Gig listing

WAS going to take the time to go through all the up-to-date gig listings, but beer and ennui got the better of me so you can find a pretty comprehensive listing here. (Good work from the great chaps behind rockradioni!).


Not listed here are:  Blink 182 on 13 June 2012, Odyssey and the Foo Fighters at Vital (21st August) and Belsonic with a Thin Lizzy tribute act and The Darkness...

Right off to write some more short stories, listen to loud stuff and you know what elses...

If you want to let me know about a gig, get in touch (also if you have an album your want reviewed!) contact me here.

Helluva lot of gigs!

2009 looks set to be a helluva busy year on the hard rock and metal front...below are the confirmed gig dates. More to be added soon (oh yes a lot more!) once they are confirmed. Meantime, if you know more dates let me know.

Kerrang! Tour - Mandella Hall - 13/01/09
Staind - Mandela Hall - 18/01/2009
Pearl Jem - Spring & Airbrake - 30/01/2009
Soulfly - Spring & Airbrake - 05/02/2009
The Datsuns - Spring & Airbrake - 06/02/2009
Status Quo - Waterfront Hall - 04/02/09
Lamb Of God / Five Finger Death Punch/ Mass Extinction - Mandela Hall - 08/02/2009
Judas Priest/Megadeth/Testament - Odyssey Arena - 11/02/09
Hot Leg - The Limelight - 26/02/2009
Triggerman/Stand-up Guy/TTOW/Bad Boat - Auntie Annies - 05/03/09
Stiff Little Fingers/The Beat/Blood and Whiskey - Ulster Hall - 16/03/09
Eagles Of Death Metal - Spring & Airbrake - 01/04/2009
Blaze Bayley - The Rosetta - 09/04/09
AC/DC / The Answer - The O2 Point, Dublin - 18/4/09
Supersuckers / Nashville Pussy - The Limelight - 20/04/2009
In Flames / Cancer Bats - Mandela Hall - 23/04/2009
Full Metal Racket (Paradise Lost/Rotting Christ + more) -Mandella Hall -25/04/09
NOFX - Spring & Airbrake - 26/04/2009
Saxon / Sweet Savage - Mandela Hall - 26/04/2009
AC/DC - Punchestown - 28/04/09

Power/battle metal in October

Dragonforce are coming back to town in October - and in a power/battle coup they're bringing Finnish mentalists Turisas to boomtow at the same time.

October 11th will see the acts blast the Mandella Hall. Expect the usual drunken madness of Dragonforce and the mental warpaint battle posing of Turisas - to Holmgard and Beyond etc....

And as a footnote...rumours mount that Motorhead will be coming this way soon in November, with Saxon and Danko Jones in tow. No official word yet though...

'Tallica dublin date confirmed

After the endless speculation Metallica have confirmed their Irish date of the summer. They'll be playing Marlay Park, Dublin on August 20th, with Tenacious D the first announced support act...tickets go on sale on 18th April.

Jonathan Davis cancels June Belfast date

Korn singer Jonathan Davis has decided to shorten the European leg of his "Alone I Play Tour" due to "un-expected family commitments".

Belfast's June date has been cancelled as a result.

He has, however, pledged to come back "soon".

"I'm glad we are still going to bring the show to Europe", Jonathan said, "we had a lot of European fans asking us about the tour since last fall so we are excited for a chance to play.

"We look forward to coming back soon to do alonger run of dates overseas."

Tickets are refundable from point of purchase

Worst kept secret...

The worst kept festival secret of the summer has been confirmed - Metallica will headline the Reading and Leeds festivals...Leeds on August 22nd, and Reading on Sunday 24th...read the official announcement on the 'Tallica site here; and note the hint at further shows...let the 'where on the island of Ireland?' rumour mill resume!

