• “We Are…” by Diarmuid Kennedy

    August 13, 2014 - By 

    Whether you’ve encountered him or not – and chances are many of you have – self-professed “unprofessional photographer” Diarmuid Kennedy has been a veritable fly-on-the-wall of Belfast music over the last couple of years. A masterfully discreet operator, he is often one of a small handful at people to brave line-ups of all-but anonymous debutantes and furtive young musicians; his photography – just like his work capturing bigger, more established local bills – providing a priceless insight into an ever-evolving, somewhat maligned but, for the most part, consistently impressive music scene. Sitting outside the Pavilion Bar on Ormeau Road – a venue in which the photographer has shot innumerable up-and-coming bands…

  • Watch: Sister Ghost – Scent

    July 18, 2014 - By 

    Derry garage-punk singer-songwriter Shannon O’Neill AKA Sister Ghost have unveiled the video for her debut single, ‘Scent’. Recorded by Russell Matbouli at Belfast’s Resonate Studio, the track is the first outing from multi-instrumentalist O’Neill, previously of Belfast-based three-piece Vanilla Gloom. The track – accompanied with an acoustic demo of the debut single – is available to stream/purchase via Bandcamp. Check that and the video for the track out below. Scent by Sister Ghost  

  • The Thin Air launch w/ Mojo Fury and more

    June 3, 2013 - By 

    Back in May we launched The Thin Air at Belfast’s Voodoo bar. Not only did Mojo Fury perform their debut album in full, Blue Whale, Vanilla Gloom and PigsAsPeople provided totally kickass support, ensuring a totally unforgettable night and a truly excellent way to kickstart The Thin Air. Two hundred people turned up on the night. It was loud, it was sweaty and it was captured by the upstanding gentleman (and indeed scholar) that is Joe Laverty. Thanks to Joe’s superb filming on the night and the top-drawer editing skills of his friend and fellow Seven Summits bandmate Dominic Coyle, the following Thin Air Launch Party video came into…

  • Gig of the week: Tweed Fest 2013

    September 3, 2013 - By 

    Our gig of the week this week was a bit of a no-brainer. Headlined by North Coast three-piece Axis Of (above) Ballymoney riff shingdig par excellence Tweed Fest returns for its fourth outing this weekend. Set to feature twelve performances from the likes of fast-rising hardcore band Lantern For A Gale, Belfast-based three-piece PigsAsPeople and sludge/doom five-piece 7.5 Tonnes Of Beard, co-organiser and freelance photographer Ciara McMullan said of the event: “It’s basically just a party. Back in 2010, Matthew Tweed and all his mates in one week managed to organise a gig in his barn while his folks where on holidays. His parents weren’t angry. In fact, his dad…

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

    August 12, 2013 - By 

    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

    August 6, 2013 - By 

    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…

  • Tour Journal: Vanilla Gloom

    July 18, 2013 - By 

    A hotly-tipped “must see” act at the final ever Glasgowbury music festival this weekend, Belfast-based all-female post-punk band Vanilla Gloom have just returned from their first tour across the water – a brief but eventful little stint across Scotland beginning and ending in Glasgow. In the first installment of an occasional tour journal feature, Shannon O’Neill, vocalist and guitarist from the Derry three-piece details the band’s experiences on and off the stage via photos (courtesy of the very talented Ciara McMullan), doodles and day-to-day thoughts from on the road. ___    

  • Watch: The Thin Air Launch Party video

    June 11, 2013 - By 

    Were you at our launch party last month? You know, when Mojo Fury performed their debut album in full and the Blue Whale, Vanilla Gloom and PigsAsPeople provided totally kickass support, ensuring a totally unforgettable night and a truly excellent way to kickstart The Thin Air? 200 hundred people turned up on the night. It was loud, it was sweaty – it was captured by the upstanding gentleman (and indeed scholar) that is Joe Laverty. Thanks to Joe’s superb filming on the night (something he did out of the goodness of his own heart, we might add) and the killer…

  • The Thin Air Launch Party

    May 20, 2013 - By 

    Belfast-based photographer Diarmuid Kennedy was there to capture our launch party at Belfast’s Voodoo on Saturday, May 18th, where Mojo Fury performed their debut album Visiting Hours of A Travelling Circus to a packed room of hardcore fans. The band were supported by PigsAsPeople, Vanilla Gloom and Blue Whale. Thanks to everyone who made it down on the night!  

  • And So I Watch You From Afar to play G Session

    May 3, 2013 - By 

    North Coast post rock quartet And So I Watch You From Afar will play their first G Session in four years on Friday, May 3 at Draperstown’s Cellar Bar. The intimate appearance comes only a few days after it was announced that the band would headline one day of the annual “small but massive” festival. Supporting the band on the night are Belfast-based noise rock three-piece PigsAsPeople and all-female post-punk band Vanilla Gloom. Check out ‘Big Things Do Remarkable’ by ASIWYFA below.