AU Is 5

Yeo, we celebrated out fifth birthday by decamping to Derry and throwing a massive party featuring 15 of the finest bands from Northern Ireland. It was an immense day. The organisation was spot on, big shout out to Homegirl Promotions for all their help and thanks to Sandino's for letting us take over for the day. Stephen McCauley's Electric Mainline radio show recorded all the sets from the main room for future broadcast, which is awesome.

Everyone played a blinder and there are too many highlights to mention. You can check out a great review of the day on the ATL website.

Can't believe it's been five years already. Onwards and upwards.

trans = sexual

Yeah, so they're gonna hate us for the pun we've made as the subject header here, but the truth is that this years trans festival is a sheer delight of goodness. We were at the launch part for it last week, which was cool. For those of you who don't know about it, trans is an annual festival that takes place in Belfast, utilising various venues throughout the city, and having its hub based at The Waterfront Hall.

This is the third year of the fest, and once again they've managed to improve and develop things significantly. There are a slew of big name acts (Los Campesinos!, Andy Weatherall, London Elektricity, Bonde Do Role...) a broad smattering of the finest regional talent (Fighting With Wire, Cashier No.9, Two Door Cinema Club...) and, more importantly, a host of cool, unique signature events.

Our favourite signature event of this year is the cleverly named Indie Takeaway. It's basically a gig featuring some fine local acts, but the twist is that you are presented with a menu of the tracks you are set to hear. You then select the tracks that you would like to take home with you, and they're burnt on to a CD as mp3's at the end of the night. It's a great idea that is only topped by the sheer amount of puns they have managed to fit in the programme blurb - check it out here.

There are a bazillion cool things happening over the course of the four weeks, plus they're all well affordable so there can be no excuses. The whole shebang kicks off on July 14 and runs till August 10. We'll be keeping you abreast of all the goings on throughout, plus we're co-promoting the opening night which features Los Campesinos!, Kowalski, Two Door Cinema Club and Cat Malojian. Good times on the way.

I Like That

The lovely new mag is out now and as it is our fifth birthday issue it is a biggy packed full with lovely goodies like a great big present waiting to be unwrapped.

It sounds a little something like this...
_______________________________

MGMT
We talk to the most talked about band of 2008

OPPENHEIMER
Belfast duo administer 2nd course of electro-pop therapy

THE HOLD STEADY
Lessons in rock legacies with Brooklyn’s blue-collar heroes

JAPE
Richie Egan’s rites of passage.

HAR MAR SUPERSTAR
Quite lovely, really

MY MORNING JACKET
Are they about to plunge into the big time?

+

The New Irish Noise: AU investigates the swell in Irish noiseniks

History Lessons: Dead Kennedys - Raising the stakes and falling hard

Flashback: A cunning plan is hatched, the TV debut of Blackadder

Let’s Get Metaphysical: ‘True’ by Spandau Ballet

A To Z of Tyrants: An alphabetical excursion to bad bastardville

Respect Your Shelf: Batman graphic novels

In The Studio: The inside track on the making of And So I Watch You From Afar’s debut album

Classic Album: Live And Dangerous by Thin Lizzy

Incoming: Lykke Li / We Smoke Fags / Dananananaykroyd

5 To 1: Home haircuts / Celebrity names

The Last Word: Operator Please

REVIEWS

ALBUMS: My Morning Jacket / Ladytron / The Vinny Club / Vetiver / Halves / Errors / Johnny Foreigner / Oppenheimer / Born Ruffians / Cat Malojian / White Denim / The Zutons / Joan As Police Woman / Fred / Flying Lotus / Gama Bomb / The Chameleons

LIVE: Public Enemy / Frightened Rabbit / The Raconteurs / Caribou / Animal Collective / The Kills / Dinosaur Jr. / Howlin Rain

UNSIGNED: Boathouse / Colenso Parade / The Kinetiks / Cruz


SUBBACULTCHA
Most Wanted: Gigs, Films, Games, Arts, Comics.
Back Of The Net: The funniest YouTube videos. WeirdWideWeb. Story Of The Video feat. Six Star Hotel. Get Your Clicks: T-shirt websites.
In Pictures: Pics from Broken Social Scene @ Vicar Street, Dublin / Spiritualized @ Mandela Hall, QUBSU, Belfast.

WORD UPS: Mudhoney / Gama Bomb / Evan Dando / The Vinny Club / Bon Iver / Tom McShane / Escape Act / Caribou / Keith Harris / But where for art thou Robbie Williams?