NI Chart

CASHIER NO.9

It's already an exciting year for Cashier No.9, after recently being announced as the 2011 Glasgowbury headliners they also look foward to releasing their debut album ‘To The Death Of Fun’ on Monday 20th June.

Incase you thought you had to wait that long to hear any of their new material, do not fret because they have released a new video to entertain us until then.

Of course we have a link to it below... we are just as excited as you are!

VISITING HOURS OF A TRAVELLING CIRCUS

MojoFury have featured many times in our chart and its always exciting to see local bands grow and develop their own distinctive sound. So you can understand why we're excited when we heard about their new album being released this weekend.

'Visiting Hours of A Travelling Circus' will be introduced to the Belfast scene on Saturday May 14th when they take to the stage of the Spring and Airbrake with the support of MaybeSheWill so don't forget to buy those precious tickets because it will be moeny welll spent.

But that's not the only exciting thing we have to tell you. If you're eager to catch the boys before the show get yourself down to HMV at 1pm for an exclusive FREE in-store acoustic gig.

Definitely a day of good music that should not be missed

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ASIWYFA ENTER IRISH ALBUM CHART

After the successful night of ASIWYFA's album launch 'Gangs' the hype has only been continued after the album entered the Irish Album Charts at Number 28.

It doesn't stop the boys from working hard, gracing the world with their new tunes as they embrace on yet another tour. We've a feeling that there will be a lot more noise in the future still to come from ASIWYFA.

If you haven't got your copy of Gangs already, its about time you did.

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Mojo Fury have been working extra hard this week with the release of their second video which features a cover of Alloy Mental's song 'Alloy Mental'. The song was recorded as part of the NI Chart Presents We've Got It Covered CD which is available to buy for a very reasonable £7.50 (including postage) from our downloads page HERE.

Sad news was announced today (7/5/2011) that the legendary Thin Lizzy guitarist has died at the age of 58. Here his is in his heyday.

Coleraine based indie band The Good Fight have decided to hang up their guitars and call it a day. The band have been going for over four years and were the winners of the 2008 ATL School Of Rock. They went out in style though with their last ever gig, which took place on the 27th Jan at the Mandela Hall. We're sad to see them go and hope they return soon with other projects.

North Coast rockers Axis Of were invited by the BBC and Rock Sound Magazine to record a very special session at the Maida Vale studio in London. The legendary building has hosted numerous legendary artists such as David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix!

The band play the Retro Bar, Portrush on Friday the 21st Jan and Global Dance Studios, Belfast on Saturday the 22nd Jan, before heading off on their latest UK tour.

The shortlist for this years Digital Socket Awards have been announced and we are happy to see a few NI bands being nominated. Two Door Cinema Club, Not Squares and ASIWYFA have be put forward for the Best Pop Act, Best Electro + Hip-Hop Act and Best EP respectively.

Yes, it's another great video from Bangor boys Two Door Cinema Club! This time it's for their latest single 'What You Know' which is to be released on the 7th Feb, and is directed by acclaimed filmmakers CANADA.

One of Belfast's most popular local music nights has announced that it will invite one of 2010's top Northern Irish bands to bring in the New Year. Not Squares will play the Animal Disco club night, (which is on every Friday evening in Auntie Annie's Bar) and end their already fantastic year on a high. The band have recently released their debut album to rave reviews so get down to Annies on New Years Eve to see what could be one of the bands of 2011.

Belfast's premier folk rock act The Lowly Knights have released a very special cover version for Christmas...and you can get it for FREE here at NI Chart! During the K9 sessions the band recorded Two Door Cinema Club's 'Something Good Can Work' and is available in our downloads section.

The band play St. Colums Hall, Derry on the 28th Dec and The Playhouse, Portrush on the 29th Dec.

Portrush's most popular annual local music event is coming to Belfast! Many of the gigs at 'The Brawl' (which supports local charities) have been the stuff of legends and we expect this year to be no different. Organisers Team Fresh will this year invite Bomb City 7, Pocket Billiards, Lantern For A Gale, Acoustic Dan and The Cities We Captured to join in on the mayhem.

