Mull It Over 003: The Cool Gig Guide
A look ahead to the must-see gigs happening on your doorstep in February. Plus, a special feature on Independent Venue Week 2024, in the first ever Cool Gig Guide.
“… three words went through my mind endlessly, repeating themselves like a broken record: you're so cool, you're so cool, you're so cool.”
If January was dry, then February is monsoon season. Put on your raving shoes.
Welcome to the inaugural Mull It Over Cool Gig Guide, a new monthly selection of the most elite shows happening around town. Each month, consider this your destination for the best gigs happening in and around Belfast, and beyond. This is no mere list of concerts happening in Northern Ireland. This is a considered, curated, personalised guide to the coolest gigs happening on your doorstep. Be there, and make sure you’re seen to be there.
Independent Venue Week
Although this is technically the February Cool Gig Guide, we’re kicking off the first edition with a special feature on Independent Venue Week 2024, where the mighty Oh Yeah Centre, in the heart of Belfast, has been selected as a host venue.
Independent Venue Week this year takes place from Monday 29th January to Sunday 4th February, in association with BBC Radio 6 Music. Tastemakers Steve Lamacq and Huw Stephens are taking the show on the road for the occasion and on Monday 29th January, will be broadcasting live from Belfast where the legendary Ash will take to the stage in the very venue that was named in their honour. Cool beans.
And what’s cooler than being cool? Being in Problem Patterns. On support duty for the night is the band of the moment. The Guardian espoused the usage of ‘queercore’ to describe what Alanah Smith, Beverley Boal, Bethany Crooks and Ciara King are doing, but make no mistake: this is punk music. On their incandescent debut Blouse Club, these four front women attack your Air Pods Pro with all the rage, humour, confusion and wit of all the great punk records that came before. However, I’m loath to compare them really, to anything you’ve heard before. Pop down to the Oh Yeah Centre on January 29th, to see for yourself.
So without further ado, behold the first ever Mull It Over Cool Gig Guide. Check out the listings below and where to grab tickets!
Cool Gig Guide: February 2024
Monday, January 29th
[Independent Venue Week] Ash, Problem Patterns at Oh Yeah Centre. Tickets
Friday, February 2nd
New Pagans with Virgins, Klyda at Oh Yeah Centre. Tickets
Saturday, February 3rd
Afterlate Soundscape: Episode 6 with Aidan Lavery at The Sunflower. Tickets
Stripped Down: Drew Makes Noise, Fatmunk at Crescent Arts Centre. Tickets
Crilli DnB at Ulster Sports Club. Tickets
Saturday, February 10th
Robocobra Quartet, Lifts at The Empire. Tickets
Barry Kerr, Laura Kerr, Donogh Hennessy at Teach Coil MacGiobuin. Tickets
Saturday, February 17th
Soultrane Festival feat. Manukahunney and Leo Miyagee at Mandela Hall. Tickets
Saturday, February 24th
PiNKSLiPS, Foreign Mornings at McHugh’s Bar. Tickets
The Bonnevilles at The Diamond Rock Club, Ballymena. Tickets
Thank you for reading Issue 003 of Mull It Over. The feature will be back next month with a Cool Gig Guide for March.
If you would like to be featured in future editions, please email chrismullan7@gmail.com
As always, I have added tracks from some of the featured artists to the Spotify playlist, which you can follow below: