Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Northern Exposure
CALI ROCKERS PLAY LIMELIGHT
Being an honorary North Coaster is a bit like having a Ferrari with no engine – it might look good but it’ll get you nowhere. It’s not that the people aren’t friendly, far from it. In fact the further one gets from it the better. Belfasties – that’s Wah-wahs, Mccoeys or Chip-eaters in the local vernacular – are tolerated while those from abroad are gathered in with open arms. Folk from neighbouring towns, though, now that’s a different matter...
Luckily then, Ultimate, an honorary North Coaster dint of marriage, is tolerated well enough up there. For it’s a fine part of the world, and with the Atlantic Sessions it’s getting better all the time.
This year’s festival runs from November 16-19 and features more than 60 acts playing in clubs, bars and coffee shops, restaurants, arts centres, delis and hotels in the three ports – Portstewart, Portrush and Portballintrae. Who better to lead the headliners, then, than Ports who play the Anchor Complex in Portstweart on opening night? Joshua Burnside, Rory Nellis and Gareth Dunlop are at the Atlantic Bar, Portrush the following evening with DJ extraordinaire Joe Lindsay controlling the ambience later on.
On Saturday, November 18, headliners include Brand New Friend, The Holy
Innocents and Emerald Armada at Kiwi’s, Portrush, while Phil Taggart provide choons in the Atlantic Bar. There’s a highly recommended Iain Archer and Ryan Vail Laser Show at the Arcadia in the town on the same day, starting at 4pm...
And the final night of the shindig sees
Ralph Mclean’s Sunday Brunch event with Mandy Bingham, Malojian and Paddy Nash kick of at the Flowerfield Arts Centre at noon with Neil Martin and the writer Glenn Patterson at the same venue at 5pm.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the festival, however, is the Music Trail – a series of free shows by all sorts of class musicans too numerous to mention but among whom Wood Burning Savages, Joshua Burnside, Runabay, Eamonn Mcnamee, Matt Mcginn and Amy Montgomery and Michael Mormecha. We’re also enthused by the notion of Bushmills sponsoring the whole shebang though worry how that’ll work out for us. It’ll be interesting to see how well Ultimate is still tolerated after a feed of drink...
The festival’s Director Carolyn Mathers said: “Northern Ireland is extraordinary in the richness of its artistic talent and Atlantic Sessions is a perfect opportunity to showcase our creative energy. This year we will feature a series of new collaborations exclusively for the festival, six of the NI Music Prize 2017 nominees, EP and Single launches, specially curated gigs such as Ryan Vail’s Laser Show at the Arcadia and Ralph Mclean’s Sunday Brunch, plus DJ sets from Joe Lindsay and
Phil Taggart. Audiences will have an opportunity to witness our finest singersongwriters partner together in intimate environments and we’re delighted that interest in Northern Ireland’s music scene is stronger than ever.” So it sounds like a ailment suffered by Tommies in the Great War trenches but actually, Switchfoot are a pretty sunny alt-rock band from San Diego, California. They’re Limelight 1 tomorrow night and sound like a lot of fun. Tickets £20 + Booking Fee from www. limelightbelfast.com, ticketmaster.ie, Katy’s Bar & Ticketmaster outlets nationwide. Northern Ireland customers 0844 277 44 55.