Fresh from their Irish tour, Heathers are readying themselves for a number of festival dates this summer, including Electric Picnic.
ATL caught up with twin sisters Ellie and Louise MacNamara to talk about everything from Paul Simon to popcorn.
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BBC Blast have invaded the ATL Offices with their youthful good looks and vitality, making the normal ATL crew look decidedly jaded and knackered. So in honour of our new guests, as part of tonight's SuggestiOn-Air, we demand to know your all time favourite album created by teenagers.
Some of the ATL team are so old they needed to consult dusty encyclopaedias to remember their youth, so let us know yours by shouting us here, on our facebook or on our twitter and we will give y'all a shout on the show tonight.
For a moment I thought Twee had died, lost in the fickle world of modern, trendy music. Tilly & the Wall no longer turn up at every festival, Architects in Helsinki... well... are they even still together? And its been a while since we've heard the family friendly numbers of our old chums, I'm From Barcelona.
But the thing is, I hadn't noticed the absence of twee in my life, until I clicked on a video for what could be the new face of the genre - Forest City Lovers. Have I had twee withdrawl?! How have I forgotten about that unique feeling only Twee Pop can give you - the simultaneous smile/vomit reaction as your body is confused by the extreme chipper tone and tackles with its need to revolt.
Seriously, we're still very excited about the fact that north coast noise boys ASIWYFA went on tour with Them Crooked Vultures. It makes us giggle on public transport.
You may have already taken in part one of this tour diary, and now Tony has recovered sufficiently that with much psychiatric coaching, he can unlock these often bittersweet memories of his time on the road with some of rawk's most rawkingest legends, so we'll let him continue with the tale...
DAY 2...
Do you like dub? Do you like reggae? Do you like dub-reggae?
If so, then you're in for a treat, as the tent hosts a five hour reggae marathon. It's all accomplished stuff, and an awful lot of people get totally into it, energetically dancing and shaking themselves to the riddim. ATL declines to get involved, instead watching from a distance and soaking up some of the incredible sunshine.
Striking out on its own after establishing itself as one of the key attractions of the Electric Picnic festival, Body and Soul is a feast for the eyes and ears (and the nose, frankly). After succumbing to its charms last year, your ATL correspondent was back for more, armed with nothing more than a photographer and his own sweet mind. Prepare for a journey, man...
Each week on the ATL Dance show, Paul Hamill invites an illustrious luminary from the electronica scene to tip us off with their three killer new tunes.
This week's essential tracks are chosen by Phil Lucas from Belfast club night Twitch.
ATL Dance is broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster, Friday nights from midnight til 2am folks!
Legendary hard rockers Deep Purple will be blasting into Belfast's Custom House Square on the 23rd June, bringing their collection of heavy riffs to the party. ATL caught up with frontman Ian Gillian to get the lowdown on everything from football to the merits of flamenco music...
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In our occasional series building up to the festivals, ATL unearths another gem we're very much looking forward to hearing blasted out through some very large speakers in a field somewhere this summer...
ACT:Major Lazer
TRACK:Pon De Floor (2009)
FESTIVAL:Belsonic 2010
CHANCES OF HEARING IT: Nailed on certainty. Put your nan's house on it.
After seeing the chaotic but utterly engaging live show at Electric Picnic last year, we anticipate high levels of indiscriminate raving this August at Custom House Square. The headliners are Soulwax, and they have some hysteria inducing belters, but this will be hard to top on the day. Labelled as "acid wash dancehall" (sorry, what?) it sounds like master producers Switch and Diplo have stuffed a blender full of ragga, rave and the percussion ensemble from the London Symphony Orchestra. Watch people get bent way out of shape.
The Canadian twins are in Belfast tomorrow to display their indie-pop ways, so ATL thought they'd catch up with one half of the duo, Tegan, to find out the nitty gritty of life as one half of the Quin sisters.
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Hello there Tegan and Sara, and how the Dickens are you right now?
I'm doing quite well thank you for asking. I'm relaxing in Vancouver for a few weeks, catching up on Dexter and playing my guitar.
Why the heck should we give a stuff about your band then ;)?
Well, our band is pretty awesome. The people who listen to us know this of course, ha. So for people that don't I suggest going to www.teganandsara.com. We update our website pretty frequently with music, blogs, videos, photos etc. You can hear our music or watch music videos there too. We're 29. We've been in a band for 15 years. Neil Young and his manager Elliot Roberts signed us in 1999. We've made 6 records, the last two with Chris Walla from Death Cab For Cutie as producer. And, we're funny.
Each week on the ATL Dance show, Paul Hamill invites an illustrious luminary from the electronica scene to tip us off with their three killer new tunes.
This week's essential tracks are chosen by none other than Graham from Funkasaurus/When Pilots Eject.
ATL Dance is broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster, Friday nights from midnight til 2am folks!
As regular blog readers will know, when one of our esteemed bands spread their wings and do something even vaguely exciting overseas, we loan thema biro and an old school jotter to keepa note of their exploits. This time we have a doozy. Not only is it And So I Watch You From Afar one of the finest live bands in Ireland providing your blog contents, they happen to be on tour at the request of Them Crooked Vultures, who boast Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters, Josh Homme from QOTSA and John Paul Jones from flippin' Led Zeppelin!
Tony Wright from ASIWYFA reveals all...
