Derry Vibe - Music

Daft AS Punk To Hit The Bentley This Weekend

10/10/2017

Daft As Punk Are Coming To The Bentley This Weekend

Love Daft Punk? Yes of course you do if your reading this article right now and if you ever wanted to see them perform live. Well now you can get a taste of what's it like this Saturday as "Daft As Punk" Tribute Act perform in The Bentley Bar.

The Bentley Bar is becoming one of Derry's go to bar's for the best live bands and this week is a little something different as Daft As Punk will perform in the bar as the duo recreate the magic of Daft Punk with a top of the range light show and have received rave reviews wherever they play! It all starts from 10pm on Saturday 14th October and Its's expected to be a road block so get in early as its free in all night...

For more on the night follow: The Bentley Facebook Page

Watch Daft AS Punk Tribute Act Do Their Thing here:

Confute To Play The Cellar In Derry This Weekend

5/20/2016

Confute To Play The Cellar In Derry This Weekend

Confute the new name for Gary Curran's solo project who we all know him from Japanese Popstars is to play The Cellar Silver Street this Saturday 21st May alongside DJ Ben Pearce.

The Cellar at River Inn where you can see Confute this weekend

We caught up with Gary from Confute before his gig tomorrow night in The Cellar Silver Street.
He told us about going solo and what he thought about the local music scene around the northwest and much more..

1. Confute Music the solo project from Gary Curran from Japanese Popstars, so tell me the meaning behind the name Confute?

When you get into the music industry you tend to hear hear ‘no’ a lot and need to be prepared to understand that sometimes your music will be rejected, but it doesn’t mean you give up. Confute means to disprove people. Basically it’s a motivational thing that drives me to keep working to try and win over people and keep writing and working hard until something may spark their interest someday.

2. Who would be your favourite DJ’s or artists that you would follow or who would inspire you to make music?

There are too many to mention.... my tastes vary as there are a lot of new artists and labels who breaking on to the scene. The idea would be to have a prolonged career and so to maybe reach the dizzy heights that Carl Cox, Digweed, Sasha, Pete Tong and Richie Hawtin to name but a few have and also to remain consistent and yet diverse.

3. You’ve got a long list of collaborations over the years so who are your favourites you loved working with?

All the artists on The Japanese Popstars 'Controlling Your Allegiance' album... Robert Smith (The Cure) being the highlight.

4. Do you find it different doing it your own thing now or do you prefer doing solo stuff?
It can be different and difficult but in a way its refreshing as you have more time to focus and don’t have other people involved or having influence over your music. I enjoy all forms of music production, both collaborative and solo. All composing and producing environments come with a variation in challenges, advantages and disadvantaged but is good to have something that is mine and mine alone.

5. So being from Derry yourself what do you make of the local dance music scene here, it seems to have become so hugely popular around northwest in the last few years again?

The Scene has definitely became stronger and this would be down to the hard graft put in by the people running nights throughout the City. Celtronic, Jika Jika, Queen and Disco, Bekuz, Good Vibrations, Mein Nacht, ZOUKA and I can only apologise if I have missed out on any one. The diversity that each event brings is unique and it is very educational and inspirational to the young local producers that I am sure will keep the scene alive in the years to come.

6. What do you think of playing alongside Ben Pearce this weekend in The Cellar, how did that all come about?

I am looking forward to playing alongside one of the best producers on the circuit at the moment.

7. So what have you got lined up for this weekend in the cellar?

I am excited to be playing some of my new material that is more on the house/tech house tip. New collaborations with R.E.C and an EP coming on Superfreq.... so all will be getting a road test. Just going to set it up so Ben Pearce can volley it home.

8. Where can we see you play next after this gig ?

I will be in Glasgow on Thursday 26th May at Flat 01 then The Tunnels in Aberdeen 27th May

9. Where can you find you on social media so people can follow your music?
t. twitter.com/confutemusic
f. facebook.com/confute
s. soundcloud.com/confutemusic
w. http://www.confutemusic.com/

So makesure to check out Confute alongside Ben Pearce this Saturday 21st May in the cellar silver street. Tickets £10

For More on Silver Street and The Cellar Gig follow them on Facebook.

