DZ Deathrays, The Alice Kona Band
McHugh’s, Belfast
24th May 2012
As we’re currently in the middle of a heatwave, it is only sensible to seek shelter from the sun. That we’re lurking in a basement bar and its night-time is irrelevant – its shelter and mine’s a pint while you’re asking.
Our headliners this evening will, of course, be well used to warm weather (cliché alert) as they’re Aussies. Indeed, they’re enamoured by their surroundings, revelling in playing in a venue that they admit is “like 100 years older than our country.”
I doubt that The Alice Kona Band are as old as either the bar or Australia, but they’re imbued with the vitality of their relative youth. They’re from the guitar pop tradition, and confirm their local-ness by complaining about the heat in-between punk-poppy songs – punk-pop in the sense that they’re punky but catchy, like The Clash, Stiff Little Fingers or Richard Hell.
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BBC News NI have reported that one of Northern Ireland's most famed instrument manufacturuers, Avalon Guitars, have gone into administration. The small Newtownards based business have made custom guitars for the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, Bob Geldof, James Morrison, Andy McKee and many more.
For more information, visit BBC News NI.
More support acts have been announced for the Belsonic festival which takes place at Custom House Square, Belfast this August. Duke Special, Newton Faulkner, The Answer, Sweet Savage, Jody Has A Hitlist and many more have been announced for various dates throughout the event.
See below for the line-ups:
Wednesday 15th August - Skrillex
Support from Dillon Francis
Thursday 16th August - Emeli Sande
Support from Duke Special and Foy Vance
Friday 17th August - Madness
Support TBC
Saturday 18th August - Thin Lizzy
Support from The Answer, Sweet Savage, FM
Sunday 19th August - Paramore
Support from Jody Has A Hitlist
Monday 20th August - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Support from The Enemy
Thursday 23rd August - Two Door Cinema Club
Support from Noah & The Whale, Oberhofer
Friday 24th August - Tom Jones
Support from Brian Kennedy
Saturday 25th August - James Morrison
Support from Newton Faulkner and Gareth Dunlop.
Sunday 26th August - David Guetta
Support from Alesso, Congorock, DJ Hix