Since partying was first invented in Northern Ireland, Mark and Tanya from Skibunny have been DJing, mixing, remixing and getting up to all sorts in the clubs of Belfast (and beyond). But three years ago the duo morphed into a 'proper' band and are now approaching the release of a debut album.
Of course it's all been building up to a quick online chat with our Rigsy...
Clown Parlour's Mike Mormecha is out in L.A. at the moment along with fellow Northern Irish musicians Aaron Shanley, Kiernan McMullan and Silhouette, who are all playing a number of showcases in the Californian sun.
So ATL thought we'd get Mike to report back on the events, the networking, the sun, the shows etc... You know, like a standard tour video diary. What dropped into our inbox the other day, however, gave us a little more insight into the mind of the mighty Clown Parlour...
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The biggest gig to ever happen in Northern Ireland, hosted by the biggest band we have ever produced - and it all took place at a cricket pavilion in North Down.
ATL was all over Ward Park on Saturday and here's what we've come up with in terms of coverage.
Our beautiful website is full of pictures, tweets and a review of every band who performed.
Where: Main Stage When: 9:15pm
Describe in a tweet: Massive but small
There's a cartoon sketch ATL commissioned a while back that teases Snow Patrol about the countless number of 'BEST. GIG. EVER.'s they've done and the seemingly endless homecomings. It tickled Gary Lightbody, who admitted he got the joke. Headline appearances at The Empire, The Ulster Hall, The Odyssey and Ward Park (let alone similar shows in Scotland) have all came and gone. But there was something genuinely special about today - as we've constantly reminded ourselves, this is the single biggest show to take place in Northern Ireland. Ever.
When: 8.30pm
Where: Guinness Stage
Describe in a tweet: Carryduff boys bring the noise
The development of Cashier No.9 over the last few years has been phenomenal. From their humble beginnings playing bars as a two piece with a lap-top, to their current situation of being a fully fledged indie-rock monster, the band have consistently pushed themselves to greater heights, and tonight is no exception.
When: 7.30pm
Where: Main Stage
Describe in a tweet: Swoonsomely ramshackle
We are somewhat baffled by the decision to have an essentially folksy (kinda) act on second from top of this bill. Lisa Hannigan is always best suited to the intimate, where subtlety and nuance can cut through. Opening with 'Pistachio', the set is trip through the Mercury nominated 'Sea Sew' album, including 'Ocean and a Rock', 'Sea Song' and 'I Don't Know'.
When: 7.00pm
Where: Guinness Stage
Describe in a tweet: Sheer charm defeats technical difficulties
The cheer that greets Cat Malojian when they appear brings a smile to ATL's face. Amidst a galaxy of glittering stars, it's nice to know that homegrown heroes can be as appealing as the main draw. Almost instantly though, some ear bursting feedback threatens to bring things to a premature halt. The on-stage mix seems to be failing as guitars and vocals seem to come and go. Another howl of feedback, and we're away, a display of technical virtuosity that gets the assembled revelers on their feet and dancing, rather than clutching their ears in pain.
When: 6.00pm
Where: Main Stage
Describe in a tweet: Classic performance by a band that continue to rise...
Band of Horses kick things off with the first song from their debut album (aptly called, you guessed it, 'The First Song'). Straight away the uplifting, feel good smack in the chest guitars thunder and, somehow simultaneously, shine through. 'Great Salt Lake', Ode to the 'LRC', 'Weed Party' and 'No Ones Gonna Love You' are a treat to those who have followed the band from previous albums. While current single, 'Compliments' is a highlight of the set.
When: 5.30pm
Where: Guinness Stage
Describe in a tweet: Belfast bard gives a masterclass in stripped-back beauty
With the last notes of General Fiasco still ringing in the air, Robyn G Shiels and band take to the stage, with a beautiful fingerpicked guitar chiming over the heads of the audience. Appearing in a slightly trimmed version of his normal band - guitar, drums, piano and vocals - we are instantly treated to a set of melancholy tinged country with just the right amount of attitude that is the perfect response to General Fiasco's stadium-sized set.
When: 4.45pm
Where: Main Stage
Describe in a tweet: Hitting the ground running
The sun is out, the crowd has been patiently waiting since before 3pm and the first notes are stuck in anger by a Northern Irish band. Awesome. General Fiasco's tails are up and they're ready for this. The grounds aren't at capacity just yet, but this has to be the biggest crowd the mid-Ulster three piece have ever played to and they show no signs of being overawed by the occasion.
Each week on the ATL Dance show, Paul Hamill invites an illustrious luminary from the electronica scene to tip us off with their three killer new tunes.
This week's essential tracks are chosen by none other than Shine regular and one half of the Jet Project, Mr. Timmy Stewart.
ATL Dance is broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster, Friday nights from midnight til 2am folks!
ATL Dance presenter and one half of sought-after production duo Psycatron, Paul Hamill, is just off the red eye from Motor City USA. Psycatron were invited out to the annual Detroit Electronic Music Festival by none other than the legendary Carl Craig and here's how it all went down in a photoblog form...
Yet another decent export from the North West, pop punk renegades The Hovercraft Pirates have been up to all sorts recently - putting out a second album, picking up rave reviews in rock mags, organizing tours and generally making the most of a move to London.
Singer Paul Blue goes underground to chat with our Rigsy...
Please note: this interview is published exactly as it took place on MSN (other instant messenger services are available) - we're afraid Rigsy's grammar and spelling just really are that bad :-(
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