On this week's radio show we featured both and , festivals taking place in Enniskillen and Newry this weekend. So who better to chat to than the only band playing both. Here's Chris Jackson to give us a guided tour of the good ship ....
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The first record I bought was REM's 'Automatic For The People'. There was a copy in my house for about a year that belonged to my uncle and I listened to it constantly when I was about 14. Eventually, he took it back so I saved up and bought it for myself. It's an amazing record and I still keep going back to it.
More recently - I just bought the latest album, 'Handwritten'.听I've only had it for a few days but it's great!
Hallo, good sir! Brian Coney here, stuck in the 1800s, having the craic. So, Glasgowbury has come and gone for another year and, as expected, with the dust (hangovers) having finally settled, the general consensus is that it was another stellar year at the annual Draperstown music festival on the hill. Alas, we don鈥檛 live in the past here at That New Band Smell 鈥 far from it, in fact! This week I take you on a brief journey, north and south, to shed light on some of our country鈥檚 best new emerging talent.
Mindburner is the moniker of proficient Belfast electronic musician, Alan Watkins. Bearing the indelible influence of the likes of Kraftwerk and - mostly notably - Gary Numan, his music betrays what he calls his "keen interest in music that shows intelligence". If you like the cunningly retro, synth-heavy voyages of the aforementioned, you will love the music of this criminally clandestine solo musician.
Alex Trimble from and Belfast producer David Holmes have both spoken to Across the Line about their involvement with the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on Friday night.
Alex, who sang the lead on a specially composed song 'Caliban's Dream' explained to ATL presenter Rigsy on this week's show how he was obliged to keep his role a secret until the very last minute. 听"Kev and Sam (from Two Door Cinema Club) knew from the beginning but no one else, none of my family none of my friends. I had to sign a load of contracts a load of papers saying I wasn鈥檛 gonna say anything."
Alex also explained how he dealt with singing to a TV audience of over one billion people. "It didn鈥檛 feel real - it was hard to kind of process. I didn鈥檛 get nervous at all before I went on because the whole thing just felt so surreal" the singer explained.
"Friday night was actually the fourth time I鈥檇 seen the ceremony because I鈥檇 been around the stadium all week doing rehearsals and stuff. That definitely made me feel more comfortable".
While ATL thoroughly recommends getting ones hands (and ones wellies) dirty with a visit to either or this weekend, our GOTW is something for those who like their music indoors. have been on our radar for quite a while, offering something a little different and getting us all very excited with a string of subtly epic indie-pop releases...all while waiting in the wings. Their time seems to be coming, with a deal signed, a tour booked and an official release on the way. But why read my words when you can read those of vocalist Alan Haslam, who's kindly volunteered to make something of an official invite....
'It's a single launch show for 'Le Mans', which is being released by Berlin-based label Humming Records. You can download the track for free at .
It's the first track from a brand new EP, to be released in September, and our only NI show ahead of a full European tour in Oct/Nov/Dec. Doors are at 19.30, and to say thanks for coming you'll get a little pressie at the door if you get down early enough!'
PRESSIES!!!!
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Yes Cadets play The Menagerie, Belfast this Thursday. They also play Whelans, Dublin on Wednesday.
Adebisi Shank, Toby Kaar Bunatee Bar,听Belfast Thursday July 26th
Given that tonight's gig in the Bunatee Bar is first and foremost an opportunity for Dublin rockers to test out new material as part of their "New Tunez" tour, it would be natural to assume that they might be a tad rusty on the live circuit these days - particularly as their most recent round of serious touring came towards the end of last year. This crowd aren't buying into that notion for a second though, as a quick look around the Bunatee reveals a loyal fan base that are expecting to be entertained. And entertained they are, first of all by Cork native . Setting up behind a laptop and a few samplers, the audience might be expecting a relatively tame head-bobbing DJ set- but what makes Kaar's performance stand out tonight is that it's just that - a performance.
NI blues-tinged rockers will play a show in Derry on September 1st as well as a听headline gig the same night in the Menagerie Bar, Belfast.
The Lurgan two-piece have been recording the follow up to their debut LP 'Good Suits and Fightin' Boots' and will be supported on the night in Belfast by plus more to be confirmed.
The Derry show will be part of a in the Craft Village in the city, as part of the . The STA showcase will be second of two taking place over that weekend with other acts including and Rainy Boy Sleep.
