Heathers - Q & A
Fresh from their Irish tour, are readying themselves for a number of festival dates this summer, including .
ATL caught up with twin sisters Ellie and Louise MacNamara to talk about everything from to popcorn.
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Archives for June 2010
Teenage Masterpieces
Ö÷²¥´óÐã Blast have invaded the ATL Offices with their youthful good looks and vitality, making the normal ATL crew look decidedly jaded and knackered. So in honour of our new guests, as part of tonight's SuggestiOn-Air, we demand to know your all time favourite album created by teenagers.
Some of the ATL team are so old they needed to consult dusty encyclopaedias to remember their youth, so let us know yours by shouting us here, on or on and we will give y'all a shout on the show tonight.
Tweesurgence - The Return Of Twee?
For a moment I thought Twee had died, lost in the fickle world of modern, trendy music. no longer turn up at every festival, ... well... are they even still together? And its been a while since we've heard the family friendly numbers of our old chums, .
But the thing is, I hadn't noticed the absence of twee in my life, until I clicked on a video for what could be the new face of the genre - . Have I had twee withdrawl?! How have I forgotten about that unique feeling only Twee Pop can give you - the simultaneous smile/vomit reaction as your body is confused by the extreme chipper tone and tackles with its need to revolt.
Guest Blog - ASIWYFA on tour with Them Crooked Vultures, part two
Seriously, we're still very excited about the fact that north coast noise boys went on tour with . It makes us giggle on public transport.
You may have already taken in part one of this tour diary, and now Tony has recovered sufficiently that with much psychiatric coaching, he can unlock these often bittersweet memories of his time on the road with some of rawk's most rawkingest legends, so we'll let him continue with the tale...
Body & Soul Festival - 2010 - Day 2
DAY 2...
Do you like dub? Do you like reggae? Do you like dub-reggae?
If so, then you're in for a treat, as the tent hosts a five hour reggae marathon. It's all accomplished stuff, and an awful lot of people get totally into it, energetically dancing and shaking themselves to the riddim. ATL declines to get involved, instead watching from a distance and soaking up some of the incredible sunshine.
Body & Soul Festival - 2010 - Day 1
Striking out on its own after establishing itself as one of the key attractions of the Electric Picnic festival, Body and Soul is a feast for the eyes and ears (and the nose, frankly). After succumbing to its charms last year, your ATL correspondent was back for more, armed with nothing more than a photographer and his own sweet mind. Prepare for a journey, man...
Ready For The Weekend, with Phil Lucas
Each week on the ATL Dance show, Paul Hamill invites an illustrious luminary from the electronica scene to tip us off with their three killer new tunes.
This week's essential tracks are chosen by Phil Lucas from Belfast club night Twitch.
ATL Dance is broadcast on Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio Ulster, Friday nights from midnight til 2am folks!
Deep Purple - Q & A
Legendary hard rockers Deep Purple will be blasting into Belfast's Custom House Square on the 23rd June, bringing their collection of heavy riffs to the party. ATL caught up with frontman Ian Gillian to get the lowdown on everything from football to the merits of flamenco music...
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Festival Flashbacks #3 - Major Lazer
In our occasional series building up to the festivals, ATL unearths another gem we're very much looking forward to hearing blasted out through some very large speakers in a field somewhere this summer...
ACT:
TRACK:
FESTIVAL:
CHANCES OF HEARING IT: Nailed on certainty. Put your nan's house on it.
After seeing the chaotic but utterly engaging live show at Electric Picnic last year, we anticipate high levels of indiscriminate raving this August at Custom House Square. The headliners are Soulwax, and they have some hysteria inducing belters, but this will be hard to top on the day. Labelled as "acid wash dancehall" (sorry, what?) it sounds like master producers Switch and Diplo have stuffed a blender full of ragga, rave and the percussion ensemble from the London Symphony Orchestra. Watch people get bent way out of shape.
Tegan And Sara - Q & A
The Canadian twins are in Belfast tomorrow to display their indie-pop ways, so ATL thought they'd catch up with one half of the duo, Tegan,Ìýto find out the nitty gritty of life as one half of the Quin sisters.
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Hello there Tegan and Sara, and how the Dickens are you right now?
I'm doing quite well thank you for asking. I'm relaxing in Vancouver for a few weeks, catching up on and playing my guitar.
Why the heck should we give a stuff about your band then ;)?
Well, our band is pretty awesome. The people who listen to us know this of course, ha. So for people that don't I suggest going to . We update our website pretty frequently with music, blogs, videos, photos etc. You can hear our music or watch music videos there too. We're 29. We've been in a band for 15 years. and his manager Elliot Roberts signed us in 1999. We've made 6 records, the last two with Chris Walla from as producer. And, we're funny.
Ready For The Weekend, with Graham Ginty
Each week on the ATL Dance show, Paul Hamill invites an illustrious luminary from the electronica scene to tip us off with their three killer new tunes.
This week's essential tracks are chosen by none other than Graham from Funkasaurus/When Pilots Eject.
ATL Dance is broadcast on Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio Ulster, Friday nights from midnight til 2am folks!
Guest Blog - ASIWYFA on tour with Them Crooked Vultures
As regular blog readers will know, when one of our esteemed bands spread their wings and do something even vaguely exciting overseas, we loan thema biro and an old school jotter to keepa note of their exploits. This time we have a doozy. Not only is it one of the finest live bands in Ireland providing your blog contents, they happen to be on tour at the request of Them Crooked Vultures, who boast of and , and John Paul Jones from flippin' !
Tony Wright from ASIWYFAÂ reveals all...
Chattering Classes #16 - Skibunny
Since partying was first invented in Northern Ireland, Mark and Tanya from Skibunny have been DJing, mixing, remixing and getting up to all sorts in the clubs of Belfast (and beyond). But three years ago the duo morphed into a 'proper' band and are now approaching the release of a debut album.
