MacD on Music: More Gigs, More Gigs and Even More Gigs

Summer is almost here (or just past, you can never be too sure here), and that means that it’s almost peak season for live music. Anyone who followed this fine column last year will know that we had an incredible summer of gigs featuring amazing line-up after amazing line-up (the majority of which featured TRAMP and Jason Feenan).

Live music has always been one of Derry’s specialities, and this week I’m going to look back at some of the best gigs I’ve been to over the past few months.

Shasma

First up is a gig from February 2nd this year, put together by Shasma and featuring the brilliantly eclectic line-up of Little Kings, Hutch, The Marra, Shasma themselves and the band formally known as White Lighter (now known as Head Melt).

The gig, which took place out the back of Bennigan’s, featured something for everyone, starting off quiet with Little Kings and gradually building to full on metal with final act White Lighter. It was a night of great variety, great music and great craic.

Nightmare on Foyle Street

Next, we go back to Halloween past, when the big room in Sandino’s played host to three of Derry’s finest. Headliners CHERYM (whose debut album Take It Or Leave It is available exclusively in Cool Discs) were joined by TomCat and Parker (Parker on this night being one third themselves and two thirds TomCat).

As anyone who’s seen them live can confirm, CHERYM are one of the best live acts going, with Parker and TomCat not far behind, so expectations were high. Of course, this night did not disappoint, and the sold-out gig was one for the ages.

CHERYM Album Launch

Keeping the theme going, this next gig, this time from the Nerve Centre, took place on February 9th and was the official launch party for CHERYM’s much-anticipated debut album Take It or Leave It (once again, available exclusively in Cool Discs).

The gig featured support from Reevah and the brilliant Belfast group Problem Patterns (who will be playing their own headlining gig in the Nerve Centre on June 15th with support from Lord Jane) and has quite possibly got the record for most balloons out of all the gigs on this list.

Gig For Gaza

Now, we go back to December to the Gig for Gaza. Ever since Israel upped its campaign of genocide in Gaza, the musicians and artists of the world have been doing whatever they can in whatever way possible, to help the people of Palestine. On December 3rd last year, Sandino’s hosted the Derry Gig for Gaza to raise money for Palestinian Medical Aid.

The line-up for this gig was one of the best you’re going to see, featuring many of our city’s best talent past and present, including Paddy Nash, Alix Darwin, Dirty Faces, Touts, CHERYM, Craic Pipe (in what was their last ever gig), George Houston and Nikki Mac. Utilising both stages in Sandino’s big room, the gig raised thousands for a vitally important cause and gave us a night of brilliant music.

The Whole Tribe Sings

Now for a gig for a happier cause. January 20th this year saw the reunion of the incredible Whole Tribe Sings. The one-off reunion was in aid of local charity Tuned In and featured a wide array of talent between the bar and the main stage, including Jeanette Hutton, Renegade Zoo, Teknopeasant, Reevah and, of course, the Whole Tribe themselves.

The Whole Tribe Sings were in fine form and the night raised plenty for the cause in what was quite possibly the last ever showing for this legendary group.

Now, onto other business. The Derry metal scene is one that has been steadily growing for a while now, and this July will see the 7Twenty hosting Demolition Fest, a two-day festival featuring an array of the best metal you’re likely to see in this town.

This Saturday (1st June) will see a warmup night for the festival in the 7Twenty featuring Strangle Wire, Snake Neighbourhood and more. Tickets are £5 and doors are at 8 so be sure to grab your tickets now.

Also, this Friday will see Shasma taking the stage in 7Twenty with support from the brilliant Colm S. Herron and Buncrana’s own Delta Minor. Tickets are £5 with doors at 8.30.

Finally, this Sunday will see Dublin group Sun Mahshene playing Sandino’s. The six-piece group features members from Ireland, the UK and Poland with their music being described as “a musical journey that transcends genres”. Supporting them will be Bobsled Team and tickets are £6 with doors at 7.

And that’s it for this week. Now time for the socials. The Nerve Centra can be found on Facebook and Instagram @nerve_centre, Sandino’s @sandinosbarclub, Bennigan’s @bennigans.bar, Shasma @shasma.music and Sun Mahshene @sun_mahshene.