So where else is better to take the band than the roof of Belfast’s most famous building – the totemic Europa Hotel – still standing after all that nasty violence. And here Polar Beyond came alive. Standing on that rooftop overlooking the wee city turn to twilight, I all of a sudden came over all emotional.

The mood was hardly even ruined by the small point that we had to all sign death wavers before being allowed up there.

Download “Polar Beyond – Suns” for iPod (62.6 MB)

Listen to “Polar Beyond – Suns”

Download (Mp3, 4.1 MB)

Download “Polar Beyond – Chapter Two” for iPod (88.2 MB)

Listen to “Polar Beyond – Chapter Two”

Download (Mp3, 6.9 MB)

Camera: Will McConnell
Filmed in Belfast, April 2010

When the series first started we had a list of bands in mind who would suit the style of the series perfectly. Pretty much top of that list was The Lowly Knights, and its a great privilege to finally present this session – and it was worth the wait.

So, better late than never, here’s 4 tracks recorded in Belfast’s Common Grounds Café. Two tracks, Even Keel and This Other Boy will feature on the new EP coming this September, so this is an exclusive first listen.

The Lowly Knights play Belfast Empire Music Hall on Thursday 1 July with Queer Giraffes, Rams’ Pocket Radio and Farriers. Babysweet Session’s Gregg Houston will MC the proceedings.

Download “The Lowly Knights – Even Keel” for iPod (57.7 MB)

Listen to The Lowly Knights – “Even Keel”

Download “The Lowly Knights – Hollow” for iPod (49.5 MB)

Listen to The Lowly Knights – “Hollow”

Download “The Lowly Knights – This Other Boy” for iPod (58.7 MB)

Listen to The Lowly Knights – “This Other Boy”

Download “The Lowly Knights – You Can’t Help Who You Love” for iPod (58.8 MB)

Listen to The Lowly Knights – “You Can’t Help Who You Love”

Filmed by Will McConnell in Belfast, May 2010

12 Months ago today, Bandwidth launched a little series called IN STORES NOW, and we started as we meant to go on with two superb sessions from Escape Act and Clown Parlour. Originally the series was meant to run once a week for 12 weeks, all based around the Cathedral Quarter. 41 episodes later and we’re still going strong..

The Cathedral Quarter golden rule went out the window by about episode 9, and by the time we broke episode 13 we were already developing a reputation for uncovering major new talent.

During 2009 we made movies, got arty, had festive fun, things got a bit freaky at points – there are also fan favourites and personal favourites.

So after a year, the plan for IN STORES NOW is to continue documenting new Irish music North & South – and we’ll be taking it on the road to other towns outside Belfast over the summer. There’s an infinite amount of great talent on this wee island. But seeing as there’s only so many of these things in the world, I just can’t promise they’ll always take place in stores per se….

Aaron Shanley – Cotton Fields
(B-Side of In Stores now#25: AARON SHANLEY)

Download “Aaron Shanley – Cotton Fields” for iPod (53.7 MB)

Furlo – Logic Too Late (Take 1)
(B-Side of IN STORES NOW#22: FURLO)

Download “Furlo – Logic Too Late (Take 1)” for iPod (88 MB)

Maguire & I – On Time
(B-Side of IN STORES NOW#10: MAGUIRE & I)

Download “Maguire & I – On Time” for iPod (74.1 MB)

Colenso Parade – Find Your Mother
(B-Side of IN STORES NOW#35: COLENSO PARADE)

Download for “Colenso Parade – Find Your Mother” iPod (83.1 MB)

Filmed in Belfast 2009-2010 by Will McConnell
Sound recorded by Will McConnell & Sean Duncan

Download the isolated audio tracks from these sessions for your listening pleasure – as individual tracks or download the entire EP as a zip file

→ Download Audio Zip file here (4x Mp3s 22.1 MB)

—————————————————————————–

1. Aaron Shanley – Cotton Fields

→ Download “Cotton Fields” Mp3 (3.9 MB)

2. Colenso Parade – Find Your Mother

→ Download “Find Your Mother” Mp3 (6.2 MB)

3. Furlo – Logic Too Late

→ Download “Logic Too Late” Mp3 (6.4 MB)

4. Maguire & I – On Time

→ Download “On Time” Mp3 (6 MB)

All Content:

“An artist with true character, captivating creativty and enough imagnation to run for years and years. This is just the beginning.”