"This year we wanted to bring the merry mayhem to Belfast to give you all a taste of the fun. We've teamed up with our good friends Bomb City 7 to bring new, as well as established Belfast bands together for what should prove to be a truly unforgettable night." - Team Fresh

It all takes place on Monday 21st Dec at Speakeasy Bar, QUB, Belfast. Entry is £6 (or £4 before 9pm). All proceeds will be going to the Simon Community NI

The ASIWYFA guys must be the most toured band in local music at the moment. They've toured across Europe and America this year, and plan to hit Russia early in 2011. They even can't seem to rest for a well earned Christmas break and will play 3 very special gigs today (Fri 17th Dec). With the first two gigs sold out already (at the Catalyst Arts Centre and the Belfast Barge) your last chance to see them will be at the Animal Disco club night in Auntie Annies. With tickets being only sold at the door on the night you still have the opportunity to get in on the action.

The guys at the 'You Are' music festival are looking to get you involved in their mammoth series of gigs and events in the run-up to Christmas. So get in contact if...

You Are a promoter. You love music and do everything you can to get the bands you love to the biggest possible audience.

You Are a journalist. You write about the music you care about and spread the word because it’s something you HAVE to do. You Are a producer. You work with bands and help them realise their visions.

You Are a record label. You work behind the scenes, providing the very lifeblood of music in Northern Ireland. You Are a club night. You make the kind of nights out people talk about for years. You Are a gig goer. You are on the front lines of an explosion of new music in Northern Ireland. You Are the Scene. And we need You.

Over the course of December 2010, nine events will take place across Northern Ireland, providing ample evidence of why we have the most vibrant and exciting music scene in the UK, and we want you to be part of it. As Northern Irish music reaches new heights and goes in new and exciting directions, we want You to join the likes of Fighting With Wire, Kasper Rosa, A Plastic Rose, Colenso Parade, Axis Of in reminding us of why we do this, as well as providing the fuel to fire up the next wave of music to come from this country.

The potential for experience in the Northern Irish music scene is astonishing, and this is your chance to be part of something special. If you’ve ever wanted to form a band, this is the time. If you’ve ever wanted to share your thoughts and opinions on music, this is the chance. If you’ve ever wanted to put on gigs or record bands, the time to start is now. Get involved – You Are the Scene.

Our biggest and best local music festival have opened their doors (well their email accounts anyways) for applications from artists for next years festival. With each year getting bigger and better, we recommend that you get your application in fast.

"Acts interested in submitting to be considered for next year’s festival have until the end of January to send through their work.

As a festival which caters for new and emerging talent, each year Glasgowbury opens a submissions period to give interested bands and artists the opportunity to get on the bill.

To be considered for next year’s event, interested applicants should send us their press pack, an up to date example of their music, and a copy of the downloadable covering letter available below.

Although hard copy postal entries are preferred, this year artists can also submit to Glasgowbury via email but must still provide all essential criteria."

The latest video by Derry based rockers, Furlo has been released in promotion of their upcoming single. 'Your Entire Glows' will be released on the 12th Dec through Yogen Records, with the band playing on the 9th Dec at Queens Uni and Derry on the 10th Dec in build up to the release.

Having just released their song 'Wolf Brigade' for FREE download on NI Chart last week, Gacy's Thread have recruited the help of music video director Sean Duncan for their track 'Sieving Secrets'. Both songs feature on their recently released EP, which is also entitled 'Wolf Brigade'. You can get your hands on HERE

2010 has without question belonged to Two Door Cinema Club. The Bangor boys have hit the big time and done it with class. Successful European and American tours might have been the norm for them but this homecoming gig will surely be one of their year's highlights. The support is also one of the strongest that we've seen in quite some time with The Cast Of Cheers being hotly tipped for the big time and Not Squares who have always been one of the most interesting bands in town.
Tickets are £14.

Tuesday 7th Dec - Two Door Cinema Club, The Cast Of Cheers, Not Squares @ The Mandela Hall, Queens.

One of NI's best music video directors, Darren Lee has released his latest promo. Key Of Atlas launched their brilliant debut EP entitled 'Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained' last Friday at the Oh Yeah Centre, but it is the video for their track 'Bullets and Sand' that is grabbing most of the attention at NI Chart HQ.