The Bonnevilles new album is entitled 'Folk Art and the Death of Electric Jesus' and will be available in the Autumn. They will also playin Hillsborough on August 18th.
If you've listened to Across the Line at all in the last few years, there's a fair chance you've heard a track by Belfast's . Well, their time has finally arrived with the eventual release of a debut album later this year. First taster 'Diamonds for Eyes' (check it out ) is a belter - it bodes well! Here's Pete from the band to talk us through the making of....Ed Zealous!
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The first record I bought was. But the last record I bought was the 鈥楧rive鈥 Soundtrack - great movie, & in my opinion!
The one gig that made me want to be in a band was - they opened their set with a drum solo by ?uestlove! The whole group were outstanding live performers & I think I was lucky to catch them at their pinnacle when Leonard "Hub" Hubbard played bass & Rahzel was still beatboxing for them.
L'Derry noise merchants have been confirmed as support for Brazilian noise legends in the Limelight next month.
The four piece, who were one of many standout performances from last weekend's Glasgowbury festival, have been chosen by the metal stalwarts for the gig on August 12th.
The band play the Cellar Bar in Draperstown this weekend (28th), Stendhal Festival in Limavady on August 18th and the Playhouse Theatre, Portrush on August 31st.
Duke Special has curated fort he newly opened MAC theatre in the Belfast's Cathedral Quarter.
The Belfast performer has hand-picked music, comedy and cultural happenings all under the title of 'In the court of.. Duke Special' and will run from September 4th until 9th. Acts confirmed include The Futureheads,, The Blockheads and an .
The shows will culminate in a gig from Duke Special '...and Friends' on September 9th.
The 'In the Court of...' series will now run as a yearly concern with other luminaries from music and the arts programming their own personal wishlist of concerts and events.
Duke Special's new album 'Oh Pioneer' was released in June. He plays Belsonic, at Custom House Square, Belfast on August 16th alongside Emeli Sande and Foy Vance with a show the evening before in the Cellar Bar, Draperstown.
are our gig(s) of the week - they've both an all ages and over 18s show this weekend. Having almost ran out of great things to say about the band given the awesome-ness of their second album, Rigsy thought it a good idea to have the lads to do his work for him! So here's Leaky and Owen's video invite with all the support info...
Apologies for the appalling camerwork. Rigsy did it ;)
singer Gary Lightbody has revealed that he will have a minor role in the upcoming series of the HBO hit television show .
The fantasty drama series, based on the books by George R R Martin has been filmed largely in Northern Ireland.
The Bangor singer posted a photo of himself online last night dressed in full costume, saying "So I did my scene this morning for Game Of Thrones, I looked like this. Can't say much - just it's no pivotal role. Fun".
ATL sincerely hopes that Dr. Lightbody is House Stark.
Derry's CultureTECH Festival have revealed that one up-and-coming act will have a chance to support Duke Special at his recently-announced free gig.
In partnership with Breaking Tunes, one or more acts will support Duke Special at his outdoor show on September 1st. At least three more acts will be invited to play a showcase as part of the festival, with CultureTECH covering travel and accomodation costs.
Festival organiser, Mark Nagurski, explained: 鈥淪ince we announced the gig we have been inundated with bands from across Ireland keen to get on the bill. One of the reasons we're organising the festival in the first place is to showcase great talent so we'd love to give a young band or act a chance to support such a successful Northern Irish artist."
To apply, bands who are registered with Breaking Tunes can apply directly. Those that aren't registered can sign-up for free at . Closing date for entries is August 6th.
CultureTECH takes place August 29th to September 1st. For more information, visit
听are heading back to Belfast this November to perform two shows on the same day.
The band will play both a 14+ show and an 18+ show in Mandela Hall on Friday 30th November. Special guests for both shows are yet to be announced.
ATL is hearing rumours of new material already being recorded with a release in the pipeline. The band's label Richter Collective announced at the start of the summer that they were calling time on the imprint, leaving the band currently without a home.
It's just gone five and may be winning this festival. Old songs and new are decorated with bubbly synths and a healthy gathering are lapping it up. Three minutes of 'Get Back' encapsulate what we love about our annual trip to Eagle's Rock - fun, engaging, unique. Subtly brilliant. !
They've been brave. The site is fairly different. For a start, the second 'G Sessions' stage is back under cover - an impressive circus tent. The main stage has moved a little, with the 'Spurs of Rock' and 'Eagle's Rock' bolting us in. A new stage, 'The Generator' lives above a cocktail bar and there's more for families, a food village in the middle, increased dance music and comedy and a proper coup in the form of our legendary headliners. More on that later.
