Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
A FAIRYTALE XMAS
A RUNDOWN OF THE BEST GIGS HAPPENING OVER THE FESTIVE PERIOD START PLANNING YOUR SUMMER WITH BELSONIC
In what might be the oversight of the century, or at least of this festive season, there are still some tickets left for tonight’s Rapparees show at the Limelight. It’s called Fairytale of The Pogues and it sort of does what it says on the tin. The Rapparees are an incredible band of trad musicians who take their cue from Shane Macgowan and Co so it’s no surprise that when they dedicate a night solely to the music of their heroes they do it better than anyone else. Don’t expect an exact reproduction of the Pogues sound, though, The Raparrees aren’t mere copyists – they’ll be paying tribute in the best possible way, with their own voices.
Equally unsurprising is that their Christmas show has become something of an institution in the last few years – so much so they’ve added an extra night. Tomorrow’s gig is well and truly sold-out so get on to it, quick smart. Broadway’s waiting… Doors 7.30pm (early show), tickets £12.50 plus booking fee from www.tickettailor.com
If Rum, Sodomy and The Lash don’t float your boat, why not head to the far side off the City Hall for some mayhem of a slightly different kind? General Fiasco are among the greatest of Northern Ireland’s alternative rock bands to emerge in the last decade or so, sort of trailblazers for the latest crop of spiky guitar, bass and drum enthusiastic such as Brand New Friend and, to a lesser degree, Wood Burning Savages. They never quite scaled the heights to which they aspired and were tipped – with support from such tastemakers Zane Lowe, Steve Lamacq and our own Rigsy (see his round-up of the year on pages 4&5) – but despite going on an “indefinite hiatus”, the pop band equivalent of “left by mutual FOLLOWING the flurry of recent announcements, it’s looking very much like Summer 2019 will be the biggest Belfast has ever seen in regards to festivals.
Newcomers in the shape of the Let’s Rock Festival in August and the new Live At Botanic Gardens in June are a much welcome addition to the scene but the daddy of them all, Belsonic, have completed their run of guests for the series and it reads like a who’s who of contemporary pop, rock and electronic music will be coming to Ormeau Park.
The mighty Slash kicks it all off on Wednesday June 12, joining forces with vocalist Myles Kennedy, bassist Todd Kerns, drummer Brent Fitz and rhythm guitarist Frank Sidoris to complete rock supergroup The Conspirators.
Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike headline June 14, the pioneering brothers continuing their ascent into becoming two of the most prominent dance music consent” they remain a compelling if infrequent live concern. One of these is in Voodoo tonight so you know what to do – doors 8pm, tickets £12 from the bar.
As if that wasn’t enough to sate your pre-christmas appetite for rock and, indeed, roll veteran punks The Outcasts host their third Christmas party at Belfast’s Black Box tomorrow night, the guest plus Terri Hooley spinning the best tunes (doors 8pm, tickets £10) then on Sunday, why not take it down, just a notch, with jazz hero David C Clements and the awesome Arco String Quartet, and support from Beulah Kim, also at the Black Box (doors 7.30pm). It’s a sellout, but you never know.
After Sunday we’re into the dark unknown of Christmas Eve – and nobody ventures out on that night of nights, do they? See you on the other side, folks. Merry Christmas… figures of modern times.
London grime superstar Stormzy is top of the bill on Thursday June 20, with a full supporting cast to be annnounced early in the new year.
Ben Nicky returns on Friday June 21 having become one of dance music’s busiest and strongest selling DJS in the world.
George Ezra on Saturday June 22 was the first show announced a few months back and is totally sold out already.
Hozier played a phenomenal show at the Ulster Hall on Wednesday night and is set to play his biggest ever gig here on Thursday June 27.
And finally, trance megastar Tiesto is the Belsonic 2019 curtain closer on
Friday June 28. WE have ONE pair of tickets to give away to a Belsonic 2019 gig of your choice! Well, all of them apart from George Ezra, cos that one is totally sold out.
To be in with a chance of winning a pair, all you have to do is email ultimateulster@ mirror. co. uk with