One year on and its just getting better and better. Cara has a full band behind her now and is developing a unique and magical voice of her very own. So it’s with great pleasure we present this In Stores gig with Cara and her new band.

It took place on April saturday, a busy shopping day in Belfast. Wehre else to start but in cococouture, a luxury chocolate shop in Donegal Square?

Download ‘Surprise Surprise’ for iPod (46.7 MB)

Full credit to Joe Laverty for spotting this one. We were on our way to the next location when he pointed out this place. Sliiiiiiide as it’s so affectionately known in Belfast is.. well, its not the kind of place I’d be caught dead in, unless its from an ecstasy overdose or something. But damn it if they don’t have a pretty bar and a great looking 30s-speakeasy-type-dancefloor. Cue Cara.

Download ‘Names’ for iPod (45.3 MB)

And finally thanks to all the staff at Best Vintage for providing this video with some well deserved classy nudes, and Cat Power laying in the background on vinyl (vinyl!!). A very classy conclusion to the most enjoyable session Bandwidth has done in months!

Download ‘Go Quietly’ for iPod (45 MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell in Belfast, April 2010
Sound recorded/ Mixed by Joe Laverty

When I met Paul we spent the afternoon in Belfast searching for pianos – first Marcus Music obliged, then the Black Box, only to find their piano is pretty badly out of key. No matter, they didn’t kick us out. Then the Oh Yeah centre came to the rescue (for the 2nd time in a month), and before we got kicked out of there (only joking), we recorded another little number..

Download for iPod (48.5 MB) / Watch on Youtube

Download for iPod (38.2 MB) / Watch on Youtube

Paul plays Laverys bunker tonight and again on the 4th, 5th and 6th June at Queens University as part of the Keynote mini-fest.

This is In Stores Now, after all – so we were luck on a busy Saturday in Belfast to find 3 accommodating stores – firstly the record fair at Bandwidth’s alama mater, the Oh Yeah Music Centre. Then to two distinctly… nautically themed locales. Let’s see if you can spot the irony of it all.

Since then things have moved apace. The band got in touch to arrange a session – I love everything about them – and before you could say 10 Downing Street a partnership was made.

Download for iPod (29.4 MB)

Download for iPod (42.4 MB)

Download for iPod (76.3 MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell in Belfast, March 2010

We’d promised each other we’d record a session together for months, and thought about ways of doing it. Playing in a bin, or a music shop, or anywhere near a plug so that we could keep just a little of the signature Disconnect 4 electronic/guitar sound. In the end, we settled on 20 minutes together, worryingly close to their stage time at Belfast’s free-music Radar night at the Students’ Union. And in the end, once again, an apple iphone came to the rescue, and a little £1.19 app called iSynth.

Cheapest video ever made? Perhaps. Most dangerous thing the band have ever done (letting me near them with a camera that is)? Just maybe.

Disconnect 4 play Whelan’s in Dublin 30 April with Funeral Suits.

Download for iPod (47.8 MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, February 2010

The rest of the guys arrived in dribs and drabs – and we ran an hour late, two hours late – and well, maybe I lied when I told the band the location was only 20 minutes away. Yet by happy accident, when we arrived in the heart of lagan valley park, the sun was setting between the trees, and all was good.

Farriers – San Remo / A Final Harvest

Download for iPod (137 MB)

Sometimes a location just speaks to you, telling you to hang around, explore, play around. This otherworldly woodland area, about a half hour from Belfast city centre, the city’s best known secret in fact, has a magical draw.

We spent another hour, chasing the sun, in a meadow that seemed to roll on forever, hiding under trees, trying that walking/playing/chewing gum thing. This was a beautiful day, even though we couldn’t feel our fingers in the end.