UPDATE: Also confirmed on the Reading/Leeds bill are Rage Against the Machine, Slipknot, Queen's of the Stone Age, Serj Tankian, Tenacious D, Bullet for My Valentine (don't forget their June 2nd gig at the Spring & Airbrake), Avenged Sevenfold, Dropkick Murphys, Feeder and Manic Street Preachers

Return for Fighting the Wire

They're much hyped as the saviours of Northern Ireland's rock scene, and now Fighting With Wire are coming home to Belfast to launch they're Man Vs Monster platter at the Spring & Airbrake on 31st May. Here's the official blur:

FIGHTING WITH WIRE
(HOMECOMING GIG!!)
SATURDAY 31st MAY
SPRING & AIRBRAKE
DOORS: 8pm TICKETS: £6.00

Tickets available from Katy Daly’s, Virgin & all usual Ticketmaster outlets. Credit card bookings & info: 0870 2434455. Book online at www.getURticket.com

Fighting With Wire are a fantastic success story from our very own shores. The 3 piece have recently signed a multiple album deal with Atlantic Records and will be touring with there new album MAN VS MONSTER, (released 3rd March 2008). They will be headlining in the Spring & Airbrake on Saturday 31st May to a more than likely rapturous crowd of


“An imminent debut album will seek to harness the onstage Hiroshima that the three-piece detonate each and every time they play live."
Alternative Ulster

"vicious and stinging in parts, but applied with dexterity and finesse"
Kerrang!

Fighting With Wire - ‘Man vs Monster’

Debut album from Derry trio. Forty-five minutes of razor sharp riffs colliding full force with huge melodies. Recommended for fans of Jimmy Eat World, Foo Fighters, Hüsker Dü and Biffy Clyro.

Fighting With Wire emerged from the ever creative Northern Ireland music scene in 2003, the brainchild of guitarist Cahir O’Doherty (Jetplane Landing / Clearshot) and drummer Craig McKean (Clearshot).

An idealistic bunch, they’ve since done what rock bands are meant to do: they wrote a bunch of songs, and took to the road. The last three years has seen them play shows with the likes of Reuben, Biffy Clyro, Million Dead, Seafood, YCNI:M and Future Of The Left, racking up hundreds of miles and honing their live show into a ferocious explosion in the process.

After putting out a number of limited edition DIY singles, they took a breather at the end of 2006 and finally started work on their long-awaited debut album. Recorded in Northern Ireland and finally completed in mid-2007, Man Vs Monster is a dynamic beast of a record – raging out of your speakers one moment yet gentle and intricate the next, and all without losing focus of what’s important: the song. What’s next for Fighting With Wire? More touring and more songs, we would expect.

"Do what you believe in, believe in what you do and don’t give a damn about anything or anybody else. That seems to be the philosophy of Fighting With Wire."
Rock Sound

www.myspace.com/fightingwithwire

Now on to the views of BelfastMetalheadsrenited...after catching them with Ash I was underwhelmed...but a week later when they supported Biffy Clyro I was forced to re-evaluate them. FTW are a force to be reckoned with.

Good luck to them! Now, hopefully the labels and A&R men will hover to sign up the likes of Escape Fails, Siundstone - and a hundred others worthy of similar accolades and opportunities!

Sorrowfall added to Thurisaz tour

Sorrowfall have been added to the brief Thurisaz Irish tour in June. The dates and line up is:
Fri June 6th - Lavery's Belfast w/ Sorrowfall, Devilmakesthree, Overoth.
Sat June 7th - Fibbers, Dublin w/ Sorrowfall, Valediction, Ex Inferus.
Sun June 8th - An Cruiscin Lan, Cork. w/ Sorrowfall, Valediction, Ex Inferus.

Belgian's finest (apart from their beers!) Thurisaz will be playing a selection from their new platter 'Cricadian Rhythms' during the three date tour.

A Thurisaz vid to keep you in anticipation til June...



..and a brief Sorrowfall minute or so..

The Rumour Mill continues

Ever hopeful metalheads have been stoking the rumour mill...ahh sure if all the bands we want to see were to sign up for Belfast dates we'd all be broke and going to gigs sober!

This week's instalment sees rumours abound over Dio...that the great-grandaddy of metal announced two UK May dates last month has seen speculation mount that Ronnie will return to Belfast. Well we can wish, but no signs just yet.

The 'Tallica rumour mill still continues with the Gods playing every hole in the hedge across Ireland according to some....again no signs!