Audio Picnic (the folks behind Panic Dots and I Am Fighter) are launching a competition to find the next great local DJ. Young people between the ages of 13-17yrs old are invited to send in aplaylist of 5 songs that they would play, with 3 winners being chosen to DJ at the Limelight on the 5th December. A crash-course in DJ is offered to any of the winners if needed.

Head over to their Facebook page for more info or email you list of tracks to jessica@panicdots.com

Not Squares are set to release their debut album at the Bunatee Bar, Queens Uni, Belfast on Saturday 27th November. The album is available to pre-order from the Richter Collective website HERE with all pre-orders coming with a FREE David Holmes remix of one of their most popular hit, 'Asylum'. Here's the original version for your viewing pleasure. Entry on the night is £5. Doors at 9pm.

The Lowly Knights are featured in the latest mini-documentary by Babysweet Films. This latest film takes a look at the London based Communion night with interviews with the promoter and clips of a few England based folk acts. The Lowly Knight close the show with a great performance which goes down well with their English fans.

Before heading off on their latest UK tour North-Coast instrumental rockers And So I Watch You From Afar have left their fans with an early Christmas present - a FREE single! 'Straight Through The Sun' can be downloaded from the Smalltown America website HERE by simply posting a twitter comment, or you can buy it on limited edition vinyl (along with B-side 'Without A Fucking Scratch') for £3.

The band have also announced that they will go on a 15 date tour of Russia starting on Jan 26th 2011.

This festive period will see the launch of the 'You Are' music event which takes place across the province. A total of nine gigs will take place from the 3rd-23rd December starting at Warrenpoint with ASIWYFA and Team Fresh and finishing in Derry with Fighting With Wire headlining. Other highlights include A Plastic Rose and Axis Of in the Mandela Hall, Belfast on the 18th Dec and Mojo Fury with Cashier No.9 in Draperstown on the 4th Dec.

Today, (November 15th, 2010) sees the release of the new self titled EP from Belfast’s own More Than Conquerors. Released through Smalltown America Records, the EP perfectly encapsulates the energy of a More Than Conquerors live experience, showcasing the adrenaline fuelled, hook filled songs they have become known for.

You can get your hands on it by heading over to the Smalltown America website HERE

In the build up to his gig in the Oh Yeah Centre on the 18th November, Robyn G Shiels will release a series of intimate acoustic performances which features new material and a collection of interesting cover versions. The first in this series has just been released this week (a downbeat version of The Replacements 'Sadly Beautiful') with more songs to be released every few days before the gig.

The gig is limited to only 50 people and places must be reserved by emailing info@nodancing.co.uk Support comes from Building Pictures. Entry is £5.

Duke Special is the latest local act to announce details of an American tour. I comes on the back of other bands such as ASIWYFA and Two Door Cinema Club also trying to make it big across the Atlantic. It all starts off for in LA on the 21st Nov with the Duke returning at the beginning of December to support The Frames on a short European Tour.

The Beat Poets have announced details of their latest single 'Gravity', which is to be released by VM records on the 15th November. To celebrate the release, the band will play Warrenpoint's Hide Out venue on the 13th November. The single will be in build up to the band's debut album that will be released in 2011.

Babysweet TV have released their Two Door Cinema Club documentary to view online. The documentary which follows the band on a recent European tour was originally only available as part of the band's album reissue, but is now available to all for HERE .

Babysweet TV also recently released their Tom McShane documentary online (see 'Tom Tv' below).

Some of you eagle-eyed folk may have noticed a special addition to our downloads section from the Oh Yeah centre. The guys regularly hold acoustic sessions and were kind enough to pick a few of their favourites to enter into our chart. The Oh Yeah Sunday Sessions have tracks from the likes of Farriers, 1930's, Little Hooks and many more great bands...all available for FREE!

In other news the Oh Yeah centre have released their latest compilation CD which is entitled 'Contenders' seeks to highlight the next batch of upcoming NI bands to the world. Artists include the likes of Axis Of, Clown Parlour, The Wonder Villains and More Than Conquerors.

Captain Kennedy will release their debut album “See You When I See You” on Monday 11th October at Auntie Annies, Belfast with support coming from LaFaro front-man Jonny Black, alternative rock outfit Silhouette and Americana artist Junior Johnson. The band will follow the launch by promoting the album across the country with gigs at Derry, Dublin, Cavan and Lurgan. Doors at 9pm.