It was February, after all.

Farriers – Mission Hall / The Last Long Evening

Download for iPod (89.1 MB)

Photography by Liz Wade:

Camera: Will McConnell
Sound: Sean Duncan
Filmed in Belfast, February 2010

Best perhaps to sum the man up in his own words:
I write songs that I believe in. I hope that the lyrics reflect some sort of honesty from my own experience in life. I’m not trying to fool anyone. Except myself maybe.

Incidentally, on his travels, Junior picked up a song from an English singer called Andy Barnes, “The Last Of The Great Whales” (not just a song about whales, apparently) It’s a real treat – watch through to the end to catch it.

Junior Johnson – Born In The Wrong Time / City Girl / The Last Of The Great Whales (Andy Barnes)

Download for iPod (121.5 MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, February 2010

I first filmed with Colenso Parade at a very damn and very raucous Glasgowbury Festival. Crammed into the back of my van (long story) and chock full of brown wine, the lads took the whole thing surprisingly well. Have a look at the car-nage (err sorry), which features 3 other bands, right here.

So how could we top that?
Well, there’s a very special location in Belfast that I was saving for just such an occasion.

Oh and by the way – watch the video through to the end for a little surprise. Sometimes these little magic moments happen – and this really is magic. The band were on a high, they’d been strumming this little Everly Brothers ditty all day – and then they found their audience, two unsuspecting citizens just trying to walk through the grounds of the city hall.

And so it was, a case of hello darlin’, goodbye loneliness..

Colenso Parade – Fall At Your Feet / Bye Bye Love (Everly Brothers)

Download for iPod (93.9 MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, February 2009

Just as they were preparing for a trip over to Austin, Texas and the SXSW showcase, the band rocked into the upstairs of a tattoo parlour in Belfast city centre.

Dave had warned me the previous day that he had the lurgee and his voice was about to give any moment. So what we get in return is something like a blues version of ‘Where The Wolf Roam’ – stripped down, bare bones, just like Bandwidth likes it – and when you do it like Strait Laces do it, who needs a second take?

Strait Laces – Where The Wolf Roam

Download for iPod (32.6 MB)

Strait Laces play the Belfast Rocks Showcase at Latitude 30 in Austin, Texas tonight. They’ll hang around SXSW for the remainder of the week, and return to Northern Ireland with a show at The Limelight on 25 March.

Photography by Liz Wade:

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, February 2010

I first worked with her last winter when we the people of Bandwidth put on a show called Thank You For Watching, a free concert for subscribers to the Bandwidth world that featured Isobel and Albrecht’s Pencil.

This is an altogether different environment – a new song, so new in fact its not even yet named. Just raw, straight out of the box emotion. And an auto harp. In a kitchen.

Isobel Anderson – Untitled #1

Download for iPod (39.3 MB)

Belfast is full of wee surprises. That was kind of the spirit in which this In Stores Now series was born So sometimes a secret allotment beside a car park behind a row of houses in south Belfast comes along – and its just a the kind of place you want to film a video.

It was something about this space – the time of day with the sun setting, the freezing cold air – Isobel’s music seemed to fit – or vice versa. Her latest songs share this theme of travel, water, nature. It was all too perfect. Anyway, here’s two tracks together: one – View Out Of Sight – I’d heard on her myspace page and had specifically and humbly requested, the other a second new song, again so new it didn’t even have a name. Bliss.

Isobel Anderson – View Out Of Sight / Untitled #2

Download for iPod (119.1 MB)

Isobel Anderson’s next scheduled show is 20th March at the Black Box in Belfast – and keep an eye for her in cafés and music nights all over the city.

The brilliantly talented Gerard O’Mahony accompanied us that day, have a look at some of his photos from that day, as well as the rest of his portfolio, right here:

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, January 2010

Lo-fi, lo-down and dirty rock. Blues so thick you could stir it with a stick.
Where else to showcase their charms?

Why a tasty kebab shop of course..