DJ Ben Pearce Brings His 2016 Tour To The Cellar This Saturday

5/19/2016

We catch up with DJ Ben Pearce before his set this weekend in The Cellar Silver Street this Saturday Night playing alongside local DJ Confute Music.
Ben Pearce as we know him for summer 2013 club hit "What I Might Do" and we ask Ben about his passion for Underground Music and his UK and Worldwide Tour in 2016.

1. When did you first discover your interest in Underground Music?

When I was about 18, I'd been going to rock gigs and rock clubs then met some people & got into going to house and techno nights.

2. Who are your favourite DJ’s who inspire you to create music?

There's probably far too many to name, people like Move D, Four Tet, Floating Points... anyone with a broad musical spectrum during their sets usually gets me.

3. What has been your biggest achievement to date, what was your biggest achievement to date, what was your biggest career regret and is there anything you want to achieve in the future?

Biggest achievement would probably be a platinum disc that I have for italy, I guess that stands out. If you could've told the 20 year old me working as a manager in a complaints call centre that he'd have a platinum disc one day, he would've laughed at you

4. A lot of DJ’s get compared to one another but what makes you stand out from the other acts and which song defines you as an act?

I don't think anything makes me stand out really, I don't think you have to stand out in a profession which is so personal. I play the way i play and i can say that nobody else in the world does exactly that. Music is unique in that way, maybe when you get to mainstream radio you have to have an 'edge' but I don't think in underground music that's necessary as much. Not seen too many other DJ's with ear stretchers though ;)

5. You’ve had a massive club hit “What I Might Do” In 2013 and now you’ve got a new EP Entitled Pomelo. Tell us a bit about that?

Pomelo was born from just touring religiously throughout the summer and making music that would fit into what I was playing at the time and still am now

Check Out Ben Pearce's New Single Pomelo:

6. So what have you got lined up for us in The Cellar this weekend in Derry?

I don't know to be honest, I'll figure that out when I get there :) I never plan my sets, always see what the vibe is before deciding on it

7. You’ve got a busy summer line up as part of your 2016 tour. Where you most excited playing this summer?

Everywhere to be honest! It's great to be back in another ibiza season, for ants and for Carl Cox at Space. Lots of amazing club shows, excited to play Secret Garden Party, Lost Village and Creamfields... so many!

8. Where can we can see you on your UK Tour?
All the dates are on my facebook page :)

Don't forget to check out Ben Pearce on Facebook for all his 2016 Tour dates: facebook.com/benpearcemusic

You can see Ben Pearce in The Cellar Silver Street on Shipquay Street this Saturday 21st May from 10pm. Tickets £10.

Ben Pearce's What I Might Do Video:

Bennigans Introduces Patrick Gardiner As He Tours Across UK and Ireland on Parallel Tour 2016

4/9/2016

As part of Parallel Tour 2016 Bennigan’s Bar introduces us to Patrick Gardiner, Cassy Hoare and Jack Rayner (a.k.a. Dirty Blonde) Three solo singer/songwriters from Falmouth University in South West of England.

But first we caught up with Patrick Gardiner before the night kicked off in Bennigan's to talk music, touring and much more...

1. So you travelled down tonight to play here in Bennigan’s Bar along with two other solo artists as part of The Parallel Tour 2016 across UK and Ireland., So tell us a bit about that?

Patrick: Well the three of us study together at the university of Falmouth down in Cornwall. We wanted to do a tour together as three solo artists where we all perform in Parallel. We basically decided that we would do this Parallel Tour, the three of us. They would kind of organise a few gigs for us around England as that’s their patch and I would organise a couple of gigs for us here in Northern Ireland.

So we just come from Gloucestershire where we have done two gigs near the forest of dean area round Gloucester and now we are over here in Bennigans tonight in Derry and then tomorrow night we are off to do Portrush in Kiwi’s Brew Bar. Then we are back over to England then for the end of the tour finishing off back in Cornwall down at our university.

2. So your touring throughout the UK and Ireland throughout this year?

Patrick: Yeah that’s it, I think there is a few from our university doing tours and kinda sticking to England but obviously me being from Northern Ireland. It made sense for us to use the connections I have here, I have played in Bennigan’s before and I played in Kiwi’s in Portrush before. So I said to them lets head over to Northern Ireland and do a few dates there so we kinda went out on a limb booked our flights and said we are gonna try and do a couple of Northern Irish dates.

