Ireland’s rising stars Florence Road to headline Belfast’s Oh Yeah Music Centre on December 7

September 9, 2025

Fresh off a red-hot summer that’s seen them sell out shows and share the stage with global icons, Wicklow four-piece, Florence Road — one of Ireland’s most exciting new acts — have just announced a […]

Franz Ferdinand announce Dublin and Belfast dates for February 2026

September 9, 2025

Franz Ferdinand announced Dublin and Belfast dates for February 2026. Having released their much-acclaimed seventh album, The Human Fear, on Domino in January of this year. The past few months have seen the band out […]

Belfast Maritime Festival Music Trail – Over 60 musicians set to light up the Maritime Mile this weekend

September 5, 2025

Belfast City Council will be showcasing a fabulous programme of live music during the Belfast Maritime Festival, celebrating Belfast’s status as a UNESCO City of Music. Over 60 of Northern Ireland’s leading musicians will be performing in […]

EP REVIEW: Stephen Thomas – The Universal Me

September 5, 2025

On his latest EP The Universal Me, West Virginia–born singer-songwriter Stephen Thomas refuses to be boxed in. Blending R&B, pop, country, hip-hop, and alt-rock, he crafts a sound he calls the Universal genre — fluid, […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Saint Etienne – International

September 3, 2025

Named after a French football team, Saint Etienne have been the darlings of indie-pop, dance, and kitchen-sink storytelling since the 1990s. Few bands have captured everyday life with such charm, always anchoring their songs in […]

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

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 […]

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

‘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

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 REVIEW: The Hives Light Up Nottingham with Explosive Album Launch Show

September 2, 2025

On August 29th, The Hives unleashed their new album The Hives The Hives Forever Forever The Hives — and to mark the occasion, they stormed into Nottingham with a short but blisteringly energetic set. Mixing […]

LIVE REVIEW: The Sword at The Bellwether

September 1, 2025

Texas stoner doom legends The Sword celebrated the 15th anniversary of their sci-fi concept album Warp Riders with a full playthrough Saturday at The Bellwether in Downtown Los Angeles. Lead singer and guitarist JD Cronise […]

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

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// 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

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, […]

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 […]

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: 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 […]

INTERVIEW: Asha Maclean on Her Single “Yoga,” Creative Roots, and Staying True to Herself

June 25, 2025

Asha Maclean grew up in a deeply creative household, so it’s little surprise that she emerged as a multitalented artist in her own right. Immersed in music and dance from a young age, she first […]

INTERVIEW: Roger Taylor on the Rhythm of Duran Duran: Hits, Influences & Life on the Road

June 19, 2025

John Kearns talks to Duran Duran – The Duran Duran European summer tour is now in full swing. The DD truck has already rolled into cities such as Antwerp, Amsterdam and Rome and will continue […]

INTERVIEW: Stephen Moore on Post Death Soundtrack’s New Album & HE IS ME

June 12, 2025

Post Death Soundtrack, the musical project of Stephen Moore, recently unveiled his fifth album, IN ALL MY NIGHTMARES I AM ALONE, a 30-track collection of songs ranging across the stylistic spectrum, including rock, Gothic rock, […]

The Milk’s Rick Nunn on new album ‘Borderlands’: Love, Loss & Cinematic Soul | XS Noize Podcast #243

September 2, 2025

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Podcasts | YouTube “We wanted Borderlands to sound as big as the emotions inside it — choirs, strings, brass, the whole lot.” – Rick Nunn, The Milk Episode Overview In Episode #243 of the […]

John Robb: From The Stone Roses to Oasis — Writing Rock’s Biggest Stories | XS Noize Podcast #242

August 27, 2025

In Episode #242 of the XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar chats with John Robb — musician, journalist, author, broadcaster, and founder of Louder Than War — about his brand-new book Live Forever: The Rise, […]

Matt Berninger (The National) on His New Solo Album ‘Get Sunk’ | XS Noize Podcast #241

The National’s Matt Berninger on His New Solo Album ‘Get Sunk’ & European Tour | XS Noize Podcast #241

August 20, 2025

In Episode #241 of the XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar chats with Matt Berninger — frontman of The National and acclaimed solo artist — about his brand-new album Get Sunk. Best known for his […]

TRACK PREMIERE: The Strangers Club – Suede

January 29, 2021 XS Noize

After a promising start to 2020, playing packed shows in London venues such as Brixton Jamm and Gigi’s Hoxton, as well as Bournemouth’s famous Sixty Million Postcards, to then almost radio silence due to the […]