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Despite The Bonnevilles pulling out, we were more than happy to keep , a two day, three gig celebration of americana and alt-country in the Maiden City as our GOTW.

Then this morning we discovered the festival would incorporate the first ever Derry show by ! What's that all about? One of the finest bands in the country only making their debut in the city now?!

How very odd. Long overdue is an understatement!

Explains Cazi LK -

'Stripes and Stars looks like a cracking festival and we're delighted to be involved in it. And it's about bloody time we made it up to Derry. We've had a few plans that fell through in the past, so this is our first show there. We want to make sure it's a memorable one for us and everyone there. Can't wait!'

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So this Monday we're heading over the Glenshane to broadcast from Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio Foyle, with the dance show coming live from The Nerve Centre on Friday night. We're celebrating the awesome - Northern Ireland's annual festival of electronica - just like we do every year.

We love our trips to Derry, catching up with the lunatics who make up it's vibrant clubbing fraternity. Lunatics like Decky, Curny and Gallo, better known as .

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This weekÌýI unleashedÌýmy four foot machete and cut through the deep thicket of the new music jungle, searching for three precious gem stones to present back to the Across The Line Royal Family. This week in 'That New Band Smell’ we feature:

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Strabane super group ditch the indie in search of the big club sound.

Quirky disco pop that wouldn’t sound out of place in Studio 54. Tiernanniesaur release their debut album through Popical Island on July 29th.

The Salt Flats are Mark Gordon, Ewan Gordon (no relation), Cara Cowan and Katie Richardson (carnival not included). This debut self titled EP is a shimmering 4 track of interpretations of traditional folk covers. The Flats, as they will come to be abbreviated to, don’t plan to gig until autumn but until then you can enjoy their music on

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If your in a new band and would like to get your material featured on 'That New Band Smell' then upload your music to the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Introducing Uploader.

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They're generally regarded as the finest live act in the country and this week are playing Northern Irish shows outside of Belfast - an absolute shoe-in for GOTW(s).

In my humble opinion only can touch them when it comes to performance - when they take to the stage you're pretty much guaranteed to be swept along and utterly mesmerised for the duration, whether you're into 'that sort of thing' or not.

³Û³Ü±è… - the saga continues. A second album that somehow outdoes the first and a band in the form of their lives. Their first gig in Omagh town and the latest in a string of legendary shows up in Derry.

I could go on all night, but lets hand over to Tony Wright:

'Our first Omagh date! We can't wait to get to terra firma unexplored (unexplored by us at least!) and then a long overdue return to Derry, home county to Johnny and I. We've always had an extremely amazing time in Derry so we are frothing at the facehole to get back! Omagh is gonna be our first proper NI gig since the album launch so needless to say we can't wait...C'MON FRIDAY! LETS DO THIS!'

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ASIWYFA playÌýÌýin Omagh this Friday and , Derry on Saturday.

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Perennial stalwarts of the Northern Irish scene release their debut album ‘To the Death of Fun’ today. The Carryduff/Belfast quintet have been a bit of a slow burner on the local circuit, building a substancialÌýfollowing and reputation over the past 10 years. This year they headline, arguably, the country’s finest festival, Glasgowbury as well as releasing their debut LPÌýon the well respected indie label Bella Union.

This organic transformation has got us thinking about our favourite slow burning bands. We want to hear from you. Who is your favourite slow burning act? What band has taken longer than normal to register on your radar? Who have the critics and public panned/ignored for years just to turn it all around with one release?

Let us know your pick by shouting us here, on the or and we will give y'all a shout on the show tonight...

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This week I bare the fruits of my glorious labour throughout the week. I've beenÌýrutting through the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Introducing Uploader, Facebook,Ìýblogs and various binsÌýto bring you the freshest smelling acts that Ireland has to offer. Here they are

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Non instrument playing, composer of jacked up dance and chilled out beats.

Infectious falsetto féted acoustic pop painted on a canvas of synthetic beats.

Emo pop punk from Dublin.

East Island City are Greg, Steve, Stephen, Andrew and Matt one of the newest additions to Dublin's thriving emo scene. They have carved out an impressively propulsive trajectory within the last two years, landing themselves some lip smacking support slots with the likes of Framing Hanley, My Passion and Twin Atlantic. Like their Dublin contemporaries and ATL buddies Jody Has A Hitlist, the guys have an impressive online presence with a very young but scarily enthusiastic fanbase. Their debut EP is available now for free download from their Music Glue website - https://www.musicglue.com/eastislandcity

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If your in a new band and would like to get your material featured on 'That New Band Smell' then upload your music to the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Introducing Uploader.