3. So Cassy and Jack are performing alongside you tonight so how did you all get involved and to bring this tour together?

Patrick: I think it’s really interesting, obviously I study with Cassy and Jack which goes under the stage name “Dirty Blonde”. But they are songwriters and solo artists like me but we all have such different styles. As I got more of the acoustic guitar Damien Rice kind of thing going on, Casey has got more of solo ballad stuff like I would compare her to Sia maybe or Lady Gaga and then Jack has got this whole theatrical sort of persona really inspired by a lot of 80s music, a lot of Fleetwood Mac kind of throwback stuff and he incorporates that into his music in a really fresh way. It’s really nice to tour with them and we are essentially doing the same thing playing our songs as solo artists but in such different styles and across such a wide range of genres and performance styles.

Patrick Gardiner Touring with Cassy and Jack AKA Dirty Blonde:

You can see more photos from the night on our Facebook. Twitter and Instagram...

4. As you’re from County Down direction so you must be quite more familiar with your own areas music scene?

Patrick: I am to an extent yeah, I brought out an EP last April and I did the launch of that in Belfast in Voodoo on Fountain Street there and it was quite well attended good gig. So I’ve done a fair bit of gigging around Belfast, Lisburn, Lurgan and those kinda places. But I have played up here as well. I got family from the North coast and good friends from Derry The Wood Burning Savages who are a great band from Derry and I’ve played with them in Belfast. So I’ve played up here in Bennigans before and I think I like to get around the gigs in Northern Ireland to be honest.

5. On your Facebook you describe your music as Acoustic alternative singer-songwriterish jazzy folk pop tunes. That covers a lot of genres.

Patrick: I don’t like to pigeon hole myself in one genre, because I never sit down and write songs and think I am gonna write in this style. I just write my songs and how ever they turn out and people describe them in different ways. I was featured on a couple of blogs around Belfast The Thin Air and Chordblossom and The Guardian. Those kind of guys described me in very acoustic terms Damien Rice, Villagers that kind of stuff and I think that’s where largely my sound is and that’s the stuff I kinda like listening to and the stuff I like to write but there is always influences of Jazz and stuff creeping in, as I grew up listening to jazz and blues records. So I consider myself an acoustic singer songwriter but I think there is different influence’s that seep into the music I write.

I just listened to your sound check there sounding like a mixture of everything, so you kinda go from all types of genres.

Patrick: I like to keep it quite eclectic but at the end of the day I hope it still sounds like me, it’s my voice, it’s my playing and it’s my songs but they can branch off in different directions and span a couple of genres.

6. Your music described as ““It's young and its fun. He has been recognised at Glastonbury as an Emerging Talent and is one to watch." By The Guardian, what do think of The Guardian mentioning you in their blogs?

Patrick: Yeah that was really nice to get featured by The Guardian and back in 2013 a couple of years ago. I got picked for Glastonbury emerging talent competition to play at Glastonbury. I didn’t actually get in to play Glastonbury but they put me on the shortlist for their upcoming artist’s kind of competition and that was really nice and then I think after the back of that The Guardian ran a little feature basically just saying “This is Patrick and this is his music” and that was really nice to get that mention from them but I almost like it more to get mentioned by the smaller blogs around Northern Ireland and obviously Derry Vibe is one of them so I am not just sucking up to you..
But like any of the local blogs that mention you is nice as it’s taken an interest in you as a local artist and that kind of thing.

You’ve got a lot of recognition for your music on radio so far, like you got airplay on BBC 6 Music, Radio Ulster so it must be good to have that support from them too?

Patrick: Yeah a bit of airplay around Radio Ulster and Tom Robinson’s show on 6 Music which was really nice, he does a show on their called “Fresh On The Net” which is a really great show. So it’s nice to get featured in that. But now I am living down in Cornwall I find myself getting more airplay on BBC Radio Cornwall which is funny as it’s a like a total different scene down there. So it’s refreshing to get played on different stations.

