Empire Music At a Glance November - December

MUSIC

At A Glance NOVEMBER DECEMBER

2016

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ALL PATRONS MUST BE AGED 18 OR OVER.

Come one, come all and enjoy the warm welcome at the Empire.

We’ve been at the very heart of Botanic Avenue’s nightlife for nearly 30 years now, and don’t intend on going anywhere soon. It’s a bumper winter season ahead of us and we’ve booked the very best of live, local, touring, tributes and comedy acts for the darkest months.

Comedy will continue its dominance of the local laughter scene, while GIFTED continues to promote the best of local music. LOW return for what’s bound to be a reverent take on their Christmas EP, while X-Factor hopeful JANET DEVLIN proves there’s life beyond TV talent shows.

GBH

and THE DEAD MEN WALKING revive the spirit of punk, while KATE TEMPEST shows us that the protest song is alive and kicking.

Dublin’s LE GALAXIE and SAINT SISTER both have debut Belfast headlining shows.

All that and the Christmas party season with not one but two PLEASUREDOME Christmas Crackers and a night of ABBA too for good measure. Phew!

Time for mulled wine.

As always, I remain yours truely,

Kittyxx

original artists playing their own music & more!

4 NOV CARRON 9 DEC EL DUDE BROtherS 11 NOV THE VIBES 16 DEC rackhouse pilfer 18 NOV mass band 23 DEC The moonshines 25 NOV tongue & groove 30 DEC jackie rainey’s 2 DEC THE VIBES sweetbeat

10.30PM // free admission

Entertainment Every Night Thursday 10.30pm Empire Blues with

rab mccullough & band Sunday 10pm

Admission FREE

Friday 5.30pm

ken haddock’s supper club

JACKIE RAINEY

Monday 10pm

Friday 10.30pm

Admission FREE

Admission FREE

the big empire quiz

roots 100% fresh

Tuesday 11pm

Saturday 10.30pm

Entry £1

DISCOBEARD

Admission FREE

Wednesday 10pm acoustic showcase ni

Society sessions singer songwriters

Admission FREE

see page 4 for details

Admission FREE

saturday live

local rock & soul covers 5 NOV

12 NOV 19 NOV

26 NOV 3 DEC 10 DEC & 17 DEC 31 DEC

ARMS OF VENUS DE MILO EL DUDE BROTHERS STRICTLY NO BALLROOM BLACK MARKET ICONS THE MOONSHINES ARMS OF VENUS DE MILO STRICTLY NO BALLROOM

Admission FREE

LIVE SPORT ON THE BIG SCREEN LATE BAR EVERY NIGHT / FOOD SERVED MON-SAT

Date: Sat 3 Sep

Doors 8.30pm / £11

12 DAYs OF wed 14 Dec society sessions christmas special: best of 2016 fri 16 DEC RACKHOUSE PILFER’s ROOTS CHRISTMAS HOEDOWN sat 17 dec

rocking around the christmas tree with ARMS of VENUS DE MILO

sun 18 dec KEN HADDOCK’S whiskey & shortbread supper club

support from amanda agnew

mon 19 dec the big empire christmas quiz

lots of christmas trivia & prizes! entry £1

tue 20 dec discobeard’s discochristmas thu 22 dec winter blues with RAB MCCULLOUGH

& very special guest, santa

fri 23 dec

last call for christmas drinks the moonshines

mon 26 dec

boxing night

ken haddock’s CHRISTmas jumper party

support from amanda agnew

thu 29 dec rab mccullough’S post christmas blues FRi 30 dec jackie rainey’s sweetbeat sat 31 dec

new year’s eve

strictly no ballroom

tickets £5 from empire bar

Hosted by BBC TV’s Blame Game regulars JAKE O’KANE & COLIN MURPHY (and occasional guests) this world famous night features headline acts from the UK and international Comedy circuit with top supporting acts and open spots from across the country

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80S SUPERGROUP sat 5 nov Imagine Weekend at Bernie’s, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and National Lampoon’s Animal House rolled into one, and you’re nearly at the level of party that a night at SPRINGBREAK demands.

With the greatest 80s movie anthems on offer, the most powerful

power ballads and the fashion that time forgot, Springbreak will take you on a journey through the soundtrack of your life.

