“It’s a shit business”, proclaimed Les McQueen of Crème Brulee fame about the music industry. It is certainly a brutal business, as many have discovered. A fair chunk of the issue is the volume of [...]
-
-
-
- Adam Ant was one of the biggest cultural figures of the 1980s: somehow simultaneously a dandy highwayman, a musical maverick, one of the most singular and charismatic [...]
-
-
-
-
Live Review
LIVE REVIEW: The Divine Comedy Illuminate the Barbican with ‘Rainy Sunday Afternoon’ and Timeless Wit
For some, thirteen is an unlucky number. But for The Divine Comedy, their thirteenth studio album Rainy Sunday Afternoon — recorded in Abbey Road’s Studio 3 — proves anything but cursed. As the band took [...]
News
Editors’ Tom Smith Shares New Single “Leave” from Forthcoming Solo Debut Album
Editors front-person, Tom Smith, has today released “Leave”, the latest single from his forthcoming debut solo album, There Is Nothing In The Dark That Isn’t There In The Light which is released on Play It […]
Features 2
Belsonic 2026: Your Ultimate Guide to Belfast’s Biggest Outdoor Festival
Belsonic in Belfast has become a fixture of the summer calendar because it brings together international acts with a devoted audience. The 2026 edition takes place throughout June in Ormeau Park, with gates opening at […]
Album Reviews
ALBUM REVIEW: Coach Party – Caramel
Isle of Wight four-piece Coach Party return with their sophomore album Caramel, a dazzling, perfectly weighted collection of ten tracks that finds the band confidently pushing past their reputation as indie upstarts and stepping firmly […]
Podcast
Rick McMurray on Ash’s 30-Year Journey and the Rocket-Fuel of “Ad Astra” | XS Noize Podcast #248
In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Rick McMurray looks back on 30 years of Ash and the rocket-fuel energy behind their new album Ad Astra. From teenage beginnings in Downpatrick to global stages, […]
News
The Cure Announce Biggest-Ever Belfast Show at Belsonic 2026
Rock legends The Cure are pleased to announce their biggest Belfast show to date at Belsonic, Belfast on Sunday, June 28th, with support from The Twilight Sad and Just Mustard. Formed in Crawley, Sussex, England, […]
News
The Charlatans Share “Deeper and Deeper” Ahead of 14th Studio Album “We Are Love”
Following the announcement of their 14th studio album, We Are Love, out October 31 via BMG, The Charlatans return today with their second single, “Deeper and Deeper.” A swirling, Hammond organ-driven belter with fat bass […]