7. Who would inspire you to create music locally or worldwide artists?

Patrick: Locally there is a few artists that I’ve played with throughout the last number of years who I still stay in touch with who really inspire me. The producer and multi instrumentalists, soloists from Ballinderry Michael Mormecha who’s bringing out debut his solo album. He still is the front man for Mojo Fury and they obviously done amazing things In Northern Ireland music scene but he is bringing out his first solo record this year called “Called Low Fly Life” and he actually produced my first EP back when I was 16 years old and he’s be involved in my recordings for a while. He played drums on my recent EP and he was one of the guys that I hung around with was a teenager to get tips from in the local music scene and people from around Lurgan area, Ciaran Lavery who has been going up in the world getting featured by South by Southwest. I remember playing with Ciaran in a tiny little art gallery for about 20 people in Lurgan a couple of years ago so it’s mad like. He’s getting so much recognition for his music but yeah people like that.

8. So you like a huge list of musical influences like Amy Winehouse that you would follow?

Patrick: Amy Winehouse for me is like one of my absolute idols in the sense she was essentially a jazz artist but she was never really labelled that which she managed to be a pop artist but it was all about jazz and I thought it was incredible and just an amazing singer.

9. Following this gig tonight where can we see you next?

Patrick: Next is actually tomorrow night we are playing in Kiwi’s in Portrush and then after that sadly I am back over to England to play in Cornwall in Jacobs Latter in Falmouth which should really be a fun gig and then in a couple of months I got a new EP coming out which is been mixed and mastered and stuff at the minute, so when that new record comes out then I hopefully will be back over for a full Northern Irish tour just as myself promoting my new EP. Hopefully summertime is when that is happening..

10. Where can we can find you on social media so people can follow your music online?

Soundcloud.com/patrickgardiner
Facebook.com/patrickgardinermusic
Patrickgardiner.com has got all my music links which you can find on the website.

You can also find Patrick Gardiner’s Music also on Spotify and I Tunes.

Martin Garrix Lined Up For Club MTV in Ebrington Square This September

4/1/2016

Superstar DJ Martin Garrix is coming to play in Ebrington Square in Derry-Londonderry this September, The DJ known for his huge hits including "Animals" and "Don't Look Down" is coming to play in our city we can't believe it either!

Check Out Martin Garrix's Biggest Hits:

Check Out Martin Garrix Live @ Ultra Music Festival 2016:

If you loved him performing at Ultra Music Festival then you'll not want to miss him when he comes to Ebrington Square this September. Back for a 3rd time Club MTV has brought some huge acts to the northwest in the last few years including last year's huge dance acts Philip George and Galantis.

They haven't just got one huge DJ lined up this year, Martin Garrix will be supported by Example along with recently signed to Spinnin Records Junior J from Northern Ireland and Club MTV residents R3WIRE & Varski.

Over the past two years, Club MTV Derry-Londonderry has seen some of the biggest dance stars on the planet descend on the city including Galantis, Chase & Status, NERVO, Sigma..

The event takes place in Ebrington Square on 10th September and tickets are now on sale from Ticketmaster

Take a look back at last year's highlights from Club MTV 2015:

SOAK Wins Prestigious 2016 Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year

3/13/2016

Local Derry Singer/Songwriter Soak has won the prestigious 2016 Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year for the album Before We Forgot How To Dream, released via Rough Trade.

As we all know her as Bridie, Soak was presented with the award by U2's Adam Clayton which the event was held in Dublin.

Soak, aka Bridie Monds-Watson, received a cheque for €10,000, provided by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) and the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) - as well as a specially-commissioned award.

The sold out event held in Vicar Street in Dublin was hosted by Undertones band member Paul Mcloone who presented his RTE 2FM radio show live from the event.
You can watch the show back on RTE 2 on Saturday 12th March at 11pm.

The Lavengros Perform LIVE in Bennigans Bar To Promote First EP

2/20/2016

By: Mark O'Reilly

The Lavengros are a fresh local pop rock band from Derry played in Bennigans Bar Tonight.
The place where bands really kick start their music career and we catch up with the band before they're live gig. We've heard so many bands play in Bennigans in the last while and this band are something completely different from what we've heard before and it's so refreshing to hear in the city.

