Hard rocking weaving its way to Ballymena creatives festival

 Whether you are a fan of rock, metal, or even ska punk an eight-hour celebration of creativity is taking place on Ballymena on August 15th.

Among featured acts are Black River Myth, Consolers, Somehow Sentient. and Ragewolf.

Enough waffle below is the press release from the Woven Music and Arts Festival.

A new grassroots festival celebrating live music, visual art and independent creativity is coming to Ballymena on Saturday, 15 August, as Braid Rhythm Sessions launches the inaugural Woven Music & Arts Festival.

Taking place from 2pm to 11pm at the BT Club, Church Street Arcade, the festival has been created to showcase the wealth of creative talent in Ballymena while also welcoming musicians and artists from across Northern Ireland for a day of music, art and collaboration.

Behind the festival is Braid Rhythm Sessions, a collective brought together by a shared passion for live music, creativity and community. Made up of musicians, music lovers and event organisers, the group was founded on the belief that independent artists deserve more opportunities to perform, collaborate and reach new audiences.

Through live events and creative projects, Braid Rhythm Sessions has grown into a community dedicated to championing grassroots talent and supporting the people behind it.

The launch of the Woven Music & Arts Festival marks the collective's most ambitious project to date. More than simply a music festival, Woven has been designed as a celebration of creativity in all its forms, bringing together musicians, artists and audiences in one welcoming space.

Inspired by Ballymena's proud textile heritage, the festival takes its name from the idea of weaving together different creative threads. Just as individual strands combine to create something stronger, Woven aims to bring together music, art and community, celebrating the creativity that continues to shape Ballymena today.

Visitors can look forward to a full day of live music, headlined by Airies Air, with performances from Consolers, Black River Myth, Muted Tweed, Arc Dakota, Rage Wolf, Deadly Sons and Musicians Collective, alongside many more artists representing a broad range of musical styles.

While many of the performers are based in Ballymena, the festival also welcomes musicians from across Northern Ireland, creating a line-up that reflects the strength and diversity of the region's independent music scene. Woven has been carefully curated to encourage people not only to enjoy great live music but also to discover new artists, experience different forms of creativity and connect with the people behind the work.

Anthony from Braid Rhythm Sessions said:

"Woven has grown from a shared belief that Ballymena is home to an incredible amount of creative talent.

We wanted to create a festival that celebrates the musicians, artists and creative people who make our town such a vibrant place.

"It's about much more than live music. It's about bringing people together, creating opportunities for artists to be seen and heard, and giving audiences the chance to discover something new. We're proud that so many Ballymena artists are part of the line-up, while also welcoming musicians from across Northern Ireland.

"We hope people leave having discovered a new favourite band, met local artists and, above all, feeling proud of the creativity that exists right here in Ballymena."

At its heart, Woven is about community. Braid Rhythm Sessions believes thriving creative communities are built by giving people opportunities to perform, exhibit, collaborate and support one another. By bringing together established artists, emerging performers and local audiences, the collective hopes to play a part in strengthening Ballymena's growing cultural scene.

Whether visitors come to support friends and family, discover a new favourite band, browse original artwork or simply enjoy a great day out, Woven has been designed as a welcoming festival where everyone can experience the very best of grassroots creativity in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Although this is the inaugural Woven Music & Arts Festival, Braid Rhythm Sessions hopes it will become an annual celebration that continues to grow while remaining true to its grassroots ethos of supporting independent artists and creators.

The Woven Music & Arts Festival takes place on Saturday, 15 August, from 2pm to 11pm, at the BT Club, Church Street Arcade, Ballymena.

Physical tickets are available from the BT Club, while digital tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite.

Anthrax ramp up new album anticipation with release of Edge of Perfection

 It has been talked about, the social media posts have been coming  thick and fast about it and now with a firm release date for Cursum Perfectio Anthrax have released, a new single 'Edge of Perfection' and accompanying video.

And for those of us of a certain age it once again confirms the East Coast thrashers as the torch bearer of intelligent metal that leaves all stomp, stomp, stomping.

Below is the official press release from Nuclear Blast, with the video at bottom of the post. You can also listen on all major streaming platforms.

And 10 years of a wait since the release of For All Kings, the translation of the album title better not be a swan song for the band.

ANTHRAX have released 'The Edge Of Perfection', the second single from their long-awaited 12th full-length studio album Cursum Perficio out September 18 via via Nuclear Blast Records and Megaforce Records (North America).

The new single is highlighted by clean guitar echoes and cymbals that gently shake until a blastbeat blows open the doors. Guitars buzz like a motorboat on the River Styx, making waves through the darkness. In their wake, a crushing rhythm trails the melody of lead singer Joey Belladonna’s lament, “My heart breaks…I’m on the edge…I’m on the edge of perfection.” 

For the video, the multi-GRAMMY® Award-nominated New York hard rock titans - Scott Ian (guitar), Charlie Benante (drums), Frank Bello (bass), Joey Belladonna (vocals), and Jonathan Donais (guitar) - teamed up with director and Academy Award-winner Joel Harlow (Star Trek and Alice in Wonderland) to create a spectacular cinematic experience that takes the hero from a dream into an evening of magic where he encounters underworld evil, interspersed with live performance footage. The clip includes appearances from martial artist Wes Scarpias, actress Ashley Edner-Tancharoen, actor Troy James, actor and Academy-Award winning make-up and special effects creator Rick Baker, actor Rod Maxwell and actor Fedor Steer. 

“It’s the apex predator of Anthrax songs,” grins Ian. “I think it’s the best song we’ve ever written and the best thing I’ve ever been a part of creatively. What’s the most powerful emotion that moves me more than anything? Of course, it’s love. Nothing moves me like the deep feeling that I get from my wife and son. I’m living on that edge for the rest of my life. This is mine, but there are a lot of ways to ruin it. I’ve ruined it in past iterations of my life, but it got me to where I am. Love is perfection, and I like being on the edge of it. I don’t want everything to be about all of the same shit. This record has a whole bunch of love, a whole bunch of fun, and a little hate.” 

Cursum Perficio marks the band’s first record in ten years since 2016’s For All Kings, which debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. The phrase Cursum Perficio is Latin for “My journey has come to an end,” “My journey is over,” or “I complete my journey.” It proves apropos for such a complete body of work.  

The band dove into recording Cursum Perficio in earnest during 2022, working out of Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 in Los Angeles. They carefully pieced together what would be this magnum opus, mining their history with reverence, delivering on fan expectations tenfold, and broadening the scope of their signature sound. Produced by Jay Ruston and ANTHRAX, the result is an album that’s as angry, aggressive, and alive as their most celebrated fare. 

The album is available to pre-order in a variety of formats.