Download for iPod (71.6 MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, January 2010

I love the 1930s. I love ‘Break My Heart’. It’s a clumping, stomping, clapping, singing along song. One that needs a crowd of people. A crowd of people just like there was on Malone Avenue last Friday afternoon, where lensmesiter extraordinaire Matthew Alexander Patton was shooting a music video for a little band called A Plastic Rose.

So I hope he didn’t mind us borrowing a few of his extras. Who am I kidding, he was delighted.
Eagle eyes, watch for as many Northern Ireland band cameos as you can, here…

The 1930s – Break My Heart

Download for iPod (84 MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, February 2010

Sometimes this happens. After the camera comes out, and you do a few warm up tunes, you get some bands who just can’t shut up – they’ll keep playing, because that’s what they would have been doing before you turned up with a camera anyway.

So it is with Jackson Cage. They just fucking love music so much, and good for us, because they’re so fucking good – one song became two, or three and four. The moment you’re about to see with the ukelele in the kitchen (playing appropriately enough, “A Hard Night In The Kitchen”, mmm…) was as spontaneous and unrehearsed as it looks.

Part 1 – Jackson Cage – A Hard Night (In The Kitchen) / Help Me Mama

Download for iPod (100.6 MB)

Then it was back into the warm, for more tea and some heart-warming tunes.
Needless to say, this is only a highlight – when I left later that afternoon, they were still playing Fairport covers..

Jackson Cage’s new single “Help Me Mama” is out on 16th February 2010.

Part 2 – Jackson Cage – Rescue Me / Love Has No Feelings

Download for iPod (117.3 MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, December 2009

These Omagh lads are known for their metal riffs, and for screaming a lot. They used to be called The Soviets if that gives you any indication. It sounds at first like they don’t give a fuck about you. But then they do cite Bob Dylan as an influence on their myspace. And they do have that.. yeah that cover, which finally has more balls now than Gwyneth and Apple and co ever envisioned. So I urge you to look again naysayers.

Of course punk/metal bands have done the acoustic for Bandwidth before. So we know the score. Find a couple of guitars – check – find a very reverby space – check – let it rip – check mate fuckheads.

Once Before Take Off – Effective Directive / God Put A Smile Upon Your Face

Download for iPod (59.8 MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, January 2010

It was in that spirit I was delighted to discover Lee Mitchell. He’s an old friend of the lads from Six Star Hotel, and a stage manager at the Forfey festival. I was pleased to be able to prove too, that he’s also an amazing singer-songwriter.

Belfast’s Ormeau Baths Gallery was the setting, shortly after Christmas, and here’s how it went down:

Lee Mitchell – Part 1 – Heart Over Head

Download for iPod (43.2 MB)

Lee Mitchell – Part 2 – Regrets / Please Don’t Leave

Download for iPod (61 MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, December 2009

This is a great one to start off 2010 – Bill Coleman from Cork. Actually, he only came up from Drogheda. It’s a long story. Bill Coleman ladies and gentlemen, in the rather cool Belfast Guitar Emporium:

Bill Coleman – I Want You To Know

Download For iPod (85.7 MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast December 2009

Truth be told – this all started a year or so back. Skruff played the Limelight’s oh so influential Thursday night showcase, Two Step. Maybe it was the manic stage persona, the jumping about and pointing, the sweating, but something clicked in Bandwidth’s robotic head.

“I must ask them some day to come down to Belfast city centre, ride a carrousel and meet Santa Claus”.

So it was done.

Skruff – Fabulous Weapon

Download For iPod (69.5 MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, November 2009

It was Aaron Shanley, from little old Lisburn – which is vast becoming the music mecca of Northern Ireland (I’m serious!). Just then, an email dropped into my inbox – “its Aaron here, I’d love to shoot a session with you some time”. Feeling’s mutual.

And a few weeks later more serendipity. Waiting at Botanic station to catch a train back to Lisburn – we’ve just filmed a session in a dark leaf-strewn alleyway – we decide to chance one more, fully expecting to be moved on by the helpful employees of Transtink corporation. Aaron starts playing. On cue, the train arrives, he keeps playing – he doesn’t break stride – one of life’s mutual little moments.

