The Grammy award winning Taylor Swift treated Belfast to a spectacular show which delighted fans and bored boyfriends who were dragged along. Supporting act, Ryan Sheridan, proved a great introduction with his energetic guitar chords and fast rhythms, creating a rustic, authentic feel to the night for which Taylor is famous. However, not a moment too late, Taylor burst onto the stage in a flurry of glitter.
BY SARAH LAVERTY
Simon Munnery is not called the “enduring comedic veteran’ for nothing. A rare breed of a comedian who masterfully glides through his performance with no need for crude remarks or controversial statements a la Frankie Boyle, rather he uses his endless charm and perfect timing to enchant his audience.
BY CLAIRE WILLIAMSON
In the age of The Eagles or Dylan, five years was a lifetime with regard to music, just look at the ‘Eagles’ greatest hits spawned between ’71 to ’75 churning out immortal classics like ‘Take it Easy’ or ‘Lyin’ Eyes’. But in today’s world of constant touring, constant pressure, and constantly changing scenes of music, it is not surprising to see bands such as Arctic Monkeys or the recently deceased Oasis, take so long to produce new records. The wait therefore often makes the end product more important, more special and most significantly for a band, more criticised. Luckily for the New York indie band that started it all back in the early 2000s, the wait was more than worth it.
BY BRIAN MARTIN
Walking into the rehearsals for the Queen’s Music Society Theatre Group’s production of Evita, it’s good to find out they know I’m here to carry out an interview with Richard Burns, who plays Juan Perón. Actually they don’t, and he has no idea but is able to squeeze me in to his hectic schedule. And so we take a seat in the mahogany lined corridor, with strains of classical music filtering up from downstairs, and have a wee chat about Evita and dissertations.
BY BEN FINCH
“Not in my name” gatherings took place today across Northern Ireland, London, Liverpool and even the United States. With no more than one hundred people demonstrating at Belfast City centre, the gathering was intimate but still heartfelt. Children also participated in the event and many held banners saying “Not in my name”.
BY BEN FINCH AND EMMA GALLEN
Animal Disco is better than most Belfast nights out. There’s no WKD on offer and no Top 40 on repeat. Instead you get £2.50 White Russians and a live band at midnight, with a DJ spinning indie classics before and after the set. The increasingly popular Cashier No 9 played last week to promote their single Goldstar. This has caught the attention of the Sunday Times (it was their download of the week) and the Guardian (included in their F & M playlist). This “blissful pop single” should be part of your summer soundtrack, along with “Lost at Sea”, with sunshine and beaches to mind when listening to it.
BY EMMA GALLEN
Girl Interrupted meets anime inspired action. Mix in some racy costumes and gaming style action sequences and you’re on to a winner surely. After the death of her mother and sister, a young girl is locked away in a mental asylum by her abusive stepfather. As her new nightmare begins she is faced with the threat of a lobotomy in five days’ time. Retreating into an imaginary world where she must fight to retrieve five items to win her and her new friends’ freedom the plot thickens into a peril filled fantasy adventure. This isn’t the light hearted romp that the trailers might suggest, it’s dark and dense, fraught with issues it’s uncomfortable tackling.
BY LAURA SHEARER