There was also Letterkenny band Constant Supply who played after The Lavengros but they really kicked Friday night off with a banging set of tunes and had the crowd that packed the bar out were moving along to some of the tracks they performed including a selection of their own tracks mixed with a few covers of bands like Stereophonics in which at one point I thought Kelly and the lads from Stereophonics were performing in Bennigans but it was The Lavengros.
If you never heard of them before and are intrigued already then I recommend checking this band out...
We got loads of photos and videos from the bands performing now on our Facebook: Facebook.com/Derryvibe

This is a band to watch in the next year or so as these guys are gonna be massive. So I caught up with both bands before they went on stage to perform in Bennigans..

The Lavengros Interview:

Tell me a bit about your band?
We are a sorta a different sounding band, normally in Derry you get alternative sort of sound but we are trying to make it commercial and so we formed about a year and a half ago and things have gone brilliantly and we just released our debut EP and it's gone down absolutely what we didn't expect. We weren't expecting the reaction that we got so we are really happy.
So the sort of sound we have is a pop sort of sound rather than some bands in Derry are normally known for the rock scene and alternative. So we kind of keep it commercial and that's the way we are planning to go.

What's meaning behind the name "The Lavengros" your band name?
I know it's different but it does have a meaning we just didn't pull it from anywhere its like my great great great uncle would have been like a famous author a way back in 1800s and he wrote a book and it done really well. It was called "Lavengro" so we said you know what just call it that so it does have a meaning
Would you follow any of the other local bands around the northwest?

Yeah locally i'd listen to few of the bands The Clameens are a very good band and Artic Crescent and also a band scenery too.
I really love their sound to scenery, Soul seekers as well so we are just trying to get our way in with them into the local scene. So they know that's our second original gig tonight, So we are slowly but surely coming along onto the scene, so we have big plans for this year.

So you must be quite familiar with the local Derry music scene ?

We try and go to as much events as possible. We were over watching The Clameens in Walled City Brewery one night and we do our best to get out and about to see what's going on, even getting some tips and watch what people are doing.
We got a lot of help from Paddy Nash the musician and his band has helped us massively and Stevie McLaughlin as he is in a band called Sand stone, as they were quite big a few years ago and they've helped us as well.

There is a lot of local talented artists and musicians around town. Don't you think these kind of nights held by Bennigans are a great way for local bands to showcase what they to offer?
We love in here it's a great venue and see where to launch our EP aswell there is no better place. We are just trying to get our EP out to try and sell it, so Bennigans is the best place to do it because there is a lot musical people from here.

There is a lot of local bands that have come through here and made their way up?
We know Soak who started off playing here and Keith Harkin who is away in Celtic Thunders loved this venue.
I think too it's the only real place in Derry where you can be yourself. Like we played cover gigs in Granny Annies and stuff and look it's not us, we are an original band and this is the good place that understands music in Derry and that's why we wanted to come here.
You come here to listen to original music, not to dance to a few covers. You don't really hear you unless for us to show you what we are for us to try and sell it.

Your newest single "All I Need" is out now, I watched the video today and it's quite retro looking video and quite catchy, so tell me about the song?

We are kinda going for that kind of 80s cheesy theme kind of commercial like a parody just that kind of style. We do have normal day shots of it, we had this idea that I think it was me and the manager Jonathan where watching a funny video from years ago it was an 80s dating video. Back in the day they used to make dating videos to promote themselves so we thought instead of being a serious video like must bands all you see is in practice so we thought lets do something different and its got a great reaction like a 1,000 views in like 5 or 6 days or something. So it's going really well. We are abosutely delighted with the response to it.
Have to say a big thank you to Conall Melarkey that directed the video and was sort of him his brain child. Its a great video so massive thank you to him.

So tell us a bit about the song All I Need or the meaning behind it?
It's just basically about love that's all it is, the song was more like Valentines Day king of thing. The kind of style of the song was retro. So the song we wanted to try and keep it not too cheesy but cheesy in a way. The songs about 5 guys in a band who are doing this dating video and all they're saying is all they want is love and all they need is love, so they're looking for the girl and it's quite relevant in everyday. It's just really a boy girl story really. so we just try to capture that.

So you kind of find that a familiar situation with yourselfs then?
Yeah well we all have girlfriends and think Emmett is the only single one. He is on the look out!
That's what it was wrote about we all have girlfriends and all were saying is all need is their love and attention and that's it really we are getting all sloppy.

