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  • News
        • Garbage
          News

          Garbage announce headline Belfast show at Waterfront Hall on 17 July 2026

          December 16, 2025

          Garbage announce a headline Belfast show at the Waterfront Hall on 17th July 2026. They are heading out on the road in support of their eighth and latest album, ‘Let All That We Imagine Be […]

          Starsailor
          News

          Starsailor’s James Walsh Announces New Solo Album ‘It’s All Happening’, Out January 30

          December 12, 2025

          Starsailor frontman James Walsh is set to take his ever-growing solo career to new heights with the release of his new album ‘It’s All Happening’ on January 30th. He has previewed the record with a […]

          PAUL SIMON
          News

          Paul Simon Brings “A Quiet Celebration Tour” to Europe, UK & Ireland

          December 11, 2025

          Today, the legendary singer-songwriter PAUL SIMON announced he will continue  “A Quiet Celebration Tour,” following a highly successful and critically acclaimed US tour, and bring this special concert series to Europe, the UK and Ireland this […]

  • Reviews
        • Album Reviews

          Sugar - Copper Blue
          Album Reviews

          ALBUM REVIEW: Sugar – Copper Blue: The Singles Collection

          November 28, 2025

          For fans of Sugar – and for anyone who still feels the shockwave of Copper Blue more than three decades on – Copper Blue: The Singles Collection arrives as a dream artefact. Pressed across four […]

          debdepan "Lovers & Others" EP
          Album Reviews

          REVIEW: debdepan “Lovers & Others” EP

          November 27, 2025

          In recent years, the vibrant seaside town of Margate has evolved into a heady blend of coastal charm and DIY creativity — a place where visual artists, musicians and free-thinking makers thrive. It’s the perfect […]

        • Book Reviews

          BOOK REVIEW: Y/N - Esther Yi
          Book Reviews

          BOOK REVIEW: Y/N – Esther Yi

          October 30, 2023

          K-Pop has reached an international audience. This year, BLACKPINK made history as the first K-pop band to headline a major UK festival at Hyde Park. The media’s coverage of BTS member’s enlistment into compulsory military […]

          BOOK REVIEW: Sophomore Songs by Clarke Geddes
          Book Reviews

          BOOK REVIEW: Sophomore Songs by Clarke Geddes

          August 29, 2023

          How does one become qualified to write a fictional music novel? The author of Sophomore Songs offers some clues. Growing up reading NME, doing a stint at Clash, drumming for several bands on and off, and […]

        • Classic Albums

          ‘Pop’ at 25: Looking back at the orphan child in U2's discography 2
          Classic Albums

          ‘Pop’ at 26: Looking back at the orphan child in U2’s discography

          March 3, 2022

          In March of 1997, 26 years ago, U2 released their much anticipated ninth studio album POP; for fans and critics alike, it quickly became their most polarizing release. There is a prevailing feeling that POP […]

          CLASSIC ALBUM: Duran Duran – Duran Duran 2
          Album Reviews

          CLASSIC ALBUM: Duran Duran – Duran Duran

          June 17, 2021

          This week sees the 40th anniversary of Duran Duran’s self-titled debut album. XS Noize looks back on this momentous release from a band that would become the ‘Fab Five’ of the ‘80s. It was December […]

        • Live Reviews

          LIVE REVIEW: Wool City Rockers: Paradise Lost, Terrorvision & New Model Army take over Bradford Live Credit: Alina Salihbekova
          Live Reviews

          LIVE REVIEW: Wool City Rockers: Paradise Lost, Terrorvision & New Model Army take over Bradford Live

          December 23, 2025

          On 13 December, Bradford proudly celebrated the strength and legacy of the Yorkshire heavy music scene with Wool City Rockers, staged at the city’s newly refurbished Bradford Live. The line-up brought together three iconic bands […]

          LIVE REVIEW: Gurriers Ignite Belfast’s Limelight with a Ferocious, No-Holds-Barred Post-Punk Assault Credit: Becca McCaffrey
          Live Reviews

          LIVE REVIEW: Gurriers Ignite Belfast’s Limelight with a Ferocious, No-Holds-Barred Post-Punk Assault

