival of Art that always puts creating experiences worth remembering firmly centre-stage. Tucked away in the beautiful, barley-bordered Ballymully Cottage Farm – a heart-skippingly scenic hideaway on the outskirts of Limavady – organisers have lovingly honed the many magical elements that collide to make it Northern Ireland’s most unmissable summer festival. Priding itself as much on its intimate rural setting as it does its family-friendly atmosphere – which is unparalleled – the many hidden corners of enchantment that hem the festival’s two large areas of stages, stalls and curious spaces ensures no creative stone feels left unturned. “We’re a punk band.…

  • The Bonnevilles – Arrow Pierce My Heart

    March 13, 2016 - By 

    One word that is regularly attributed to bands that fall under the rock ’n’ roll, blues or garage-punk monikers is ‘raw’. By that I mean there is more often than not a pure and unadulterated rawness or dirtiness, as it were, related to an artist’s playing style that it can be classified as such. When it comes to Lurgan duo The Bonnevilles’ latest album Arrow Pierce My Heart, it is clear as day this term can be used when pinpointing their homage to these genres. Andrew McGibbon Jnr. and Chris McMullan have come out swinging on what is their third…

  • Gigs of the Week: The Bonnevilles, Darling, Light Colour Sound Festival

    July 1, 2014 - By 

    As we enter the height of summer, with suspiciously good weather, there are, as always, numerous gigs to check out all over the country, whether they be outdoors blessing their good fortune, or safely indoors away from the sweltering heat. Here are just a few worth looking at. No Tomorrow: The Bonnevilles, Rhinos – Voodoo, Belfast; Saturday, July 5 The next installment of our new gig/club night No Tomorrow takes place at Belfast’s Voodoo on Saturday July 5. A garage rock duo double-header of sorts, much talked about twosome Rhinos will support one of the greatest double acts in all of the land, garage-blues…

  • No Tomorrow: The Bonnevilles & Rhinos @ Voodoo

    June 16, 2014 - By 

    Presented by yours truly, The Thin Air, the next installment of our monthly gig/club night No Tomorrow at Voodoo Belfast on Saturday, July 5 will see two of the country’s finest garage-rock duos lay masterful waste to eardrums, limbs and everything in between. Headlined by garage-blues twosome The Bonnevilles – a duo (pictured) with an incredible live reputation, bursting with energy and sweaty zeal – the show will also feature the Paul Currie-fronted Rhinos, a new fangled Belfast garage-noise duo who have had tongues wagging and ears rattling from the get go. Back-to-back, it’s safe to say that we’re very…

  • Gig of the week: The Bonnevilles, Tied To Machines and more

    October 1, 2013 - By 

    Our gig of the week this week is the wonderfully-titled Oktobersesh, a four-band, riff-fuelled charity show at Banbridge Town Football Club on Saturday, October 5. Set to be headlined by Lurgan garage-blues duo The Bonnevilles, the line-up for the fundraiser also features the mighty talents of hardcore heroes Tied To Machines (above), Co. Down “experimental alternative indie” quartet AudioCavalry and Dromore post-rock band The King Said. Check out the poster for the event (overlooking Abandcalledboy, who had to pull out) below and go here for the event page.

  • Live and Let Live: The Bonnevilles

    September 3, 2013 - By 

    From the timeless (Thin Lizzy’s Alive and Dangerous) to the downright ill-advised (Lou Reed’s Take No Prisoners), live albums can be tricky territory for even the most self-assured and adept performers. Throwing caution to the wind with the aim to capture their electrifying live show, garages-blues duo Andy McGibbon Jr and Chris McMullan AKA The Bonnevilles enter that territory at Belfast’s Limelight 2 tomorrow night. We talk to frontman Andy ahead of the big night about what’s in store. Hi Andy. Firstly: why a live album and why now? “We’ve wanted to do a live album for a while now,…