Some photos from the wonderful Belfast TradFest programme. Music was cherished and challenged. Impeccable standards, every year. I've written a review for Dig With It. Here's the link: www.digwithit.com?p=3856
Stuart Bailie
@stubailie.bsky.social
Author: The Song is Nearly Over (2025), Terri Hooley: 75 Revolutions (2023), Trouble Songs (2018) and 75 Van Songs (2020). Music journalist. Editor, Dig With It. Ex NME. https://stuartbailie.bandcamp.com/
Rachel McCarthy features in the new Playlisted selection for Dig With It. Her selected artists include Minnie Ripperton, Patsy Cline & Tom Waits. Rachel is a singer, songwriter, storyteller, artist & photographer. You can read her selection here: www.digwithit.com?p=3841 Photo credit: Joe Laverty
The return of SOAK, playing live again after a few turbulent years. New songs, bonus lightness, fridge magnets, philosophy and a Lost in Translation shirt. An Eastside Arts event. Photo by Stuart Bailie. I've written a review for Dig With It. See here: www.digwithit.com?p=3832
Dónal O’Connor, musician, film-maker, co-founder and Artistic Director of the reliably great Belfast TradFest choses his playlist for Dig With It. Including Lúnasa, Miles Davis, Free, Barzaz and Anouar Brahem Trio. Read Dónal's Playlisted feature here: www.digwithit.com?p=3822
The French Nazis that Loyalists brought over to Sandy Row last night have spray painted a message of support for Gisèle Pelicot's rapist husband just in case you thought the "protect our women" brigade are anything other than human tumours
Family and UN call for Israel to release jailed Gaza doctor www.channel4.com/news/family-...
Family and UN call for Israel to release jailed Gaza doctor
The lawyer for one of Gaza's most prominent doctors, Hussam Abu Safiya, who has been detained in Israel since 2024, has raised concerns about his physical deterioration.
channel4.com
Pertinent song about the Democratic Unionist Party, homophobia and culture wars. Released by Hand Models in 2019, assisted by Wynona Bleach, Problem Patterns, Joel Harkin and others. www.youtube.com/watch?v=2alc...
Hand Models - Last Leaves on a Tree
YouTube video by Hand Models
youtube.com
A couple of summer dates you might enjoy. Terri Hooley &Stu Bailie @ The Harrison Hotel, Belfast, next Thurs, July 2. A night of music, spoken word, chaos & magic. Then Aug 29, The Wake, West Sussex. Talking about my book,The Song is Nearly Over. Links to both events in the comments. Excited!
Father's Day hint. Old fellas like music books. Especially when they're signed or personalised. Bandcamp link below, or DM me. #fathersday stuartbailie.bandcamp.com
Let's talk about Seamus Heaney, Oscar Wilde, Brendan Behan, Edna O'Brien...
Seamus Heaney HomePlace@shhomeplace.bsky.social · 2mo agoWe were delighted to welcome Kevin Rowland of Dexys to HomePlace yesterday where he explored our exhibition and learned more about the life, work and legacy of Seamus Heaney. It was a real pleasure to share the story of our Nobel Prize-winning poet and the place that inspired so much of his writing!
Two worthwhile records from the Irish borderlands, by The Shamrock Showband and Mark McCausland, aka McKowski. I really liked watching The Spin and the soundtrack is the best company. My reviews on the Dig With It site: www.digwithit.com?p=3811
Belfast 16.05.26. Have a great weekend, good people. Photos by Stu Bailie #ilford #ilfordhp5plus #hp5plus #ilfordfilm
My Self Aid review ran 40 years ago in Record Mirror. Chieftains, Pogues, Costello, U2, Clannad, Geldof, Christy Moore, Van, Gary Moore, a Thin Lizzy tribute & more. All the music family connections. Gael Force ascending. I also wrote about it in my book, The Song is Nearly Over. I'm still relating.
Lloyd Cole on Bowie in the Seventies. lloydcole.substack.com/p/bowie-in-t...
Bowie In The 70's
My take on one of the greatest decades. This is going to take much longer than I'd thought. I need to re-listen, and fact check. Hopefully I'll get it finished before I leave June 11th.
lloydcole.substack.com
Mucker at the QUB Students' Union, Belfast. 21.05.26. A fantastic night. Punk rock solidarity, rage, fragility and hope. Aided by Problem Patterns and Them 'Uns. Good work, Brendy, Pando, James and Ewen.
I simply don't know what to do with how great the new Arab Strap single is. If it was a person, I'd want to stand near it and occasionally rest my head on its shoulder. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VeB...
Arab Strap - You You You (official video)
YouTube video by Arab Strap
youtube.com
A Save Lough Neagh march from the Battery Bar to the Ardboe Cross, Co Tyrone, 17.05.26. Bernadette Devlin McCaliskey was one of the guest speakers. #saveloughneagh #speirgorm Photos by Stuart Bailie
I saw Dead Goat and loads of other great stuff at Kilkenny Roots Festival at the weekend, included the Big Star Quintet. I've written a short blog. You can read it here: www.digwithit.com?p=3802
Just bought this, absolutely killer comp, highly recommended! @bandcamp.com would be great to create a tag to make charity comps like this easier to find on the site...
Stuart Bailie@stubailie.bsky.social · 3mo agoOccupied Minds Vol. 1 is out tomorrow, May 1 on Rudimentary Records. An important compilation, with RÓIS, Huartan, Phi Kieran, Timmy Stewart, Dani Larkin, Rory Friers and more. A benefit for Medical Aid for Palestine. Here's a review,on first impressions: www.digwithit.com?p=3791
Occupied Minds Vol. 1 is out tomorrow, May 1 on Rudimentary Records. An important compilation, with RÓIS, Huartan, Phi Kieran, Timmy Stewart, Dani Larkin, Rory Friers and more. A benefit for Medical Aid for Palestine. Here's a review,on first impressions: www.digwithit.com?p=3791
I really like @originstorypodcast.bsky.social. Heavy research and sweary asides. The history lessons I wish I'd heard as a young thing. Series 8 was terrific. I'm sure this will be also.
Dorian Lynskey@dorianlynskey.bsky.social · 3mo agoWe're back, starting with the dreams and realities of European unity. In part one we look at how a peacetime union went from a vibe to a viable prospect via profiles of two extraordinary men: Jean Monnet and the absolutely fascinating Count Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi
This Saturday, I'm at Kilkenny Roots Festival - in convo with Allan Jones. On the same programme as the Big Star Quintet, Rodney Crowell, Dead Goat, Seamus Fogarty, Chris Stamey, Florry and heaps of other lovely stuff. I'll be signing books and looking delighted. kilkennyroots.com/booking/stua...
The man who rescues books from rubble: Omar Hamad opens Phoenix library in Gaza www.channel4.com/news/the-man...
The man who rescues books from rubble: Omar Hamad opens Phoenix library in Gaza
The recent turmoil in the Middle East began in one place, that is Gaza. Although a ceasefire has been in effect there now for six months, Israel continues to regularly conduct strikes.
channel4.com