The Captains Club aka Paddy Baird of听 drumming fame has released his remix of 's latest single 'Diamonds For Eyes'. Check it out via the soundcloud player below and.听
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If you haven't heard the original single you can also pick up a free copy over at .听
Two Door Cinema Club will be debuted their brand new single 'Sleep Alone' tonight on 主播大秀 Radio 1 last night. You can then pick up a free download of the single for the next few hours over at their website .
The Bangor / Donaghadee trio will release 'Sleep Alone' digitally on July 21st and as a 7'' single on September 3rd alongside thier new album 'Beacon', the follow up to their 2010 debut 'Tourist History'. The band headline a night of the Belsonic festival series on August 23rd at Custom House Square, Belfast.
Time for another 'The Making Of' as we find out what makes our favourite bands tick. Ahead of his band's new EP coming out next month, it's over to Dave from kings of the hefty riff - !
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The first record I bought, or remember buying, was Chef from South Park - 'Chocolate Salty Balls'. I'm not really sure what that says about me, but there you go!
The last record I bought was Easy Meat by - we caught them in Edinburgh while we were on tour. I'd never actually seen them before and they blew my mind. Bit late off the mark with that one...
Given it's our biggest day out of the year and something we've been looking forward to since, well since last summer..... it's very hard to see past for this week's GOTW. So we didn't!
This Saturday then, it's back up the mountain for a day in the company of a few thousand like minded souls and the most varied and curious collection of bands Glasgowbury has had on offer in it's twelve year history.
But who to speak to? Well, we put out a facebook message to a random selection of bands and comedians on the bill asking 'in a sentence, why are you looking forward to Saturday?' Here's what they said:
Carrie Davenport听returns to treat our ears to some of the best in metal, thrash and hardcore currently avalible for your listening pleasure.
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Hailing from Kildare dead label are a three piece who have achieved a great deal in very little time playing! Signed to rising records last year their debut album sense of slaughter was released this February and they supported machine head in belfast at the end of may so definitely one to keep an eye (or ear) on.
BATS, The Rupture Dogs Auntie Annies, Belfast Saturday July 12th
Since the release of their album 鈥楻ed in Tooth & Claw鈥 back in August 2009 听have been tirelessly promoting their frantic mix of science inspired progressive hardcore post punk to anyone willing to listen. Tonight sees Bats delivering the varying and energetic sound of their back catalogue as well as treating us to a preview of some of their new material from forthcoming album The Sleep of Reason due for release in September.
'', the story of Belfast's punk Godfather Terri Hooley opening a record shop during the Troubles in the 1970's, is set to be released in Irish and UK cinemas towards the end of the year.
This week we go under the bonnet of, ahead of the release of their new single 'The Worrier' and second album 'Fossils'. Responsible for 'Burning Heart', one of the finest, dreamiest and down-right lovable tracks ATL has played in recent times, this is a band on the verge of getting everything they deserve. Over to frontman Rory Nellis to find out what makes him (and his band) tick!
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The first record I bought was The Muppet Show album. was and always will be a great tune. The last one was 'Love At The Bottom Of The Sea' by . Love their work!
As for the people who inspired me to make music in the first place - it has to be .
Good day to you, keen explorers of sound. It's Phily Taggart here, armed with a bodacious bunch of bands for your consideration this week. Ok, so enough with the pleasantries, we all know what we have to do, get down and intimate with the green horns. Welcome to 'That New Band Smell'.
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Having been classically trained and a penchant for Swedish electro pop, the question is, how are you going to not listen to 18 year old songwriter Conor Brown?
has been announced as support for 's London show at O2 Academy Brixton.
The ambient electronic project (AKA Kildare's Jack Colleran) will play with the reformed post-hardcore band on August 28th. The show is the band's only UK date aside from the Reading & Leeds Festival the previous weekend, August 24th - 26th.
Difficult one this, trying to put across the sheer volume of gigs taking place across Derry/Londonderry this weekend without breaking the internet. , in its first year, takes over pretty much every venue of note in the entire city for three days and nights. In a nutshell - this festival is your average ATL playlist come to life.
Forcing Kevin from Link Fest to be concise, he said this:
'We are only small but have some of the best talent about and to have a chance to hear all these bands over one weekend is unbelievable. Live music rocks and can't be beaten for a night out!'
