It’s been a while since I gave Spoon’s seminal masterpiece Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga a listen, but Adam Buxton’s “fan” video for the opening track, Don’t Make Me A Target (which recently featured on his new BBC Three show, MeeBOX) has reminded me just how much I love this album, and particularly this song. It’s become - once again - one of those tunes that I just can’t get out of my head. Enjoy!

Spoon - Don’t Make Me A Target

Details appear to be sketchy at best right down, but word of a new festival from the people behind Shine & The Stiff Kitten - Belsonic - have started appearing both online and in local newspapers. Held over (at least) four days at Custom House Square, The Flaming Lips have been confirmed as headliners for Monday 11th August - with local indie-popsters Oppenheimer also chipping in as support. Expect more of the lineup to emerge in the coming week as the site goes live to deal with tickets for the ‘Lips this coming Monday (12th).

Not discounting The Flaming Lips - who put on one of the most amazing live performances I’ve ever witnessed - this has the potential to be exciting yet. Expect regular updates!

Update: The Zutons now confirmed to headline the 15th.

Every year - just when your loan is evaporating and exams begin to pile up - a massive amount of amazing gigs appear - booked on the back of bands gearing up for festival season. Even though Keith promises me that the next entry on Mucho Danke (edit: yep) will cover this, take a look at what I mean …

April

9th April - Holy Fuck, And So I Watch You From Afar - Speakeasy Bar
10th April - Jane Bradfords, Cashier No. 9 & Kowalski - Speakeasy Bar
12th April - Contested Streets / I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK (Film Festival)
13th April - Maps - The Limelight
15th April - Ted Leo and The Pharmacists - Auntie Annies
16th April - Ed Zealous, Crayonsmith, Two Door Cinema Club - The Limelight
17th April - Future of Web Design - Kensington Town Hall, London
21st April - Blonde Redhead - Shepherds Bush Empire, London
25th April - M83 - Andrews Lane Theatre, Dublin
26th April - Why?, Crayonsmith - Andrews Lane Theatre, Dublin
27th April - Chris Corsano, Tracer AMC - The Black Box

May

9th May - Hawk & A Hacksaw - The Front Page
11th May - Iron & Wine - Olympia Theatre, Dublin
14th May - Yeasayer - Speakeasy Bar
15th May - Winding Stair, Mumblin’ Deaf Ro, Kitty & the Can Openers - The Limelight
15th May - Battles, Liars, Redneck Manifesto - Vicar St, Dublin
16th May - Kimya Dawson - Crawdaddy, Dublin
17th May - Two Gallants - Stiff Kitten
20th May - Caribou, Born Ruffians - The Black Box
20th May - Broken Social Scene, The Brunettes - Vicar St, Dublin (Sold Out)
23rd May - Jens Lekman - The Black Box
27th May - Tapes ‘n Tapes, Sons & Daughters, Port O’Brien - Tripod, Dublin

It’s (mostly) all of the above, or a ticket for Primavera for me. Anything on the list you’re particularly excited about?

For those of you who followed the clues and stumbled upon Mucho Danke, you’ll be glad to know the site is now live. What we believe is Belfast’s first dedicated MP3 blog, myself & Keith will be updating often with wide-ranging snippets of good music and a few regular features. We’ll be sprucing the place up over the coming weeks as we start to fill it out with interesting content, so stay tuned!

Enjoy!
www.muchodanke.com