Omagh lads Colenso Parade are set to launch their latest single 'Find Your Mother' this coming Friday (3rd Sept) at Auntie Annie's, Belfast. The single launch will take place at the excellent Animal Disco club night which mixes a great DJ night with one live act each week. Entry on the night is £4.

Local band A Northern Light are looking for children aged five to 12 to take part in the photoshoot for their new album cover. Photographer Matt Patton will be taking the pictures for the cover between four and five o'clock tomorrow, Thursday 23 September, in the Queens University area of Belfast.

A parent or guardian will also need to attend the shoot to sign a consent form on behalf of those taking part. Speaking about the cover Patton said: "You will be taking part in a very important statement being made by local band, and, hopefully something iconic."

This is the official video for Mojo Fury's 'The Mann', the first single to be taken from their debut album 'Visiting Hours Of A Traveling Circus'. Released on 3rd October 2010, their album is released Early 2011 via Graphite Records. The band are currently away on a UK tour with Manchester based rock act Oceansize. This video directed by Tristan Crowe. You can pre-order the single from HERE

The team here at NI Chart headquarters are very excited and pleased to announce the launch of our CD compilation NI Chart presents We've Got It Covered on Sunday October 3.

The launch will see Katie and the Carnival, Skip Moses and Cara Cowan take to the stage of The Menagerie in Belfast for what promises to be a great night of local music.

All three artist feature on the CD and will perform their versions of tracks by other local acts as well as their own songs on the night. Other artists on the CD include Mojo Fury, Alice Kona Band, and Axis Of with songs originally by Bap Kennedy, Henry McCullough and LaFaro amongst others.

The CD is available to order here or you can pick your copy up on the night. Doors are at 9pm and it's £5 in. See you all there!

The monthly Volume Control night at the Oh Yeah Centre celebrates its first birthday in style on Saturday the 18th September. The all-ages event is organised by an enthusiastic group of young promoters who are getting a reputation for putting on some of the best gigs in town. This time they've pulled out all the stops to bring you the band everyone is talking about - The Panama Kings. The indie rock three-piece have been one of the most popular local acts over the past few years but have recently announced that they are to split after their current series of gigs. This really is one not to be missed. Support on the night comes from Colley Strings, The 1930's, Paul Shevlin and Matrimony.
Entry on the night is £5. Doors are at 3pm.

The Belfast moored barge ‘MV Confiance’ will be the setting for Smalltown America signing SKIBUNNY’s debut album launch ‘Hugs’ on Wednesday September 15th 2010. The Barge marks the beginning of a new and exciting era for Belfast to use such venues to showcase local musical talent, which has never been more present on the world stage. Charlene Hegarty from Smalltown America said, “We at the label are all very excited about being the first to host our launch event in this unique venue. We are always trying to seek out new and interesting ways to reward the live music fan and this venue is sure to please. Its intimate setting can accommodate just 80 people through the door so be sure to confirm your place in advance to avoid disappointment. This is a first for Skibunny, a first for Smalltown America - so it seems fitting for it to be the first time the Barge gets to showcase such an exciting release.”

Derek Booker, Chairman of Lagan Legacy says “The Barge, Belfast's latest multi functional attraction moored on the River Lagan, beside the Waterfront Hall is the first of it's kind in Ireland. Commonly known as the 'Tardis' The Barge comprises of a 100 seat Forward Hold which can be used for a variety of activities such as theatre including film, music, theatre, conferences and parties, the Back Hold contains Belfast's first maritime museum entitled the 'Greatest Story Never Told', oral and digital memories of the River Lagan, and on Upper Deck a Cafe with outstanding views of the River Lagan and Lanyon Place close up, accessible by both land and boat! Conversion of this barge has been supported by HLF, NITB and the Arts Council and many others and sponsorship opportunities now exist and volunteers are welcome to join the Crew.”

The SKIBUNNY Album Launch takes place on Belfast Barge ‘MV Confiance’ on Wednesday September 15th 2010, between the Waterfront Hall and Queens Bridge, Belfast. The launch is FREE and a free SKIBUNNY Mix EP will also be given to the first 50 people on the night. To secure your place please email – info@smalltownamerica.co.uk.