Watch The Lavengros - All I NEED Music Video:

So is that something we can expect tonight similar to "All I Need" or different?
It's very different, our ep is like there is a mix of all genres kind of as there is funk, groove, dance everything in the ep. People say what kind of genre you like and i say i am into all genres so our is literally everything.
Except Metal..

What advise would you give to other bands that are starting out and trying to get noticed?
Just go for it and just do it, do whatever you think and do what you wanna do, just do it because like we were in former bands and we just sat and took a gig every weekend as it came we weren't getting anywhere. Best advise i would give is do whatever you wanna do, don't think it's far fetched just go and do it and that's what we did.

We just have to say a big thank you to everyone who helped us through the way, we got Jonathan our manager who we wouldn't be half way where we are and Stevie McLaughlin who mastered and recorded the ep. We wouldn't be anywhere without him and Conall who done the video and Don who took the photographs and the lads in the band they're brilliant lads to work with..
There is loads of bands we could thank for helping us like Paddy Nash, he given us loads of advise, contacts and bar suggestions which is a really good help throughout the way.

Following this gig in Bennigans, Where can we see you play next or what's next for the band?
So what we plan to do in the summer its obviously the festival scene , so we are hoping to play festivals in summer and just getting on original circuit and after Bennigans we plan to find some bands maybe not locally but maybe in Belfast or somewhere that's bit out of Derry to support. So I don't wanna go to far ahead of ourselves but we are looking to support a few bands around Belfast and maybe doing a few radio tours and getting the song plugged and ep.
Also planning on recording an album in the summer as we been writing new songs and there sounding maybe even better cause we are still learning and they are sounding really good. Yeah so we have a lot of plans in the future...

Where can we find you on social media so we can follow your music?
We are on Facebook: facebook.com/Thelavengros
Twitter: Twitter.com/TheLavengros
Youtube: Youtube.com/TheLavengros

The Docs Single Launch with local support: The Band Interviews

2/16/2016

Local bands joined together for a great night of local music on Friday 27th January in an unusual music venue The Yellow Yard. It was our first time there and the place was packed to the rafters. There was a mixture of various local bands from all over the northwest including Blue Jeans, Luna Kicks, The Docs and travelled up from the north coast was Little Arcadia.

The evening started with Little Arcadia playing a great set of tunes to kick off the night and we caught up with the bands before their set

There was a mixture of various different bands played from around the northwest area and the evening finished with headline act The Docs played a set of covers of Oasis tracks and also with a mixture of their own songs in between and the crowd were really going for it. It was a night not to be missed for local music lovers...

Little Arcadia Interview:

The first band we caught up with after performing was Little Arcadia, a band from northcoast area who recently involved with Volume Control album which is an album made up of local bands and artists from across Northern Ireland.
How do you feel being a part of The Docs single launch tonight in here in Derry?
“It’s pretty good yeah, it’s nice been down in Derry as we don’t get down that often. So it’s cool to come down to the end of the country and play a few tunes. It’s always nice to get outta the northcoast. It’s a bit of a change which is good.

Tell me a bit about your band Little Arcadia?
So we are just a group of friends formed a band in 2012 or so and went through a lot of different genres for like half a year and find one that we were comfortable with so just kept at it and also a Russian joined our band too.

So you must be quite familiar with the music scene around the northwest as you played Nerve Centre in December?
Yeah we are kinda all about playing places that people wouldn’t expect us to play and where we grew up playing and it’s kinda cool to get down to Derry as well and the Nerve Centre was a great gig, it was pretty fun.

We were basically formed through the Nerve Centre Camp Rock programme were we all met Euan first and then say we humped the board down the road. Also being so unfamiliar to Derry and been asked to come and play up in Nerve Centre where people from Derry knew very little about us so that was a good feeling cause it felt like ah you actually listen to our music even though they can’t put a face to the band but was cool.
There must be not much of a music scene along Northcoast?
See when it goes, when it happens its class absolutely amazing and yes its quiet and there are bands from around where we are from who say it doesn’t exist but the thing is it still exists and we play like 4 or 5 other bands who are all on the same page as us and just want to play gigs. So it does exist. It’s also a lot nosier on the northcoast you wouldn’t get this kind of music down here like Punk so there is like a harsh sound that comes from the music there.

