Typically when I write guides to upcoming festivals (apparently becoming quite the tradition), I try to skim through the stuff I’m not terribly interested in as to keep the information interesting and relevant. Drafting such an entry on the Trans Festival has been nye impossible due to the sheer amount of events that I want to recommend. Bear with me, we might be here a while …

I. Music

Fighting with Wire, Skruff & General Fiasco
16th July, 8pm, £3 (info)
Three of the most energetic, high-octane bands in Belfast that you haven’t a hope in seeing for £3 in a years time. You shouldn’t require any more convincing than that, frankly.

Pushborders, AJ Suzuki, Heliopause
17th July, 9.30pm, £5 (info)
TwoStep mixes it up somewhat with the downtrodden Heliopause, electro-poptastic AJ Suzuki and forceful indie stylings of Pushborders (ex- Red Sirus). Having supported Okkervil River and Elbow already, Pushborders are well on their way up.

Push Borders - The Garden State

Barrys Electric Workshop & Skibunny
18th July, 5pm, Free (info)
Listed this as I don’t think I’ve ever seen Barrys Electric Workshop live outside of his performance at Oh Yeah Computer last year, and it’s a freebie so why not?! I wonder how glitchy electronica and a heavy DJ set from Skibunny will go down at 5pm in the evening …

Money Back Guarantee
20th July, 8pm, £5 (info)
So you pay £5 in, enjoy the show, then get your £5 back and split it (or don’t) between the acts - including Cutaways and Paul Curry - depending on how much you enjoyed them. I missed this last year, it’ll be interesting to see if a direct financial incentive affects preformance.

Panama Kings & Robyn G. Sheils
25th July, 5pm, Free (info)
Good friends of Mucho Danke, Panama Kings are fast becoming one of my favorite local bands - the freebie NIMIC showcases give you a great reason to take my word for it and check ‘em out. Support also comes from Robyn G. Sheils.

Indie Takeaway
3rd August, 8pm, £4 (info)
Similar to Money Back Guarantee in its rethinking value for money when it comes to live shows, you’ll receive a “menu” listing all songs to be preformed on the night, enjoy the show, then request a custom-burnt CD of your favorite tracks. La Faro, Escape Act, John Shelly & The Creatures and The Good Fight all feature.

Nevermind Revisited
7th August, 8pm, £10 (info)
Following on from OK Computer, Nashville and Astral Nights, the Oh Yeah Building is now curating the next in its series of “Revisited” nights - Nirvana’s Nevermind. While I don’t like Nirvana - and especially Nevermind - these nights are always worth a look for the local musicians making the album tracks their own.