Of course it's all been building up to a quick online chat with our Rigsy...
Clown Parlour Vlog
Clown Parlour's Mike Mormecha is out in L.A. at the moment along with fellow Northern Irish musicians Aaron Shanley, Kiernan McMullan and Silhouette, who are all playing a number of showcases in the Californian sun.
So ATL thought we'd get Mike to report back on the events, the networking, the sun, the shows etc... You know, like a standard tour video diary. What dropped into our inbox the other day, however, gave us a little more insight into the mind of the mighty Clown Parlour...
 Flash plug-in required to view ATL video clips in the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Embedded Media Player |
HOLY GUACAMOLE. THAT JUST HAPPENED.
The biggest gig to ever happen in Northern Ireland, hosted by the biggest band we have ever produced - and it all took place at a cricket pavilion in North Down.
ATL was all over Ward Park on Saturday and here's what we've come up with in terms of coverage.
Our beautiful website is full of pictures, tweets and a review of every band who performed.
Ward Park 2010 - Snow Patrol
Where: Main Stage
When: 9:15pm
Describe in a tweet: Â Massive but small
There's a cartoon sketch ATL commissioned a while back that teases Snow Patrol about the countless number of 'BEST. GIG. EVER.'s they've done and the seemingly endless homecomings. It tickled Gary Lightbody, who admitted he got the joke. Headline appearances at The Empire, The Ulster Hall, The Odyssey and Ward Park (let alone similar shows in Scotland) have all came and gone. But there was something genuinely special about today - as we've constantly reminded ourselves, this is the single biggest show to take place in Northern Ireland. Ever.
Ward Park 2010 - Cashier No.9
When: 8.30pm
Where: Guinness Stage
Describe in a tweet: Carryduff boys bring the noise
The development of over the last few years has been phenomenal. From their humble beginnings playing bars as a two piece with a lap-top, to their current situation of being a fully fledged indie-rock monster, the band have consistently pushed themselves to greater heights, and tonight is no exception.
Ward Park 2010 - Lisa Hannigan
When: 7.30pm
Where: Main Stage
Describe in a tweet: Swoonsomely ramshackle
We are somewhat baffled by the decision to have an essentially folksy (kinda) act on second from top of this bill. is always best suited to the intimate, where subtlety and nuance can cut through. Opening with 'Pistachio', the set is trip through the Mercury nominated 'Sea Sew' album, including 'Ocean and a Rock', 'Sea Song' and 'I Don't Know'.
Ward Park 2010 - Cat Malojian
When: 7.00pm
Where: Guinness Stage
Describe in a tweet: Sheer charm defeats technical difficulties
The cheer that greets when they appear brings a smile to ATL's face. Amidst a galaxy of glittering stars, it's nice to know that homegrown heroes can be as appealing as the main draw. Almost instantly though, some ear bursting feedback threatens to bring things to a premature halt. The on-stage mix seems to be failing as guitars and vocals seem to come and go. Another howl of feedback, and we're away, a display of technical virtuosity that gets the assembled revelers on their feet and dancing, rather than clutching their ears in pain.
Ward Park 2010 - Band Of Horses
When: 6.00pm
Where: Main Stage
Describe in a tweet: Classic performance by a band that continue to rise...
kick things off with the first song from their debut album (aptly called, you guessed it,Ìý'The First Song'). Straight away the uplifting, feel good smack in the chest guitars thunder and, somehow simultaneously, shine through. 'Great Salt Lake', Ode to the 'LRC', 'Weed Party' and 'No Ones Gonna Love You' are a treat to those who have followed the band from previous albums. While current single, 'Compliments' is a highlight of the set.
Ward Park 2010 - Robyn G Shiels
When: 5.30pm
Where: Guinness Stage
Describe in a tweet: Belfast bard gives a masterclass in stripped-back beauty
With the last notes of General Fiasco still ringing in the air, and band take to the stage, with a beautiful fingerpicked guitar chiming over the heads of the audience. Appearing in a slightly trimmed version of his normal band - guitar, drums, piano and vocals - we are instantly treated to a set of melancholy tinged country with just the right amount of attitude that is the perfect response to General Fiasco's stadium-sized set.
Ward Park 2010 - General Fiasco
When: 4.45pm
Where: Main Stage
Describe in a tweet: Hitting the ground running
The sun is out, the crowd has been patiently waiting since before 3pm and the first notes are stuck in anger by a Northern Irish band. Awesome. 's tails are up and they're ready for this. The grounds aren't at capacity just yet, but this has to be the biggest crowd the mid-Ulster three piece have ever played to and they show no signs of being overawed by the occasion.
Ready For The Weekend, with Timmy Stewart
Each week on the ATL Dance show, Paul Hamill invites an illustrious luminary from the electronica scene to tip us off with their three killer new tunes.
This week's essential tracks are chosen by none other than Shine regular and one half of the , Mr. .
ATL Dance is broadcast on Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio Ulster, Friday nights from midnight til 2am folks!
Picture This - Paul Hamill in Detroit
ATL Dance presenter and one half of sought-after production duo , Paul Hamill, is just off the red eye from Psycatron were invited out to the annual Detroit Electronic Music Festival by none other than the legendary and here's how it all went down in a photoblog form...
Chattering Classes #15 - The Hovercraft Pirates
Yet another decent export from the North West, pop punk renegades have been up to all sorts recently - putting out a second album, picking up rave reviews in rock mags, organizing tours and generally making the most of a move to London.
Singer Paul Blue goes underground to chat with our Rigsy...
Please note: this interview is published exactly as it took place on MSN (other instant messenger services are available) - we're afraid Rigsy's grammar and spelling just really are that bad :-(