          December 22, 2025

          Fast-rising Irish band Gurriers stormed the stage at Belfast’s Limelight last night, opening their set to Frankie Valli’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off You. As the unmistakable chorus rang out, the room erupted into a […]

        • Round Up

          XS Noize Best Albums of 2018
          Round Up

          XS Noize Best Albums of 2018

          December 22, 2018

          2018 has been an incredible year for albums. The year saw the strongest new acts in decades release their debuts, as well as a number of alternative legends returning to top form. The world of dance […]

          The Best Of October 2018 PLAYLIST + ROUND-UP
          Round Up

          The Best Of October 2018 PLAYLIST + ROUND-UP

          October 29, 2018

          Welcome to the October 2018 edition of our monthly new music playlist, which is available to listen to and watch via YouTube. If you enjoy any of the songs featured here, we encourage you to support […]

        • In Focus

          IN FOCUS// Punk Spirit Burns Bright as SLF, PiL & Sham 69 Rock Custom House Square © Bernie McAllister
          IN FOCUS

          IN FOCUS// Punk Spirit Burns Bright as SLF, PiL & Sham 69 Rock Custom House Square

          August 17, 2025

          Putting the Fast in Belfast 7 once again proved why it has become a staple of the city’s summer music calendar. A packed Custom House Square buzzed with anticipation as fans from across generations gathered […]

          IN FOCUS// Bryan Adams Brings Joy and Nostalgia to Leeds on ‘Roll With the Punches’ Tour Credit: Alina Salihbekova
          IN FOCUS

          IN FOCUS// Bryan Adams Brings Joy and Nostalgia to Leeds on ‘Roll With the Punches’ Tour

          May 20, 2025

          Legendary Canadian rocker Bryan Adams brought his unstoppable energy to Leeds on May 10th as part of his Roll With the Punches tour — and it was nothing short of a euphoric celebration of life, […]

  • Gigs
        • Hans Zimmer
          Gigs

          Hans Zimmer: The ultimate fan’s guide

          August 27, 2025

          Hans Zimmer, the genius behind Hollywood’s most unforgettable scores, is back on tour with an electrifying live experience to share with his fans. From “Inception” to “Dune”, Zimmer is preparing to transform his soundscapes into […]

          Andrea Bocelli
          Gigs

          The ultimate fans guide to seeing Andrea Bocelli in Amsterdam

          August 21, 2025

          The Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli, will be at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam on March 29 and 30, 2026. The show will feature a mix of operatic tracks, pop songs, and classical repertoire. Bocelli is […]

          Eros Ramazzotti
          Gigs

          Eros Ramazzotti: Dates, venues, tickets and more

          August 18, 2025

          To celebrate the 40th anniversary of his breakout single, “Una Storia Importante”, Eros Ramazzotti will be performing live on some of the grandest stages across Europe, Latin America, and North America. Ramazzotti is a world-renowned […]

  • Interviews
        • TAVE
          Interviews

          INTERVIEW: TAVE Talks ‘Fly Away,’ Self-Discovery, and the Art of Letting Go

          November 11, 2025

          Rising artist TAVE has had an extraordinary journey — from earning a scholarship at just 13 and performing with some of music’s biggest names to now stepping into the spotlight with his deeply personal debut […]

          :Panic :Over
          Interviews

          INTERVIEW: :Panic :Over Are Turning Northern Irish Indie Into a Global Sound

          October 16, 2025

          Neal McClelland meets the Northern Irish band whose anthemic sound is turning heads from Belfast to Tokyo. There’s something electric about catching a band right before liftoff — that mix of confidence, humour, and disbelief […]

          Fabrizio Cammarata
          Interviews

          INTERVIEW: Fabrizio Cammarata on Solitude, Connection, and the Inner Worlds of His New Album “Insularities”

          October 10, 2025

          Sicilian singer-songwriter Fabrizio Cammarata has returned with Insularities — a quietly profound exploration of connection, isolation, transformation, and memory. The record invites listeners into a space between light and shadow, where grief and love share […]

  • Podcast
        • Sleaford Mods
          Podcast

          Sleaford Mods’ Jason Williamson on Planet X, cultural decay, and the evolution of the band | XS Noize Podcast #264