Aaron Shanley – Ripley Court Blues

Download for iPod (55.3 MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, November 2009

NEXT WEEK: SKRUFF

It was a song called ‘Please’ which I’d hear reviewed on the radio – the most stirring and beautiful thing I’d heard for ages. “You would hear this on the OC,” some-reviewer-or-other said. Luckily for us, they were spared that lucrative embarrassment long enough to not retire just yet and keep writing tunes.

I requested ‘Please’ – lead eskimo Peter McVeigh politely declined – because they have a newer even better song. And its true.

I suggested an ice cream parlour, a giant kitchen freezer (the health & safety executive? who?) and the frozen pizza isle at Iceland. I was shouted down.

Late one Sunday night, walking home, the streets totally silent – I discovered the quietest, most unearthly traffic island ever manufactured. It all made sense.

Eskimos Fall – Judas

Download for iPod (70.9MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, September 2009

NEXT WEEK: Aaron Shanley

The idea to film Albrecht’s first came about after watching their intimate set at the Willowstone Festival in the summer. Joel, Fionn and Laura share a passion with Bandwidth about breaking down that barrier that exists between audiences and performers – at Willowstone they played in the middle of the festival field, under a giant willow-structure, sitting on bales of hay.

We’ve also been meaning to film something at the QFT for a while now too – so this seemed a natural match. After much deliberation, we even settled on allowing input from a certain Igmar Bergman (my original vote had been for John Carpenter – how glad I am I was shouted down).

After the gig, the band expressed their desire to tour living rooms, kitchens and patios around the country. Enter Bandwidth.

Albrecht’s Pencil will be playing the inaugural Bandwidth gig on Friday 20th November, at 7pm in the living room of 12 Ashley Avenue, Belfast. Come along! It’s free in and BYObooze. With support from Isobel Anderson.

Albrecht’s Pencil – Thought Police

Download for iPod (60.4MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in October 2009

NEXT WEEK: Eskimos Fall – really, this time..

An EP is coming soon, so watch out for it. And here’s hoping they come back to Belfast soon.

This week on IN STORES, we provided a lovely echoey neo-gothic chamber in the shape of Queen’s University black & White Hall (yes you student bums, it actually has a name).

Enjoy it!

Furlo – Logic Too Late

Download for iPod (82.2MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, October 2009

NEXT WEEK: Eskimos Fall

- “And what song will you be doing for us today Orla?”
- “Goddess”

Was nearly disappointed. Until we learned that its no just any Goddess, but the Goddess of Desire, that beautiful whisky coloured homewrecker. And Louisiana Joyride really mean it; this is hard and fast blues in a broooooaaad Belfast accent. It is love it or loathe it. And we do love it.

Louisiana Joyride will be doing their duty at McHughs in Belfast on 11th November, and if you miss that they’ll be back there 13th and 22nd November before heading down to Whelan’s in Dublin on 24th. They’re a gigging machine!

Louisiana Joyride – Goddess

Download for iPod (48.2MB)

Filmed by Matt Bohill
in Belfast, October 2009

NEXT WEEK: FURLO

And now, for the first time, we are bringing to you, the full story of what happened on that fateful day. We are bringing you all the evidence, based only on the secret testimony, of the miserable souls, who survived this terrifying ordeal. The incidents, the places. My friend, we cannot keep this a secret any longer.

Let us punish the guilty. Let us reward the innocent. Let us rock.

Mojo Fury – Mexico

Download for iPod (89.4MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
at Mojo Towers, October 2009

NEXT WEEK: Louisiana Joyride

But you just can’t guarantee that the shop manager isn’t going to be out on his lunch break, and the guy who’s temping for him doesn’t know a thing about it. Ah. No amps. No shelter from the impending storm cloud. No matter.