The Lowly Knights are back with their first release in quite some time. After some pretty major line-up changes earlier in the year the folk rock act release 'The Even Keel' on the 12th of September at the Black Box, Belfast. The gig is part of the upcoming Open House Festival with is full of great gigs and events but we are especially excited about this one as it also includes the London based Matthew And The Atlas, who have just returned from a tour with Mumford And Sons, as well Pete Roe and Marcus Foster, who are also two great acts from beyond our shores.
Entry on the night is £10

Two Door Cinema Club have announced that they will be releasing a special edition version of their fantastic debut album Tourist History on the 20th Sept. The record will come will a additional DVD disc featuring a new documentary shot by local filmmakers Babysweet, and a bonus disc of remixes.

There have been rumours flying about in the past month about the future of the Panama Kings and it now looks likely that the band are to split. They were one of the most popular bands in the local scene over the past couple of years and were one of the acts that were most influential in making our scene what it is today. We hope that the guys will get it together, but sadly it looks like the their last gig will be at the Speakeasy Bar on the 4th November.

Local music photographer Matthew Patton will be part of an exciting the new artists collective called Crystal Blue In Other Wavelengths. The group (which includes other local artists Andrew Dunbar, Claire McKervey, Don MacGregor, Dave Common, Mickey McCullagh to name but a few) have their first exhibition this evening (23/09/10) at 20 Ireton Street.

On display from 6pm onwards (FOR JUST ONE NIGHT ONLY) will be five photographs from this year's Glasgowbury Music Festival, showcasing just a few of the moments that happened up the mountain this year.

Also on show sonically will be some of the artists in print, individually playing short acoustic sessions with include members of bands such as A Plastic Rose, Chocolate Love Factory, Like Statues, John D'Arcy and The Great Bunch of Lads, Team Fresh and The Rupture Dogs.

Show Me The Green have now announced the full line up for their charity gig next Tuesday, August 24, in the Retro bar, Portrush.... and we couldn't be more excited!

ASIWYFA, Fighting With Wire, LaFaro, Axis Of, Team Fresh and Bomb City 7 make up what has to be one of the best line-ups that we've seen in quite some time.

The gig has been organised to support a friend of the bands' who was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and to help support him and his family.

Entry will cost a suggested donation of £7. It is not a ticketed event, but if you wish to attend you can email showme_thegreen@yahoo.com to get your name on the paying guestlist.

Bangor electro-popsters Two Door Cinema Club have given their fans a very special treat today with a free download of one their never before released demos.

Head here to download Hands Off My Cash, Monty from the band's website and also for your chance to get a sneak peak of the forthcoming Babysweet documentary on the boys' adventures in gay Paris 'You Think You Know, You Don't Know.'

The documentary will be released with a deluxe edition of Tourist History on September 13.

Lisburn based rock act Bandwagon have just released their debut single 'Get Used To It'. Not only is it a great tune, but the band are giving it away for FREE in our downloads section! The band have also been getting a lot of attention for their latest video with it being voted up to number 10 in the www.bethesource.tv video chart!

Another band that have recently released their latest single are Yes Cadets. They are definitely one of the bands to watch at the moment. This video was made by the very talented Gregg Houston and Kevin McKeown.

Having conquered the rest of Europe with their recent tours, epic instrumental rockers And So I Watch You From Afar are about to take on North America with 25 dates planned in September and October of this year! The band will be on the road with two great acts - Trash Talk and Evny.

We here at NI chart are very proud to announce the release of our first compilation album - ‘NIchart presents We’ve Got It Covered’ – a project born of love and sweat in the summer of 2010. It saw 9 local acts come into the studio in Belfast. Their task – to record cover versions of their favourite local acts.

The project has exceeded all our expectations and the bands have outdone themselves both in terms of their choices and the finished versions of the songs chosen. Nowhere else will you hear Mojo Fury take on Alloy Mental, Skip Moses sing Bap Kennedy or Cara Cowan tackle Dutch Schultz.

Whether you’re an NI music fan or new to the scene we really do hope you enjoy this compilation. We know we've enjoyed creating it and working with all those involved.