You recently announced that you’re going to be featured on the new album been released by Volume Control in Belfast?
Yeah that was last Christmas time and there also was the Sync one as well and one done by Nerve Centre too. The Volume Control one was cool as it kinda came out of the blue for us and we know a guy works up in Volume Control and he moved down to the northcoast and he wanted to suss out the scene and he just said come up and play and well put you on the record and ended up our song got first on the record which was pretty intense. It’s always flattering when something like that happens.

It must be amazing to be asked to something like that as Belfast is a big massive music scene?
Belfast is like our next logical step; Belfast is defiantly the next stage for the band as most of us are going to uni up there. We will be separated but just a train ride apart and well keep going.
Earlier on in the year in 2015 we got a gig with Chordblossom up in bar with no name and that was our first gig in Belfast and that was great as it was an older crowd and people who haven’t heard of us before and was cool to play in Belfast that way and then we got the Volume Control one we got to play to people our age and we knew a few bands on the record as well. So was great to catch up.

Where can we find you on social media to follow your music?
Yes we have Facebook, Twitter and we are on band camp and maybe Myspace or even Bebo.

The Luna Kicks Interview:

After that we caught up with The Luna Kicks a local Derry band which were previously called Artic Crescent.

Let’s start by asking your name of the band recently changed names from Artic Crescent to The Luna Kicks so tell us the meaning behind the change?
Aye well basically we seen Artic Monkeys and we said it’s a bit like them so people were saying this. So well go for something different cause we are changing our sound as we go on a wee bit so it’s about new change.

Recently you went to Google HQ in London as guests for “The Being Me Campaign” Tell us a bit about that and how your band got involved?
It’s a campaign about celebrating differences and we went over to Google as we got invited to go over and use it as a business trip to prepare for a tour that we are hopefully planning for in May or so like that but it’s a good experience and we loved every minute of it anyway.

How’d you feel been asked to be a part of Google then?
We felt privileged like to be asked by such a well-known company and we are sorta thinking why us and it’s our first time as band been out of the city to London like it’s my first time in a plane too, so it was some experience.

The band has also got a new music video out for their single Breathe so check the video out below

Breathe From The Luna Kicks Music Video:

You got new music and a video out at the moment Breathe?
Breathe is basically a song just saying that looking through all the trouble your through, you just need to take a few seconds back and just breathe in and relax and just think about what could be better you know what I mean like it could be worse even just relax and that’s what it’s all about.
So is the video online now so people can watch it or stream it?
The video is online now on our YouTube channel The Luna Kicks. You can get it up by searching for Luna Kicks or Artic Crescent. We are planning on going round the radio stations in the next couple of months.
So you planning a PR campaign then?
Trying to plan a wee radio tour and maybe in London too hopefully.

How do you feel been part of the launch of the The Docs new single tonight ?
They are a great band and we are happy to be supporting them tonight and a great turnout too.

We also got a new member of the band Conor here and we’ve had him in for the last month and we are excited for new changes and is a great contribution to the band.

So what do you think Conor of the new band The Luna Kicks?
Aye It’s different like compared to other bands and far better and I like the sound. So we are excited to see what happens next for the band.

What’s coming up next for The Luna Kicks?
We are playing down in Pitchers Venue in 2 weeks we think it is for Foyle Search and Rescue which is going to a great cause but plenty more shows and songs to come. Exciting things to come.

Where can we find you on social media to follow your music?
You can find us on Facebook.com/thelunakicks and same for Twitter/thellunakicks and we are on Youtube too

The Final Interview with Headline Act The Docs:

Finally, it was such a huge turnout for the bands in Yellow Yard and we caught up with The Docs before they went on stage to perform as the headline act and promoting their brand new single “TwoThirtyFour” We got few minutes with the band before they had to rush on stage to entertain the crowd that come along to see them.

Tell us a bit about your band and how you formed?
We formed as me and a mate just jamming about and then we got the drums in and the line-up got built up over time. Then we decided to change from acoustic to rock and roll and ever since then we just been gigging flat out.

So you’ve been together a few years then?
We just been together just over a year as a band.

