UlsterMusic.com

Shotgun rock NICCY launch at Oh Yeah

UlsterMusic.com — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:01:37 +0000

Larne rock band Shotgun pose with Patricia Lewsley, Commissioner for Children and Young People, at a special under-18 gig at Oh Yeah Music Centre, Belfast to help launch the strangely named NICCY campaign “Here we are… Nowhere”. The online campaign aims to encourage young people to interact with the NICCY website about “what is good and bad to do” [sic] in their area. Pictured left-to-right: Shotgun drummer Pete Jones, bassist Connah Sutherland, der commissar Patricia Lewsley, vocalist Bobbie Garrett, guitarist Mark Jamison.

Iain Archer, Andy White teach songwriting

UlsterMusic.com — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 09:00:51 +0000

Ulster songwriters Iain Archer and Andy White are just two of the guest tutors at the sixth UK Songwriting Festival taking place at Bath Spa University, Avon in mid-August. The 5-day curriculum comprises daily lectures and workshops dealing with the process of songwriting; practical sessions covering specific techniques (making lyrics singable, chorus construction, using imagery, melodic shaping, applying music theory, chord change frequencies, composing with guitar/keyboard) or more general writing tools (beating writer’s block, editing your material, avoiding plagiarism, using visuals as inspiration). Booking is now open.

New vocal school in East Belfast

UlsterMusic.com — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 09:00:40 +0000

A new vocal school has opened in East Belfast. The Vox Rox Vocal Academy offers singing lessons and voice training to students of all ages and abilities, and covers aspects of live performance including presentation, confidence and voice maintenance. The new school specialises in singing lessons for rock, pop and musical theatre, performance coaching and public speaking. Each student is given a comprehensive vocal health programme and structured lessons tailored to suit their individual needs. New students are taught warm-up and breathing techniques and key issues are identified from the get-go. Examinations are available on request through the Rockschool. Contact: nicky_jamison@live.co.uk +447545 316-690 +44790 716-0121

Belfast gospel choir seeks voices

UlsterMusic.com — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 09:00:37 +0000

Belfast Community Gospel Choir is growing. The choir seeks new singers for its Winter programme. Open auditions are being held in Belfast on Tuesday, August 18 at 7pm at Christian Fellowship Church, Holywood Road. Applicants should prepare an uncomplicated short song to sing unaccompanied before an audition panel of 3 people. Bring a friend? Apply here http://bcgc.biz/apply.php

Walking tall at Komodo Recordings

UlsterMusic.com — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Alwyn Walker is a music producer with a studio skill-set and word-of-mouth reputation that keeps him busy these days. Walker is presently working with an unnamed local act at his Komodo Recordings base, a modern studio situated just outside Hillsborough, near Belfast. Other up-and-coming Ulster groups Walker has worked with recently include Furlo (Derry), Overoth (Newtownards), Ended 31st from Carrickfergus, and Nectar (Armagh). More heavy metal bands from other provinces of Ireland also feature in Walker’s resume: For Ruin (Cork), As Sinners Fall (Kildare), and Chosen (Mullingar).

Michael Jackson, 1958-2009

UlsterMusic.com — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:00:07 +0000

The late Michael Jackson’s triumph and tragedy is charted in these re-published interviews on rock’sbackpages by Phil Symes (1972), Mick Brown (1984), Ian Penman (1993), Barney Hoskyns (1998), and Charles Shaar Murray (2003) .

To record your condolences visit GoneTooSoon.org

Mel Wiggins talks to UlsterMusic.com

UlsterMusic.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:01:27 +0000

Chanteuse Mel Wiggins plays a series of summer shows to promote her new EP “My Brothers Keeper” kicking off at Blick Studios on Belfast’s Malone Road on Friday, June 5. Reporting exclusively for UlsterMusic.com, Iain Todd enjoys a private audience with Mrs. Wiggins: There is a hidden gem right in the centre of Belfast. It’s called Blick Studios on Belfast’s salubrious Malone Road and, if you’re like me, you will probably have passed it countless times without knowing that it is there. I was lucky enough to come upon it last Saturday [June 5 - ed] when I went there to hear Mel Wiggins sing and promote her new 4-track EP, “My Brother’s Keeper“. It’s a great debut record and really shows off the effortlessness of Mel’s voice, which the acoustic-driven, relaxed accompaniment enables to sound raw and unique. There are some other great elements to the EP as well, like the brass section on the opening track, Simplified, and the double bass intro on Heart As Your Home. Arriving early, I was able to have a chat with Mel in the beautiful interior of Blick Studios. (more…)