“I don’t know what I was thinking; I should get a job. I don’t know what I was drinking; I should get a dog. Should get married, have some babies, watch the evening news…” So spouted Courtney Barnett strikingly in … Continue reading Review: Courtney Barnett — Olympia Theatre, Dublin
Southern Rockers Blackberry Smoke were let loose on Belfast’s Telegraph Building last night for what was to be a high-octane show, fuelled by the bands need to give their fans the best show possible. Looking around the beard clad crowd … Continue reading Review: Blackberry Smoke – Telegraph Building, Belfast
Blue lights and screams heralded the arrival of Manchester’s finest, Johnny Marr, onto the Ulster Hall stage. Men all around woo-hooed in synch to the lyrics of ‘The Tracers’, a track from the new album, Call the Comet. Once again, I found … Continue reading Review: Johnny Marr – Ulster Hall, Belfast
It’s been a few years since jazz guitar maestro Frank Vignola visited these shores, and things have changed. Instead of a duo with long-time collaborator Vinnie Ranniolo, there’s now a trio with the inclusion of Kenneth F Smith. There’s also … Continue reading Review: The Frank Vignola Hot Jazz Trio – Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast
“Some say I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth But you know I paid some dues Born to play the guitar all around the world Born to sing these blues.” Eric Bibb is as close to a … Continue reading Review: Eric Bibb – Belfast International Arts Festival, Grand Opera House
For anyone curious about who was performing in Limelight 1 last night a brief, swooping glance at those pouring into the venue was a helpful indication. The sold out crowd rushed to the early show with a wardrobe mirroring that … Continue reading Review: Mac DeMarco – Limelight, Belfast
What do you get when you pair one of Africa’s most famous and talented female vocalists with one of the most influential and iconic album’s of the early 1980’s? It has to be Angelique Kidjo performing her re-invented and re-interpreted … Continue reading Review: Angelique Kidjo – Belfast International Arts Festival, Grand Opera House
White clouds of breath billow from the heads in front of me, climbing up into the inky sky before dissipating. Rubbing my hands in a futile attempt to keep the cold at bay, I shuffle forward with the line towards … Continue reading Review: Tom Grennan – The Limelight, Belfast
Eric Martin, “the voice of Mr. Big,” is no stranger to Irish shores, having visited various venues across the island in the last few years, and a stop up North is usually on the itinerary. That being said, the last … Continue reading Review: Eric Martin – Empire Hall, Belfast
Kate Bush first burst onto the music scene in 1978, 40 years ago with the amazing “Wuthering Heights” and that dancing, and became the first female artist to achieve a number 1 with a self-penned song. No mean feat for … Continue reading Review: The Kate Bush Songbook – The Empire, Belfast
This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco – this ain’t no fooling around. I’m not sure if I have the words to adequately or accurately describe what I witnessed at Dublin’s 3 Arena last night, but here goes. The … Continue reading Review: David Byrne – 3Arena, Dublin
Last night was something incredibly special for the sold out crowd gathered at Vicar Street in the heart of Dublin. It was night two of two on home soil for local boy Dermot Kennedy, the crowd welcoming him with open … Continue reading Review: Dermot Kennedy – Vicar Street, Dublin
There are few things in life that are dependable and come around each year like clockwork. Birthdays, Christmas, and Jools Holland at the Waterfront Hall are three that spring to mind. Later with Jools has become the Old Grey Whistle … Continue reading Review: Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra- Waterfront Hall, Belfast
There’s no queue outside the Ulster Hall as our support act this evening take to the stage. Only one of the venue’s bars are open – the sign of a quiet night – and even that is eerily subdued. Tickets … Continue reading Review: Editors – Ulster Hall, Belfast
Set to release his third album Jubilee Road later this month, Ivor Novello and Brit Award winner, Tom Odell played to a packed out crowd in Belfast’s latest gig hotspot, The Telegraph Building. Back on Irish soil for the first time … Continue reading Review: Tom Odell – The Telegraph Building, Belfast
The rock legends Ricky Warwick and Damon Johnson set foot on Northern Irish soil again to team up for yet another installment of Warwick Johnson, an acoustic collection of classics and solo numbers from each. Our photographer Conor Kerr was … Continue reading Photos: Warwick Johnson – The Limelight, Belfast
English singer-songwriter Lucy Spraggan returned to Belfast to perform inside the Empire Hall last week. Our photographer Michael Barbour was there to capture some photos. Support … Continue reading Photos: Lucy Spraggan – Empire Hall, Belfast
It’s not often you get two headliners for the price of one but two full-length sets from two bands who are leaders in their respective genres is one way to pack the house out. After Enslaved’s short but memorable set … Continue reading Review: High on Fire + Enslaved – Limelight 2, Belfast
It’s been a mad sort of year for the guys in Pale Waves. After being signed by Dirty Hit, and being label-mates with none other than The 1975, the band has done everything to get their name out there. The … Continue reading Review: Pale Waves – Elmwood Hall, Belfast
Fatherson are kicking off their tour here in Belfast and it is their first ever headline show in the city. Forming in 2010 the band have just released their third album ‘Sum of All Your Parts’ and are keen to … Continue reading Review: Fatherson & Support – Voodoo Belfast
It has been four years since Anna Calvi performed in Belfast. Touring for her latest album, Hunter, the BRIT and Mercury Awards nominee, renowned for her operatic vocals, returned to Belfast’s Empire once more. Transforming the venue into a nebulous … Continue reading Review: Anna Calvi – The Empire, Belfast
Pennsylvania rock band Halestorm travelled to Belfast to perform at The Telegraph Building after a stop in Dublin. Our photographer Conor Kerr was there to capture the night on photo. Continue reading Photos: Halestorm – Telegraph Building, Belfast
Anyone within a ten mile radius of Waterfront Hall last night will be acutely aware of who was due to perform as the excited chants of ‘Biffy F***ing Clyro’ consistently rumbled from the venue and across Belfast. Visiting the city … Continue reading Review: Biffy Clyro MTV Unplugged – Waterfront Hall, Belfast
You just can’t beat a little bit of “80s hair rock/metal” nostalgia. The OTT hair, the tighter-than-tight trousers and of course the music, which is full of top class anthems. This can be said for Swedish titans Europe, who made … Continue reading Review: Europe – Ulster Hall, Belfast