All we can do is recommend where, if you click on photos, you'll get the full list of bands and venues. As for standouts? Little Bear, , , , , I mean, we could go on...
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Link Fest takes place Friday 13th July to Sunday 15th July across various Derry venues. Watch the video for Best Boy Grip's 'Melancholy' below:
, and are among acts to play this year's Belfast Festival.
Van Morrison will play two shows as part of the festival: 'An Evening With Van Morrison' on October 20th and an intimate 'Supper Club' on November 2nd. Both shows take place at the Europa Hotel.听
Van听is expected to preview tracks from his new album 鈥楤orn to Sing: No Plan B鈥.
Grammy-award winning South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, currently performing as part of ,听play Waterfront Hall, Belfast听on October 21st.
Buena Vista Social Club are also set to perform at the Ulster Hall, Belfast听on October 30th.
The Belfast Festival at Queens celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Full line-up details can be found at .
will play Belfast's Mandela Hall on Sunday 2nd December. He will peform the night before at the Nerve Centre in Derry, and on December 3rd in Vicar Street in Dublin.
The date comes as part of UK tour in support of his current album 'Standing at the Sky鈥檚 Edge', released back in May of this year.
The Sheffield based singer was formerly a member of the band the Longpigs and famously had a spell in fellow steeltown chart-toppers Pulp.
Hawley has also collaborated with Shirley Bassie, Elbow and Arctic Monkeys.
Richard is performing a set at the this summer in Stradbally, Co. Laois.
The 听and will play as part of Derry's CultureTECH festival in August.
The Japstars will play on Friday August 31st, supported by , Psycatron, , Fractious and John Craig.
Duke Special will play a free public gig in Guildhall Square on Saturday 1st September.听 Other free live music events are planned throughout the festival.
The CultureTECH festival is being billed as a four-day celebration of digital technology, media and music.听 Visit the official website .
The concept has blossomed over the past few months, playing host to several fairly high profile acts for the enjoyment of both the masses assembled in theand those watching online. This instalment was no exception.
may be more familiar with the upper reaches of a bill, but his opening performance ensured the night started off on the right foot. 鈥楽tep Outside in the Morning Light' (even 12 years on) retains its youthful naivet茅, Kitt plugging away on a battered Fender Jaguar and creating an intimate ambience within minutes. Closer 鈥榊ou Know What I Want to Know鈥 drags a little but on the whole it's a solid performance.
Spare a thought for . It's hard enough to make a first impression but to only have time for two songs makes the job a hell of a lot harder, and there's just not enough time to differentiate from the hordes of other musicians doing exactly the same thing.
The Stone Roses Phoenix Park, Dublin Thursday July 5th, 2012
After 16 long years in the making, one of the most unforeseeable and widely sought musical reunions is firmly underway.
Breaking all records to become the fastest-selling concerts in UK history, Madchester pioneers are together at last to offer a long-awaited dose of nostalgia to their elated legions of fans. Now, a mere four days after their rapturous three-date homecoming stint at Manchester鈥檚 Heaton Park, the thirteenth date of the band鈥檚 headline-stealing reunion tour comes to Phoenix Park, Dublin.
No apologies for further bigging up the guys at Volume Control with our GOTW - once again they're pushing the boat out for people of all ages. This time it's a full day of live music and workshops over two stages at The Oh Yeah Centre in Belfast.
Callum from Volume Control can tell us more:
"This gig is going to be incredible for the all ages crowd. With a music industry advice session, a songwriting workshop with 's Stu Magowan, a drum workshop with 's Alan Lynn, jammin' sessions with our house band, as well as two stages with eleven of Northern Ireland's most exciting upcoming bands, it's surely one of the most exciting prospects this year for both new bands and under-age gig goers."
What a wonderfully promising, albeit quite long sentence that was.
On the bill - one
With a unique, minimal sound, Bridie is one of the most captivating singers in the country. Not bad, given she's only 16.
'I was born in Belfast so it's nice to get down and play, plus the Oh Yeah Centre is really damn cool, in the nice way. Not that they have bad radiators! PREPARE TO BE SOAKED! P.S - Belfast people are 'da bomb' and have the best accents ever, ''lets go over thar鈥.''
Young people of Belfast - in the past there was nothing like this. Now there is. Lap it up!
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takes place this Friday (July 6th) at The Oh Yeah Centre, Belfast. It features More Than Conquerors, Soak, The Emerald Armada and others performing over two stages and runs from 3pm-10pm.