So you guys set up this night here in Yellow Yard on Palace Street this evening with support from Nerve Centre, Sync and tell us a bit about how it got set up?
Myself and Cathan were in a group called “Set The Stage” It teaches you all about behind the scenes and Nerve sort of helped of us then just come together as a band. We worked with Sync Records and Somewhere to as there are a lottery funded group and they basically find a space and sign up and they pay part of your space and cost of it and the rental whatever, Its brilliant like they paid for the venue tonight.

It must be so helpful towards bands starting out?
Defiantly it so is we couldn’t do half the stuff without their support.

There is a lot of local talented artists and musicians around town, don’t you think? And these kind of events are a great way for local bands to showcase what they got to offer?
Yes, brilliant, all the support coming together for the night it just shows you what you got like.

What about all the other bands playing here tonight how did that all come about to get them to perform?
When you’re in like the music scene your kind of just get to know the other bands especially it might not seem long to some people but we have been in the music scene for just over a year and through that then it’s quite a long time for us we got to know a lot of people like Blue Jeans, Little Arcadia, The Luna Kicks are great bands.

So for anybody that hasn’t heard your music before what can they expect from The Docs?
Banging Tunes!

Where can we find you on Facebook, Twitter and online?
We are The Docs Derry on Facebook if you search for that and we are gonna be making our own sound cloud and sticking stuff up there as there is a lot more to come from the band.

Which DJ's Would You Like To See Play Club MTV This Summer?

2/2/2016

The news that everyone has been waiting for that Club MTV is to return to the city this summer.

There has been rumors and speculation recently as Derry Vibe announced the news a few weeks ago that the event could be returning to Derry-Londonderry after we heard from an official source that "Club MTV would be back in 2016".

We now can confirm that Club MTV is coming back this summer and is currently in the planning stages.

According to reports that the events could run over 2 nights and it's understood that the first headline act could be announced within the next 2 weeks.

Organizers of the event Legacy Promotions have said in a statement .“MTV has developed a great relationship with Derry and they are looking forward to coming back again in 2016

“We are currently in talks with several big names and we are sure that tickets will go like hot cakes when they go on release.

“If everything goes according to plan the Club MTV event will be MTV’s biggest DJ event this year.

A lot of names have been speculating recently including Martin Garrix, Steve Angello,Steve Aoki and Nicky Romero. But no official announcements on any line up yet.
"We can’t go into details at the minute but one thing is for sure, the act that will be headlining this concert will draw music fans from all over Ireland.” Spokesperson added, so that be something to look forward to later this year.

But we would love to hear your views on who you'd like to see play in Ebrington Square this summer vote for your favorites below.

Could Philip George Return To Play Club MTV ?

A regular Club MTV DJ Philip George has recently played last week in Lincoln but after last years top set in Ebrington Square could Philip make a return to the city for one of the nights?

Martin Garrix

Could Martin Garrix be coming? Photo: Virgin EMI Records

Undoubtedly one of the world's biggest DJ's right now is Martin Garrix who has had some huge hits since coming out in 2009. Martin has played some huge gigs around the world and always puts on an amazing show for his fans and this would be a night for any dance music lover if he played in the city.

Kygo:

Another huge DJ who's had a massive 2015 and is about to become even bigger in 2016 is Kygo. Could he be one of the biggest DJ's to play in Derry?

Shift K3Y:

Another top UK DJ Shift K3Y is currently in the charts with his tune "Gone Missing". But could he play for the first time in Derry ?

Sigma:

Could Sigma make a return to the city in 2016? These guys have had some huge successful hits in the past year including collaborations with Rita Ora, Paloma Faith and many more.

Which DJ's Would You Like To See Play Club MTV 2016?

Could Club MTV Return To Ebrington Square This Summer?

1/20/2016

You won't believe it was last year since Club MTV brought some of the world's biggest DJ's to the city including chart topping DJ's such as Philip George, R3WIRE and many more took the stage in Ebrington Square last August to perform but could the event make a return in 2016?

Would you like to see Club MTV return to Derry-Londonderry this summer?
Also who would you like to see perform on stage in Ebrington Square?

We wanna hear your views on if you'd like to see Club MTV return to the city this year as we hear rumors that it could happen so watch this space for more information..

Could Club MTV return for 2016 with a even bigger line up than last year? Share your views in our poll and tell us if you'd like Club MTV to return in Summer 2016?

Would You Like To See Club MTV Return This Summer?