But the ponces that book gigs for middle-class wine tipplers have managed to book The Police to play Stormont...they join Pavarotti, Eagles Rod Stewart in playing the grounds of Stormont. Methinks that despite the many thousands of hard rock and heavy metal fans in Northern Ireland we'll neve see a serious hard rock/metal act play Stormont. But then again, if you were a groundskeeper at Stormont would you let us go there?

Damn this!

Damn this being less than 100% fit and healthy! Regular readers will know that I've been recently diagnosed with diabetes type 2. Little did I know that as a result I'd miss a gig that I'd really being looking forward to!Without going in to too much detail I was 'not well' and didn't make it to see one of my rock idols, Fish.

Friends like Juno and Baal were there - worse still I left my phone in work so couldn't even apologise for not worshipping at the altar of the Mighty Scot!

From henceforth I decree that even if 'they' strap me to a hospital bed I'll not miss a gig that I want to see...blood pressure, well The Clash sang about Pressure Drop; heart fucked...well Nirvana sang about Heart Shaped Box; and even if yer privates are bleeding and you may need a leg or two amptated...

Moshing and stagediving might be a problem if short a limb or two, but what the hell!

Sorry to all for not being tere, and apologies to Fish...I briefly had the pleasure of meeting you in 1985 (Marillion, Maysfield Leisure Centre, hello Kyle!) and your music's impact has only been matched by Metallica, Sabbath, Maiden, Anthrax and Machine Head. For a prog rocker/folk rocker to stand on such equal terms for a wrinkly, diabetic such as I reveals the regard I have for you!

Again to all I hoped to be there with..sorry.

Bad Company for Belfast

Seminal 70s classic rockers will be touching down in The Empire on Saturday May 3rd...thanks to Alli and Colin for flagging this up. In the words of Colin: "Bank holiday weekend as well !! Should be a crackin' show, really lookin' forward to this."

Focus on Belfast

Prog rock mentalists Focus are set to land in Belfast for an 18th April slot at the Spring & Airbrake.

With their unique progressive rock Focus manifested themselves at the start of the seventies as the most successful and the most appreciated of all the Dutch pop-rock exports. The group released Moving Waves, which brought the band international acclaim and a hit on both sides of the Atlantic with the radio edit of the rock rondo Hocus Pocus. This rock classic consists of Akkerman's guitar chord sequence used as a recurring theme, with quirky and energetic interludes that include alto flute riffs, accordion, guitar, and drum solos, whistling, nonsensical vocals, falsetto singing, and yodeling.

The band were fronted by the much admired duo of Thijs van Leer on the Hammond organ/flute and Jan Akkerman on the guitar. Their hit potential came in the form of a couple of instrumentals, "Hocus Pocus", "House of the King", and "Sylvia", but we shouldn't forget their timeless albums "Moving Waves", "Focus 3" and "Hamburger Concerto". But like all good things, it couldn't last and internal wrangling ended this legendary group.

After an initial careful comeback which resulted in a well received album "Focus 8", the band are now back on the frontline, with a fantastic line-up! Of course the founder member and musical genius Thijs van Leer is still holding the fort. Also back in his old spot is Pierre van der Linden, the drummer who is internationally renowned for his rhythmic skills, and who was and still is a defining factor in the whole Focus sound. Together with Bobby Jacobs who stems from a well acclaimed Dutch jazz family, they are responsible for the rhythm section and that unmistakable Focus groove. The talented Niels van der Steenhoven, who without any shadow of a doubt can hit the mark when it comes to the guitar completes the band's line-up.

A new Focus era has arrived. There is a rejuvenated passion in the new compositions, that adorn the new album "Focus 9 / New Skin", which has been released on the famous Red Bullet label of Willem van Kooten. This album -and the following gigs- will surprise the loyal fans. They will hear once again all the classic Focus tunes and they will be surprised at the strength and depth of the new material. "Our music is evolution, not revolution", Thijs van Leer once said about the music of Focus. Well now, the evolution is at full pace.


Thijs van Leer - Hammond-orgel, flute and vocals
Niels van der Steenhoven - guitar
Bobby Jacobs - bass
Pierre van der Linden - drums

www.focustheband.com/

Aussie rockin' power

Aussie AC/DC soundalikes and general excellent party metal groovers Airbourne are set to his Belfast on 18th June.

Wildly over-the-top bad air guitar shapes are predicted - not least from Belfastmetalheadsreuntied editor!