听and have been added to the Oxjam tent at Electric Picnic 2012.
Both bands complete the听Sunday the 2nd of听September line-up, which was recently-announced is curated by Pure Savage.
As part of a three day 鈥極xjam Gigwam鈥 organised by Oxfam, the Friday and Saturday will be curated by Dublin's King Kong Club and Rubysessions who have yet to unveil their line-ups.
Irish rock legends will play their 'On The Turn' LP in full at a concert in Dublin this Christmas.
The show will take place on December 8th in the Acadamy venue. The Kilkenny band, fronted by Cormac Battle were active in the early to late 1990's and released several well-received singles and albums on the Mercury label.
After they split in 1998, Battle went on to form Wilt and then became a specialist music broadcaster at RTE's 2FM.
The band will also play dates in Cork and Castlebar this Autumn.
have announced that they have joined Limerick-based Out On A Limb Records. This follows the recent news that former label Richter Collective is set to close.
The听band release their second album 'Take Courage' on LP and download on August 24th. The album was recorded in June 2012 with U.S. producer (and ex-These Arms Are Snakes member) Chris Common, who has听previously worked with听Minus The Bear, Pelican and Mastodon.
'Take Courage' is officially launched on Saturday August 25th in Whelans, Dublin with support from Elk and Guilty Optics. The launch will be followed by dates around Ireland in September.
The band's debut album 'Minutes' can be streamed .
For this week's 'The Making Of鈥' we chat to long-haired legend Cormac Neeson, singer with Co. Down rock behemoths . Check out the band's new single 'Rise', released this week, for a little orchestral goodness.
The Answer play a special show at The Empire tomorrow night (Thursday).
The first record I bought was 鈥淪lippery When Wet鈥 by . You may laugh, but the riff that opens this album planted some distinctly rock'n'roll seeds that have held me in good stead to this day!
The last record I bought was 鈥淥nly Revolutions鈥 by . I鈥檓 ashamed to say I only got round to picking it up recently but what an album! From the opening tune 鈥淭he Captain鈥 onwards - you just know these boys mean business and I totally get why they're so massive these days. They deserve it.
Howdy, Brian Coney here (stuck in some strange dimension where people greet each other with 鈥淗owdy鈥). Let it be known: at That New Band Smell we are all about diversity and mixing things 鈥 i.e. genres 鈥 up. Indeed, while the idea of following up the most twee of indie-pop with the downright blackest of Scandinavian metal seems perfectly natural on this segment, this week I鈥檝e chosen three up-and-coming bands that are different听yet totally accessible in equal measure.
Much in the vein of another young local band I featured on That New Band Smell recently, The Late Two鈥檚, Derry-based three-piece Lost Avenue play a distinctly rollicking brand of no-frills punk/garage rock. Listing amongst their influences the likes of Libertines, Babyshambles and Blur, the band will come good on the promise they currently show if they can take the unbridled energy contained on 鈥楨thanol鈥 whilst simultaneously aiming to develop a part of their own sound that makes them stand out.
announced their stage times for this years festival听via the latest issue of听. The Sperrin Mountain music festival returns on Saturday the 21st of July with legendary NI rockers Therapy? headlining the main stage.
The听only stage left to be听announced听is听the 'Generator Stage' which will focus on new electronic artists.
SMALL BUT MASSIVE STAGE (Main Stage) 11.00 - 12.00听听听听听听听 Therapy? 9.30 - 10.30听听听听听听听听听听The Japanese Popstars 8.10 - 8.50听听听听听听听听听听听 听Fighting With Wire 7.05 - 7.40听听听听听听听听听听听听 Axis Of 6.05 - 6.35听听听听听听听听听听听听 Pocket Billiards 5.15 - 5.45听听听听听听听听听听听听 Silhouette 4.25 - 4.55听听听听听听听听听听听听 Katie & The Carnival 3.35 - 4.05听听听听听听听听听听听听 Intermission 2.45 - 3.15听听听听听听听听听听听听 Master & Dog 1.55 - 2.25听听听听听听听听听听听听 Mojo Gogo 1.05 - 1.35听听听听听听听听听听听听 Pretty Child Backfire 12.15 - 12.45听听听听听听听 Tied To Machines
The ATL team write about anything and everything relevant to the Northern Irish music scene, the show itself and possibly some random stuff besides, and invite you to comment, discuss and participate.
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