          December 6, 2025

          In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by Jason Williamson, the fiercely articulate frontman of Sleaford Mods, to explore the band’s most ambitious and unflinching record yet: The Demise Of […]

          Oliver Murray
          Podcast

          Oliver Murray on completing “The Beatles Anthology” and bringing Episode Nine to life | XS Noize Podcast #263

          December 4, 2025

          In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by acclaimed filmmaker Oliver Murray — the British writer–director redefining modern music documentary through his bold, cinematic approach. Following his 2023 short film […]

          Steve Lillywhite on the Making of “Fairytale of New York” | XS Noize Podcast #262
          Podcast

          Steve Lillywhite on Making “Fairytale of New York” with Kirsty MacColl & The Pogues | XS Noize Podcast #262

          November 30, 2025

          In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by legendary producer Steve Lillywhite — the Grammy-winning studio mastermind behind iconic records by U2, The Rolling Stones, Talking Heads, The Smiths, The […]

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  • Pearse

Articles by Pearse O'Kane

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Pearse O'Kane
Fav Band: The LibertinesFav Album: Up The Bracket
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ALBUM REVIEW: WORKING FOR A NUCLEAR FREE CITY - WHAT DO PEOPLE DO ALL DAY?
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: WORKING FOR A NUCLEAR FREE CITY – WHAT DO PEOPLE DO ALL DAY?

January 29, 2016 Pearse O'Kane

Manchester based Working for a Nuclear Free City return from a five year silence with What Do People Do All Day, a fourteen track barrage of experimental indie pop tracks and nu-gaze musings that more […]

SAUROPOD - share new track 'HEADPHONES' + announce debut album 'ROARING AT THE STORM' due 22nd
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: SAUROPOD – ROARING AT THE STORM

January 19, 2016 Pearse O'Kane

Norwegian alt-rockers SAUROPOD combine elements of a variety of punk sub-genres on their debut album. Channeling Pixies and Sonic Youth, the album is an attempt to update and modernize grunge and post-punk music, employing smooth […]

RARE MONK release Self-Titled EP
Album Reviews

REVIEW: RARE MONK – RARE MONK EP

December 8, 2015 Pearse O'Kane

The self-titled EP from Portland based quintet Rare Monk is only the band’s third outing, following their own self released Death by Proxy EP in 2012 and 2014’s Splice/Sleep Attack 7-inch the band return with […]

ALBUM REVIEW: GUY GARVEY - COURTING THE SQUALL
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: GUY GARVEY – COURTING THE SQUALL

November 7, 2015 Pearse O'Kane

Courting The Squall, the debut solo album by Guy Garvey is an album full of variety, the song’s ‘don’t fit the Elbow template’, instead bringing the singer to new ground, with its quietly experimental approach. […]

The ENEMY - announce 4th Album 'It's Automatic' and UK Tour Dates
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: THE ENEMY – ‘It’s Automatic’

October 15, 2015 Pearse O'Kane

Back from a three year break, ‘The Enemy’ return with their fourth studio album, ‘It’s Automatic’, an eleven track affair with influences from the late 90’s and early 2000’s indie and Britpop scenes. Despite lasting […]

ALBUM REVIEW: SWIM DEEP - MOTHERS
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: SWIM DEEP – MOTHERS

October 2, 2015 Pearse O'Kane

Following on from 2013’s ‘Where the Heaven Are We’, indie-pop five piece Swim Deep from Birmingham are back with their most electronic and frenzied material yet. With the addition of percussionist and keyboard player James […]

ALBUM REVIEW: STEREOPHONICS - KEEP THE VILLAGE ALIVE
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: STEREOPHONICS – KEEP THE VILLAGE ALIVE

September 17, 2015 Pearse O'Kane

In August 1997, Stereophonics released their debut studio album, Word Gets Around, which bore five singles and peaked at number six in the UK music charts. Now, eighteen years on they have released their eighth […]

ALBUM REVIEW: CHRIS CORNELL - EUPHORIA MOURNING
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: CHRIS CORNELL – EUPHORIA MOURNING

September 6, 2015 Pearse O'Kane

For the past two decades Chris Cornell has been one of alternative rocks most revered artists, often considered one of the most prominent figures of the 90’s grunge movement as the singer, songwriter and rhythm […]

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