Just so happens Push Borders are just as proficient on a giant dustbin as they are on keys. I once had a drunken conversation outside the pub with JP from the band that concluded with the nugget “don’t let people confuse your songs for your versions”. Professor Will was in effect. He has been justified. This song will sound great on record, and it will also sound good in a piss stained alley, in the middle of the afternoon outside an art gallery, played on a giant bin. They already knew that.

Expect and enjoy new Push Borders tunage very soon indeed, and in the meantime, there’s the small matter of a support slot with Lisa Hannigan at the Nerve Centre in Derry on 12 December. Whoop whoop!!

Push Borders – Dover

Download for iPod (68.4 MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, October 2009

NEXT WEEK: A spooky Hallowe’en Special from MOJO FURY

Katie Richardson’s lovely carnival of crazies is theatrical, dramatic, and a shitload of fun. Just a reminder that music is also supposed to be enjoyable – and also, if you’ll allow me this self-indulgence – an affirmation of faith in what Bandwidth is all about; capturing the essence of ‘performance’, and what that means to different people. Right. Essay over. This is also damn catchy music.

Oh and eventually this would have happened. The sharp-eyed and initiated will recognise 2/3s of the Seven Summits session released a few weeks back. Katie and bassist Fra McRory are also part of that band, while members of Bandwidth veterans John Shelly & The Creatures also make up part of the Carnival. Confused? Bemused? That’s the Belfast music scene.

Also, thanks are in order to Matt Patton who made it down to take some snaps (see them here). You can just spot him hiding by the door in the opening sequence, sporting a rather fetching clown afro.

Katie & The Carnival are playing The Pavillion in Belfast on 14th October and again on the 18th October. You can expect a tip-top show!

Katie & The Carnival – I Can’t Get No Sleep

Download for iPod (80.8MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, September 2009

NEXT WEEK: Push Borders

Its moments like this when the whole series seems to work – music in its purest form, embryonic, newly written material, reduced to a single acoustic guitar with only a shaker, a guitar case and a pair of keys for percussion – performed probably just as it was written (without the pair of keys, I’d imagine. Who knows?). The sound of three musicians with the entire town to themselves. Pure brilliance.

If you like what you hear – or even if you don’t and you want to turn up and throw broken bottles – Window Seats play Lavery’s Bunker in Belfast on 25 October – and again in the same spot on 11th November, where they’ll be trying out some more new material.

Window Seats – Juliette’s Letter

Download for iPod (65 MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, September 2009

Once, and perhaps some time again, known as Hornby from Continuous Battle Of Order, with friends Marty and Alice and a little help from a guy called Tom McShane – this ragtime troupe of gents (and lady) have been seen lighting up events around Belfast lately – including a turn at the Oh Yeah centre last week at the first ever, everCulture Night.

What else do you need to know about from; They’re the best party band I’ve ever seen; they’re all top blokes (and ladies); some of them have tattoos; more music should just be like this, all the damn time..

The Swell Time Western Swing & Cowboy Jazz Band are playing The Black Box in Belfast on 16 October and will, in all sincerity, play a wedding, birthday, wake, bar-mitzvah or makar sankranti near you by request.

Swell Time Western Swing & Cowboy Jazz Band – The Girl I Left Behind Me

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, September 2009

NEXT WEEK: Window Seats

Bitter, perhaps, because two-thirds of the band are now migrated to the sunny beaches of Brighton – so we may not see a Belfast gig from them for a while. Not that Heliopause are strangers to travel – Rich has recorded material, like the band’s first EP in Berlin, and – in his other incarnation as a filmmaker – worked in Iceland and.. er.. Cushendall (courtesy of Bill Drummond).

But come to think of it, there’s sweetness again here – because just before leaving, the band were in the Belfast’s Start Together studio recording their first full-length album – which promises to be out later this year.

Until then, we’ll alway have this performance to remember them by – the time we all spent together in a freaky and ever so slightly gaudy floral shop in the city centre.

