117 Entries
Most nights, the old Belfast Met building sits alone and silent. Dominating Tower Street, many of its windows are boarded up, and its gates chained shut. Tonight, however, there is life behind the curtains. Red and blue neon blend into…
“Are you being serious.” “Mate, I actually swear we’ve no fivers.” Business as usual then for the McHughs basement. A common haunt for my person these days (I’ve seriously considered paying rent), the absences of the five-piece is all that…
This Saturday Sonja Sleator launches her latest EP, Violent Strawberry with a show in the Pavilion. Ahead of the show Benjamin Magee sat down with her to discuss her new release and the journey up to its release. How did you…
The word ‘dive’ doesn’t seem to do it justice. More ‘secretive’ or ‘where-Micheal-Corleone-would-hide-the-bodies” Tucked away at the bottom of University Avenue, the charm of Menagerie is its secrecy. Know for its support of underground artists, tonight the stage plays home…
According to the popular smartphone navigation application ‘Google Maps,’ it takes exactly 11 minutes to make your way from the top of Victoria Square’s dome to the doors of Limelight 2. In further proof that machines are not to be…
The chief strength of rock bands, since records were established, has always been their inclination towards the unrestrained. High flying guitar antics have long been the strategy of choice. So when hard rock three-piece Deerstalker opted to reign in their…
Folk music is one of the nations oldest traditions, and the fact that it retains much of its prestige is a testament to the artists who are producing it. The inclination towards DIY has long been a calling card for…
The sheer ambition of the night deserves a moment of note in itself. Eight acts. One stage. Four hours. Few beer. I’ve certainly had less intriguing invitations in my time. I made my way to The Pavilion amidst a smog…
Musician. Writer. Podcaster. Friend (?) of Nathan O’Regan. Take your pick from any number of the titles used to describe Mick McCullagh, but for the purpose of this exercise, we’ll refer to him with his nom-de-plume: Son Of The Hound….
GAA tops and polo shirts. Lynx Africa and Ted Baker. Double Vodkas and Guinness. Eighteen-year-old students and middle-aged couples. The meetings of minds tonight would warrant an episode of Blue Planet. The curious collection of punters tonight are united by…
There are few who can boast the same level of success, both critically and physically, as Rebekah Fitch. The singer songwriter’s debut EP was lauded by critics, her shows seldom have empty space, and her mix of alt-pop rhythm, aching…
For the second time this week, I find myself descending into the pits of McHughs bar. I wonder for a moment if the staff recognise me, only to find the same bartender from the previous night standing sentry at his…
Time will do as time does, it will pass. Output Belfast concludes for another year. The biggest music, art and technology conference in the north was another roaring success, but the real party took place once the sun began to…
“Lad no joke, we were actually just talking about you.” This is how I am greeted by Sam Foote of Ferals on the top floor of McHugh’s bar. As I begin to answer, a call emerges from Tartarus. Soundcheck is…
EP’s can come at you from different places. Maybe one gets slipped to you across a sodden bar table. Maybe you get sent one in the post. I became first aware of this particular tape by local four-piece…