This looks Thursday-night deadly and I got Ethics. Let’s all rock in the name of love.
*sighs*
Dorans again!

Self-producing Oppenheimer’s debut album must have turned Rocky like a dial: along with two friends, he’s the latest name to join Belfast’s Oh Yeah music initiative. Founded by BBC’s Stuart Bailie and Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol in 2005, the non-profit Centre aims to provide the city with a comprehensive and dedicated resource space for musicians. Check out the website to find out more about the projects, plus there are some interesting snippets of news, videos and links, like this one from the Guardian featuring Tim Wheeler from Ash.

Opening in December 2007, Start Together Studios is the brainchild of Rocky, Barrett Lahey and Ben McAuley who spotted the chance to be involved with the future creative hub of the city. Each of the partners involved has their own technical habits, with US-born Barrett a self-confessed analogue freak while Ben has put his name to several respectable records, including Pixie Saytar’s debut and EPs for Mojo Fury and Saint Dude’s.

Pictured above in a shamelessly stolen shot from Belfast ledgebags And So I Watch You From Afar’s blog, Rocky was on hand with Barrett and Ben for their recent stint at STStudios, recording tracks for the upcoming Oh Yeah/Fate Magazine compilation. It’s looking to be a corker with featured artists including ASIWYFA, Panama Kings, La Faro, Mojo Fury, Kowalski, Cashier No 9, General Fiasco and  The Jane Bradfords. Something’s definitely right up North…

NOOOOOOOOO!!

I won’t have it! The amazing LeBien have packed up their synths, pulled down the shutters, padlocked the doors and chucked the key aside. Their performance at Childline last night was a grand finale to us unwitting punters and I am devastated to say goodbye. They’ve even deleted their MySpace profile. *sob* You will be sorely missed guys. Sorely.

 Go mourn them.

No, it really rocks…this year’s fundraiser has a startling line-up featuring Cathy Davey, Clampdown, The Coronas, Future Kings Of Spain, Ham Sandwich, Super Extra Bonus Party and Soul Riot DJs on The Star Stage while Dry County, Jape, Les Bien and Rarely Seen Above Ground take the Phantom 105.2 Stage accompanied by resident DJs and a Bodytonic crew.
Not sure if I’m animal enough for a seven-hour marathon but the show at the new Academy caters for absolutely everyone so drag your mates away from Dancing On Ice in the name of a good cause…

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday February 1st.

When I’d just got the idea of this blog off the ground last year, I smuggled my boyfriend into the VIP room at Castle Palooza on the premise of helping me round up bands for interview. The subsequent recordings were abandoned due to insane background noise, save for five minutes of Fight Like Apes. They’d just gone into orbit and it’s good to see they’re still sky-high several months later.
One point MayKay and Pockets agreed on was the excellence of Limerick greens giveamanakick. It’s been a while since I saw either play and I’m glad: Galway, step up to the plate. The time has come for a corker of a gig: Fri 25th January, giveamanakick and special guests Fight Like Apes @ Roisin Dubh.
FLA’s other favourite band Grand Pocket Orchestra support at the Dublin show in Whelans this Saturday 19th. Kicking rock monkerey, commence!

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Ballroom of Romance on Friday was a right rousin’ to do…Hounds played before I arrived - bah! - at the jammers Lower Deck in Rathmines. Great news for Seomra Spraoi

Ballroom of Romance @ The Lower Deck - 11/01/08

Party Weirdo

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