Heliopause – The Moon & Sixpence

Download for iPod (75.1MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, August 2009

NEXT WEEK: Swell Time Western Swing & Cowboy Jazz Band

Believe it or not, we were going to feature Katie’s band for this week’s episode of IN STORES NOW. But after watching the very wonderful Seven Summits at the Menagerie in Belfast last night, opinions changed. It was the mood of the place, not hindered in any way by a stunning song called ‘Make Lemonade’, and the general positive vibes the lads (and lady) made. Katie cant complain, she’s in this video too.

So we filmed this gig a few or so ago and thought we would bring it forward a few weeks for you. It’s lemonade for the soul, people.

Seven Summits have an album out on 29th September, and will be playing The Black Box in Belfast on that day to mark the occasion

Seven Summits – Make Lemonade

Filmed by Will McConnell in September 2009

NEXT WEEK: Heliopause

Off to Bookfinders we went – for tea and buns with some Amercian tourists who gladly played chess while we sang about morose things. But I think you’ll agree this one is something special.

More Than Conquerors are playing 24th and 25th September in Lisburn, and back to Belfast on 11th October in Lavery’s. Do not miss them.

More Than Conquerors – Blood Thirsty Men

Download for iPod (66.3MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in August 2009

NEXT WEEK: KATIE & THE CARNIVAL

Bandwidth has been a huge fan of Nakatomi Towers ever since its conception. We knew its mummy and daddy – Dave Frecknall from the prodigiously brilliant The Jane Bradfords and Julianne Shaw from the equally brilliant but sadly defunct Coda.

And plus we frickin dig Die Hard and anything to do with it.

But there’s always a challenge with Bandwidth. But how were we going to replicate the delicate electro beats of Nakatomi Tower’s live sound into the intricate surrou-oh-my-fricking-lord-there’s-a-sweet-comic-shop-on-North-street WITH A 1980S GHETTO BLASTER IN IT.

Problem solved.

After reaching an agreement with Chris the totally-cool-comic shop guy not to sell it for a few days, we made up a mix-tape and got rolling.

Nakatomi Towers – You Cut Me Out

Download for iPod (53.9MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, August 2009

NEXT WEEK: MORE THAN CONQUERERS

So its long been an ambition to work with her. And here is the result.

Rachel, by the way, didn’t want to repeat the same old same old, of an acoustic unplugged set in a shop. This session depended on finding somewhere in town with awesome acoustics and then attempting something totally a cappella.

‘They Said’ is a beautiful, lush song on record. You can download it here.

Maybe its the setting. Maybe its the addition of Marty ‘Dr. Lilt’ Byrne on vocals.
But if you ask me there’s something brilliantly scary about this version.

And we like it.

Rachel Austin – They Said

Download for iPod (64.5MB)

Filmed by Will McConnell
in Belfast, June 2009

NEXT WEEK: Nakatomi Towers

And hello Andy Good – and a little band called Maguire & I. They like violins. They like glockenspiels. They remember the olden days (how’s that possible?). They seem to long for a kind of nostalgic other world.

All of which I like.

And all of a sudden, on the day we arranged an In Stores Gig with the band – as if from above – the sun split open the clouds and Belfast got all of its summer at once. It was time to take the In Stores out of the store and into the.. uh, park.

Maguire & I are just back from a storming set among the ducks and pigs at the Forfey farm festival. You might have to wait until a chilly autumnal 20th October night to catch them live again, at Belfast’s Auntie Annie’s – but here’s hoping they bring the sunshine.

Maguire & I – As The Arrows Fall

Download for iPod (58.9MB)
Filmed by: Will McConnell
©2009 Bandwidth Films

NEXT WEEK: Rachel Austin

Nowadays people literally have to sing for their supper. It’s a little known fact that in some cultures a jaunty tune is still accepted as a viable fare on city-wide public transportation. Enter this young upstart, John D’Arcy, and his band of men.

Please check out his site and his brand new EP “More Like Me”. And if only we all could be – we would be less likely to be thrown off public transport for creating a nuisance that’s for sure- no matter how hard we tried. And there’s a lesson.