The album is £8 (+ p&p) and will be available to pre-order here and will be on sale at festivals and gigs throughout NI over the summer and beyond. Keep an eye on the site for updates of the forthcoming launch gig as well.

The Oh Yeah Music Centre has launched a competition to find a ‘wildcard’ for their forthcoming showcase CD, which is being part funded by the Arts Council for Northern Ireland. The compilation follows on from the 2008 Carling sponsored ‘Oh Yeah Sessions’ CD which features several artists that went on to do greater things, including And So I Watch You From Afar and General Fiasco.

The new CD which is due for release later this year already features 10 acts that were chosen out of a whopping 50, nominated and selected by an industry panel, after lengthy discussion, and a voting procedure. While 50 nominations is an incredibly encouraging indication of the strength of local music, there are still many young singer songwriters and bands out there that are yet to be discovered. Therefore the search has been extended to find a ‘wildcard’, a band or act with little or no profile with a great track that will be selected by a panel to be included on the new collection.

If you are a young band or singer song writer, and would like to be in with a chance of exclusively recording your track to be included, then please send a demo to the address below, or alternatively e-mail an MP3 of the track you would like to submit to charlotte@ohyeahbelfast.com

Please include your name/name of band, contact details, telephone number, website (if you have one) and the name of song you would like to enter.

Oh Yeah Contenders: New Music Compilation
Oh Yeah Music Centre
15-21 Gordon Street
Belfast
BT1 2LG

Panic Dots.com and the legendary I Am Fighter team have joined forces in recent months to create the fantastic Audio Picnic podcast, which is full of great international music and craic. To celebrate this partnership, the guys have put decide to organise what will surely be one of the best nights out this summer.

At the Stiff Kitten on the 15th August you will find, not only 2 of our finest local acts in Rams' Pocket Radio and More Than Conquerors, but also a BBQ and an exclusive screening of the latest I Am Fighter video!

Each year it seems to get bigger and better and this year it's no exception...Glasgowbury is almost here! It all takes place on the 24th July at Eagles Rock Valley with a huge line-up of local bands. Headline act Fighting With Wire are joined by the likes of LaFaro, General Fiasco, Mojo Fury, Duke Special and loads of other top acts. Find out more at the Glasgowbury website HERE.

To celebrate here at NI Chart.com, we've put up a special section on our Downloads section with over 20 FREE tracks from the acts playing.

We love out local music videos here at NI Chart.com and are always surprised at the high quality of filmmaking involved. The latest two videos that we have to show you are no exception.

First up we have the fantastic Mojo Fury with their new track 'Deep Fish Tank'. The most surprising fact about this video is that it was made by their guitarist James Lyttle!

Next up we have the new single from Two Door Cinema. The band have become known for their great videos and they continue their great run with 'Come Back Home'. The song is released on 12th July 2010 on 7" vinyl and digital package, and is backed by remixes from Is Tropical, Myd and Keith & Supabeatz.

Virginia born but Belfast based singer song writer Rachel Austin has announced the release of her new EP, ‘Age of Wisdom’, and is available for purchase from 5th July 2010.

Limited edition copies of ‘Age of Wisdom’ EP will be available from www.rachelaustinmusic.com. This will consist of a CD, an 8 page booklet and a handmade, stamped, fabric bag with badge attached. Digital download will be available on iTunes and all major download sites from the 05th Rachel is playing a series of house shows across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to promote the release of the EP. Details will soon be available on her website. July 2010.

Downpatrick band Ash have agreed to play a special fundraising event on the eve of their Oxegen festival appearance. The band will play to 300 people with the aim of raising funds for future all ages gigs at the Oh Yeah Music Centre.

Volume Control is a monthly music event, organised and driven by young people. Volume Control is aimed at the 14-18 year old group and allows young performers and audience members to enjoy live, original music. Along the way, the Volume Control team will learn about promotions, marketing, media relations, poster design, stage production, event management and project financing. Based in the Oh Yeah music centre, this project equips a new generation with the skill sets to make their own mark on arts, business and music culture.

Volume Control member Don Greene states, “It’s surreal that we can attract an act so huge and successful as Ash it’s going to be an incredible experience!”

The gig takes place at the Oh Yeah Centre, Belfast on the 9th July with support from More Than Conquerors and Key Of Atlas. Entry is £10.

