Oh Yeah Gary, you tell ‘em

IT’S been such a busy few weeks for local music, with plenty to celebrate.

Granted Gary Lightbody painted quite a bleak picture of life without art while speaking at an Arts Council event last week – but his carefully chosen words really helped to endorse and highlight the value of that body’s ambitious 10-year plan to boost the creative industries in Northern Ireland.

It was alarming to be reminded of how little is invested in the arts here compared to the rest of the UK and Ireland – but at least, with Gary’s help, attention is being drawn to that appalling fact.

And more’s the point, that the

Arts Council’s plans should help to start and put things right.

Gary is part of the team at the Oh Yeah Centre – a venue which leads the charge with regards to grass roots music here – something they can now prove with an illustrious award.

A ‘Music Week’ award no less – for best Grassroots venue in the UK.

A huge coup but well deserved, especially considering what they do goes way beyond merely hosting gigs.

And finally, there was particularly good news for Problem Patterns – arguably the most vibrant and positively charged new act from his neck of the woods – the punk quartet have been added to the bill at Glastonbury.

Their music may not have the broadest appeal – they make scuzzy, gloriously lo-fi punk rock that’s not easy on everyone’s ears – but they’re so good live that often becomes irrelevant.

I’m certain the energy on stage and the band’s furious charm could win over any floating voter.

They’ll come back with a boost to their already impressive army of fans.

So yes, lots of optimism about the place just at the moment.

Whisper it – but perhaps things are looking up.