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Always nice to head out of Belfast for our GOTW, even nicer to hit the north coast. Like a weird country within a country, that neck of the woods has given us a whole mess of noisy bands who've dominated our playlists in recent times - , et all. Add to that list - recent breakthroughs and further proof there's definitely something in the water. And every scene needs it's hub - which is were the legendary Retro Bar comes in to play.

The guys from Event Horses help us understand the signifigance of the intimateÌýnorth coastÌývenue. 'Portrush is loud! Any given Christmas the "Wiggers brawl" in the Retro is the best way to sum up the year in the north coast. It is the hub for heavy music in Northern Ireland and the only place to guarantee it at its best!'

Event Horses play at The Retro in Portrush withÌýÌýand this Saturday (18th June).

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have returned! Jarvis Cocker and co. played their first reformed gig at Primavera Festival in Spain a few weeks ago (where our Amy seen them) and they returned to home soil during the weekend at the Isle of White Festival. They'll be in Ireland to headline the later this year, and we're getting out nostalgia socks on for a greatest hits set of goodness (Common People, Disco 2000, Help the Aged, Do You Remember The First time?). It's got us thinking of our favourite 'Brit Pop' classics in the office. Bit of Blur, Oasis, Supergrass, Elastica?

So,Ìýwhat's your favourite Britpop track! We'll read out as many of your picks as we can and play clips of the more radio friendly suggestions. Hit us up on / or you can text 81771 after 8pm tonight. Here's team ATL's picks...

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RigsyÌý - ATL presenter

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I've been wrecking my brain-box the last hour, arguing with myself and listening to five second snippets of songs like an irritating drunk at a house party. Britpop was TOTALLY my thing - I was utterly consumed by it at school, getting excited about ludicrous bands like Kula Shaker and Northern Uproar while obsessing over which Oasis B-side was their best ever track. Are The Chemical Brothers and Spiritualized britpop? Kind of. Then again, how could I not say Blur? In the end (and before my head actually melted) I've taken the opportunity to big up 'I Should Coco', an absolute gem of a treat of an album - pop punk at it's absolute finest and a definitive record of the era. But which track?! Arrrrrrrrrrrgh!!!!

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We're buzzing our brains out for - during an interview set to be broadcast on Monday night, Kev Baird from the band couldn't help but tell us that his band are on the bill for Vital this summer!Ìý

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And despite the fact Two Door will play high up the bill at the likes of Reading, Oxegen and Glastonbury (as well as headlining a major festival in Manchester) Kev explained how them playing Vital (alongside The Script on August 23rd) is still a major standout for the lads.

'Eminem playing in the park where we used to go and meet the Glenola girls after school is crazy enough, but for us to be playing Ward Park....' - Kev struggled for words.

'It's also a big highlight for my family - my brother played the venue a few years ago (with Kowalski, supporting Snow Patrol), so to have two bands from the family play Ward Park is quite an achievement'

Kev also explained the bands initial nervousness at playing - 'We didn't want it to just be the novelty factor of playing in Bangor, I guess we're an international band now so it had to be done right regardless of where the gig is.

'But it's really exciting - especially as we've not played Northern Ireland this year. Also, we're really happy with the bill. ÌýThe last time we played in Bangor was in a Church Hall about five years ago and it was awful. This is a chance for us to show everyone how far we've came.'

As if we needed any proof, what with the band playing enourmo venues around the world!

Also in the interview - Kev talks about selling out Brixton Academy and the best and worse gigs they've done in the last year (the worst was in Belfast!). ÌýJeÌýalso revealed his favourite Northern Irish bands (everyone from Mojo Fury to ) and namechecked the likes of 'Sleep Alone' and 'Handshake' - new songs the band have written for the second album. Tune in on Monday night to hear the whole thing!

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Two Door Cinema Club will join The Script for day one of Vital 2011 on August 23rd.

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One of our fave bands in recent years are (like an incresing number) from the north coast. are on the road once again and just sent in a wee update just in case their mammies were getting worried.

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Just keeping everyone updated. We are in the midst of our first European tour, its been going really well. Unknown bands are definitely treated a lot better than they are in the UK. Not that we don't like the UK, its just a welcome change of scenery.

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The first venue we played was called JC De Kilnker (Aarchot) and it had a skate park out the front of it, which we made the utmost use out of. Asides from that the gig's have been going really well and we're looking into booking the next tour already.

Just before we made our way across the channel tunnel, we popped into the Kerrang offices to do a quick video podcast. Everyone was very nice and we managed to get in and out quickly without paying for extortionate parking (50p for 5 minutes). In other news the final confirmations for have been made this week and we're very pleased to say that we will be playing it again this year. Last year was one of the best gig's we've ever done so we're extremely excited, it also marks the last gig we have before we go into record our Album. So stay tuned.