NI rockers LaFaro have released their second single from their self-titled debut album and it's a fine track indeed! Their previous single was a huge success with nationwide radio play, which included the backing of Radio 1's Zane Lowe. 'The Ballad of Burnt Dave' is available to download now from itunes....where you can also get your hands on a FREE LaFaro iphone app!

There have been many classic albums recorded in recent years by local acts but rarely do the general public get the chance to see the magic that happens behind those sound-proof studio doors. Tom McShane and his band hope to change all that with this special recording of his next album. Using "old-school recording techniques from the 50's and 60's" producer Rocky O'Reilly (Start Together Studios) will record two open-studio sessions with the best tracks making it onto Tom's album... but interaction doesn't stop after the gig has ended. You will also have the chance to give your say on everything from album artwork to the album's title, and receive demo versions via email throughout the post-production process!

Tickets are £9 (and include a copy of the finished album) and can be purchased from the Waterfront Hall Box Office. It all takes place SAT 3rd JULY at 2pm & 7pm at the Oh Yeah Centre, Belfast.

Team Fresh aren't you're average Rap-Rock band. With a rock riff base and a hard hip-hop core the band successfully stay away from the Limp Bizkit comparisons and are well known as one of the best live acts in the country. The North Coast band release their debut single (and it's been a long time coming!) on Friday the 25th of June at the Stiff Kitten. Support comes from Pocket Billiards, and Under Stars and Gutters. Expect one hell of a party!

Music fans heading out in Belfast have now got the latest gigs and music news at their fingertips with the launch of the new BelfastMusic.org website. For the first time, potential gig goers will be able to quickly find hundreds of music events across Belfast, from intimate singer-songwriter nights to classical recitals to rock concerts.

Web users can also listen to tracks from the latest bands and watch exclusive music videos, as well as signing up for regular e-bulletins to make sure they don’t miss a note. The new website has been produced by Culture Northern Ireland in partnership with Belfast City Council, as part of a series of new tourism initiatives to profile Belfast as a cultural tourism destination.

David Lewis, director of Culture Northern Ireland, said: “The Belfast music scene is alive and kicking, but sometimes it can be difficult keeping up with what’s going on. Audiences are increasingly switched on to the digital world. It’s now second nature for many people to find information on their computer or mobile phone. BelfastMusic.org is simply responding to that need.”

The site also features an online version of the Belfast Music exhibition at the Oh Yeah Centre. By clicking on memorabilia such as Ash frontman Tim Wheeler’s Flying V guitar and a shamrock-shaped Horslips LP, tourists will get a taster of Belfast’s exciting musical heritage before they arrive.

The NI festival scene just keeps giving and giving! The latest announcement comes for the Forfey Festival which is based on Forfey Farm, near Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh. The festival originally started as a performing arts festival August 06, aimed at promoting grassroots bands, musicians, artists,and poets but has recently turned into one of the major NI music festivals while still retaining the artistic twist.

Acts that have been announced so far include the excellent Adebisi Shank (ROI), NI Chart favourites Axis Of, Iain Archer, LaFaro, Katie And The Carnival, Strait Laces and Skibunny, to name just a few.

The festival takes place on Saturday the 7th August (with camping available all weekend). Full weekend passes are on sale now for £35. To find out more, head over to the Forfey Festival website HERE.

If you're out sunbathing this evening and fancy a little bit of background music then we recommend you get the latest EP from the excellent Patiosounds. The band are have released their latest record for immediate download with an official launch on the 17th June at the Pavillion Bar, Belfast.

Put this Friday (11th June) in your diary as Kasper Rosa are set to launch their latest EP at the Spring & Airbrake. The instrumental rock band have teamed up with UK based indie label Field Records for this latest release. The band will then set out on a short UK tour with dates in the likes of Cardiff and Edinburgh. Support on the night comes from Axis Of and Rams Pocket Radio. Entry is £5.

One of the top up-and-coming acts have just released their latest single. Yes Cadets release 'Lies' for download today (Monday 7th June) and celebrate the single with a launch gig at the Stiff Kitten on Wednesday the 7th June. The single was recorded by Smalltown America's Andrew Ferris.

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