John D’Arcy – Poptart

Download for iPod (55.6MB)

Filmed/Recorded by: Will McConnell
©2009 Bandwidth Films

Note to self – next time don’t film an In Stores gig next to Sega Rally championship arcades. The temptation inevitably became too much.

And no explanation from the group as to the identity of Alice Kona, not even from a fruitless drunken google search (the 21st century ‘research’ tool) that succeeded only in, unhappily, unrooting an ex-girlfriend’s myspace page.

Take it away, waiter..

The Alice Kona Band – Death Record

Download for iPod (81.8MB)

Director/Camera: Will McConnell
© 2009 Bandwidth Films

Needless to say, it used to be in town, then it closed, reopened somewhere else, ‘mysteriously’ burned down, and now is reopened again.

You just can’t put the man down.

And to honour the temple of punk-rock music since the 1970s – a true punk poet – Belfast’s Dolboro Dan Mulligan – singing an ode to Hunter S Thompson. So you see, this ones quite special.

Dolboro Dan – Bat Country

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Director/Camera: Will McConnell
©2009 Bandwidth Films

NEXT WEEK: THE ALICE KONA BAND

So they seemed a natural choice to invite to play IN STORES NOW, and play a great new song “Hats On Sticks.”

The original venue was.. well, there were problems.. so we ended up in, well, um… then we found a cool space in the back, and you see..

You know what, just watch the video.

The Good Fight – Hats On Sticks

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Director/camera: Will McConnell
© Bandwidth Films 2009

NEXT WEEK: DOLBORO DAN

What better space than for Belfast troupe Kitty & The Can Openers to premiere a brand new song “Henry’s Like A Little Dragon”.

What with all the talk of this little event, 40 years ago this month – we thought this track was weirdly appropriate. No UFOs in sight.

Kitty & The Can Openers – Henry’s Like A Little Dragon

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Director/Camera: Will McConnell
©2009 Bandwidth Films

NEXT WEEK: THE GOOD FIGHT

Watch for the camera shy die hard fans at 2:08. They specifically asked that we mention them.

Under Stars & Gutters – Just Like A Movie

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Camera: Will McConnell
Sound: David Donnelly

©2009 Bandwidth Films

NEXT WEEK: KITTY & THE CAN OPENERS

Fresh from their success having this song ‘Long May You Reign’ featured in an ad for, of all things, Northern Ireland – we decided to join in the spirit of things and advertise one of the true pleasures Belfast has to offer. A mighty fine fish supper from a damn good chippie. Only one thing missing..

Next episode will be broadcast live from the Great Northern brewery I swear.

John Shelly & The Creatures – Long May You Reign

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Director/Camera: Will McConnell
©2009 Bandwidth Films

NEXT WEEK: UNDER STARS & GUTTERS

The sharp-eyed amongst you might recognise the hero of the piece. Mike Mormeecha is also front man of the brilliantly loopy Mojo Fury. You might have seen him in other such films as the Bandwidth Beatles Tribute – where he reclaimed ‘Come Together’ for Timothy Leary with a storming, psychedelic cover.

Mojo Fury is the day job – but Clown Parlour is the sexy secretary. They were once described as “the musical equivalent of The Beatles having mid morning coffee with Nine Inch Nails and Ludwig Van Beethoven providing the biscuits” (Read it all here).”

If only the whole world could be so silly.

Clown Parlour – Vicious Delicious

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Director/Camera: Will McConnell
Sound: David Neill
©2009 Bandwidth

NEXT WEEK: John Shelly & The Creatures

There’s going to be 12 episodes to start off with, all based around the Cathedral Quarter. It’s an experiment – an attempt (perhaps futile) to mix things up. Let’s see where it goes. There’ll be a new episode EVERY WEDNESDAY until the summer ends, or we run out of shops.

Here’s ESCAPE ACT playing the crazy old Spaniard Bar in the Cathedral Quarter.
Tomorrow, to break the habit of 5 minutes Clown Parlour. Then one episode every Wednesday. Promise.

Escape Act – Salt In Your Eye

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Director/Camera: Will McConnell
©2009 Bandwidth Films