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Welcome to the first of the weekly blogs to accompany our 'That New Band Smell' feature on the Across The Line radio show on Monday nights on Radio Ulster. 'That New Band Smell' is the efforts of a week long foraging session where no stone is left unturned in the pursuit of the Holy Grail aka. the best new bands Ireland has to offer. This week, for your consideration we have three acts so fresh you could brush your teeth with them. They are:

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Earnest, poetic, nature inspired lo-fi acoustic beauty from Belfast. Joshua launches his Seeds EP on July 13th at Whites Tavern in Belfast.

Pun filled party tunes from LimRAWK City. We Come in Pieces have a split release and tour in the pipeline with ATL fav's Axis Of later on in the year.

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Zeitgeisty bouncy dream pop. End The Noise are Jamie Chambers and Stevie Martin (from Rainy Boy Sleep fame), a duo split between Leeds and Derry. Our featured track on this weeks 'New Band Smell' is the 'The Hat Song' which comes from 'The Cage EP', released at the tail end of 2010 as part of a university project. The intelligently arranged EP pinballs between well structured fuzzy instrumental passages and heart on sleeve pop songs sung with the inimitable vocal glide of Stevie Martin. The EP is available from bandcamp for whatever you deem fit to pat for it, ala Radiohead. It simply is a must listen!

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If your in a new band and would like to get your material featured on 'That New Band Smell' then upload your music to the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Introducing Uploader.

Great triple bill in two venues - what's not to like? First up there's promising newbiesÌýÌý, followed by - a band we hark on about so much you'd assume we're probably sick of them by now (we aren't).Ìý

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What's notable about tomorrow's Lafaro gig is that it'll be their first without legendary bassist Herb Magee (pictured), who quit after what's now regarded as one of the band's best ever shows - at last weekend. While no one will ever properly replace Herb, it's pretty exciting that Cahir O'Doherty, lead singer with Fighting with Wire, is going to give it a crack for these two shows.

And then there's . If you assume they're past their best at this stage, allow us to respecively disagree. The A-Z series, 26 singles released in a year () includes some of the best tracks they've ever recorded. If you think you know this band based on previous glories - think again. Or better still, hit up the Playhouse in Portrush or The Empire Belfast tomorrow night and you'll (hopefully) see exactly what I mean.Ìý

Ash, Lafaro and The Plea play Ìýtonight (Tues 7) and tomorrow (Wed 8).

With , , , and on their way to the south and The Sirocco MCs making a return to our stereos, seems only fair we celebrate the finest rap anthems!

So, nice and simple this week - just let us know your favourite hip hop track! We'll read out as many of your picks as we can and play clips of the more radio friendly suggestions. Hit us up on / or you can text 81771 after 8pm tonight. Here's team ATL's picks...

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I'm in my element here, what with Jay Z being pretty much my favourite artiste on the planet. Any number of tracks I could go for, but this early effort, featuring a pre-fame Pharell Williams, is vintage Jigga. Slick production, big chorus, witty lyrics and an exquisite flow - just what you'd expect from the greatest rapper who's ever lived.

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Bit of a hip-hop vibe about the place just at the moment, what with and confirmed for day two of last week. Local pranksters Olympic Lifts just recorded their third album and I can't get enough of , a Californian MC who gets on like MIA's bratty little sister. Then there's shows by the (admittedly hit and miss) and to look forward to south of the boarder this summer (Tripod, July 1st and Button Factory, August 24th).

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Anyway, prolonged spells of hip hop always lead to thoughts of Northern Ireland's own beats n' ryhme maestros - , a daft trio from Derry City. Northern Irish hip hop shouldn't really work, but there was something brilliantly unhinged about EMCEEODEE, M3 and The Assassin (and it wasn't just their names). Live shows were gloriously silly affairs, proper old-skool hip hop performance almost always concluding with EMCEEODEE semi-naked - the removal of clothes in a public place seemingly very acceptable up in the Maiden City.

Thing was though, beneath the messy shows and vaguely ludicrous notion of a Derry hip hop trio in the first place, were a whole albums worth of cracker tunes. Debut album 'The Basics' is well worth tracking down - chocked full of brilliantly produced samples, sparkling ideas and battling MCs with an impressive flow. The album came out five years ago with the band knocking it on the head shortly after, but .

Life was so much simpler back in 2005....

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UPDATE - we've been recommended the following - happening in Belfast this Thursday!