If you are a fan of classic rock 'n' metal á la DC and haven't got a copy of Airbourne's album...why not. Ok, it ain't the most original platter to ever darken your CD collection, but damn it is a whole lotta fun despite the AC/DC soundalike sections!

Korn-free Davis

Kor's Jonathan Davis brings his solo tour to Northern Ireland when he plays the Spring and Airbrake in June 23rd...we'll all be able to see how many freaks are let off the leash that night!

Has Zach sold out?

Recently announced are two relatively close at hand Rage Against the Machine dates. They are at the Oxegen Festival in Punchestown and Scotland's 'T' on the Park.

RATM used to be radical tipping towards revolutionary in terms of lyrics and music; they only seemed to play festivals with some degree of credibilty. Oxegen and 'T' are festivals that will be populated by 'inde' and pop stuff, where tickets are bought by people wanting to attend an event rather than listening to good music.

So has Zach de La Rocha's agent sold the band out or is the once rebellious one looking to cash in for a pension plan.

The irony of Zach bellowing out '"Fuck You I won't Do What You Want" to be answered by people who will slide back to Radio One listening and guffawing to Chris Moyles inane humour will be lost on those whose only ambition is to get into a Sunday Life pic shot to prove they roughed it at a festival...

Soft rock interlude...

For those who take the occassional break from the mosh pit...you can take a soft rock interlude in the RoI's National Stadium on 25th June when Journey hit the boards....altogether now "Wheel in the Sky keeps on turning..."*

However, who knows who'll be singing with the AoR band by June!



*That's an older Journey song for those that don't just have 'Escape'

Bullet in June

Bullet for My Valentine may have bailed from their January date, but the Welsh metallers have honoured a pledge made to return to Belfast. They'll be rocking the Spring & Airbrake on June 2nd in support of their 'Scream, Aim, Fire' platter.

'T' anyone?

Rage Against the Machine are to headline Scotland's 'T' in the Park festival. While the rest of the line-up is crap (apart from Biffy Clyro...hi Baal!) one has to wonder what Rage will make of the tartan hordes. When they headlined the 1st 'T' festival 15 years little did thet know they'd be coming back...

The confirmed line-up so far:

The Verve, Rage Against the Machine, R.E.M, Kings of Leon, The Fratellis, Stereophonics, Kaiser Chiefs, Prodigy, Kooks, Primal Scream, Chemical Brothers, Interpol, Ian Brown, The Raconteurs, Biffy Clyro, Counting Crows, KT Tunstall, Feeder, Pigeon Detectives, The Enemy, The Feeling, Amy MacDonald, Panic At The Disco, Hot Chip, Aphex Twin, The Charlatans, The Pogues, Ben Folds, Wombats, Reverend and The Makers, Pendulum, Justice, DJ Hell, Erol Alkan, The National, Band of Horses, Seasick Steve, Eddy Grant, Alabama 3, Sons and Daughters, The Courteeners, Slam, Paul Heaton, Lightspeed Champion, Ting Tings, Black Kids, Sergeant, The Law, Gabriella Cilmi, Sons of Albion, The Script.

12th and 13th July are the dates....sure what else would ye be doing?

Download fall-out

The headliners may be strange for Download 2008 (Californian pop punk Offspring; once great now novelty act Kiss, and Welsh fashionistas Lost Prophets) but the undercard is strong. (Motorhead, Judas Priest, HIM, In Flames, Coheed & Cambria etc)

At this time of year promoters try and scoop bands on periphery of Download (remember MH, KSE etc last year?).

So far the 2008 fall-out has been Children of Bodom in Dublin on June 11th, but more will be announced soon...watch this space! [well somebody has to!]

Metallica Ireland rumour mill...version 338

Metallica are playing in Ireland soon...at least if you were to believe some of the posts, rumours, waffles and general speculation on various boards, forums etc in recent weeks. So far the rumour mill has Metallica playing in...
Odyssey
RDS
Malahide Castle
Marley Park
Ormeau Park
Botanic
Some field

So far none are confirmed...but a wee birdie says they'll be playing on these isles at some point in 2008. And the Reading/Leeds festival headliners have yet to be announced...