Tunes to remember if you were there back then, or for the first time around. Let off some steam!

DAVID HULL PROMOTIONS

sat 19 nov It’s a whopping 25 years since the release of Pearl Jam’s massive debut album Ten, which launched the band into superstardom and features the mega-hits Alive, Even Flow and Jeremy. Irish based tribute PEARL JEM will be playing the album in full to celebrate its silver anniversary.

Formed by fans for fans, PEARL JEM have been on the road for ten years, bringing the music of Vedder et al to Ireland, the UK and across Europe. You’re in no better hands for your trip back to the days when plaid ruled the earth.

tribute at The Empire...

sat 26 nov The next best thing to New Jersey’s second son, THE BON JOVI EXPERIENCE boasts the unmistakable stage presense of Tony, a man who not only has performed for his idol’s birthday party, but appeared as Jon Bon Jovi himself in Brit-com Kinky Boots.

Dead or Alive, Blaze of Glory, Living on a Prayer. Blue collar anthems all, delivered by one of the most authentic and sought after tribute bands, in what’s bound to be another super smash sell-out show.

AFTER DARK present

RAISED ON ROCK fri 16 dec RAISED ON ROCK are not your standard tribute band, rather a crack team of elite session musicians, assembled from the finest session musicians the heavy metal scene in Northern Ireland has to offer.

With live experience that has taken in everyone from T’Pau to Thin Lizzy,

it’s clear form the first chord that these guys know what they’re on about.

Foreigner, Europe, Ozzy, Guns and Roses – just a short sample of who you’ll hear, performed by proper music fans for whom Rock is a way of life.

It’s hard to credit that it’s been 15 years since HAYSEED DIXIE first sailed out of the hills of Appalachia on a sea of whiskey and bluegrass, to release their now legendary Tribute to AC/ DC, but played on Banjo, jug and washboard.

Since then their folk versions

Date: Sun 6 Nov

of classic rock shtick have seen them play festivals the world over, becoming one of the planet’s hardest working bands. We’re always pleased to welcome the boys back to the Empire, for what’s always a raucous experience, where good times are guaranteed. And we mean guaranteed.

Doors 7pm / £17.50

SHINE

One of the great white hopes of the Irish music scene, SAINT SISTER will be gracing the elegant stage of the Empire Music Hall, we think no better place to showcase their haunting music.

Maybe you’re old enough to remember Clannad, or Bjork’s

Date: Mon 7 Nov

early work. This helps influence Saint Sister’s self-defined ‘Atmosfolk’ sound, and has seen them wow crowds while supporting Arcade Fire’s Win Butler through to Electric Picnic.

You saw them here first – or at least, you’ll say you did.

Doors 8pm / £13

AND FULL BAND

with

SINGLE LAUNCH PARTY

Hatchet Field • Junk Drawer • Waldorf & Canon

What is there to say about Robyn that hasn’t been said?

Probably our wee country’s best kept secret, Robyn’s songs of loss and redemption expose the artist with an occasionally uncomfortable clarity.

The Kilrea native’s work has gained comparisons with

Date: Wed 9 Nov

everyone from Nick Cave through to Bill Callaghan, all infused with a heavy dose of Ulster Noir.

Support for this singular talent comes from WALDORF AND CANNON, JUNK DRAWER and HATCHET FIELD.

Doors 8.30pm / £10

Nine years in the making, OPPORTUNITY FROCKS is Belfast’s fiercest event, as drag artists from across the country compete for the catty crown of Belfast’s BIGGEST glam magnet.

With all profits going towards Belfast’s annual Pride event, it’s for a good cause as you watch

Date: Sat 12 Nov

the ladies primp and prowl the stage, with only their razor sharp wit to protect them.

Full line-up will be revealed week by week at opfrocks.co.uk and this year the audience will choose the winner. Vote early, vote fabulously!

Doors 8pm / £10+BKG FEE

THUR 10 Nov TUSKANY STRENGTH CIVIL SIMIAN JESS EDLIN

Belfast based TUSKANY are an up-and-coming synth-pop act, with a slice of funk thrown in for good measure. Expect a mash-up of Earth, Wind and Fire, M83 and New Order, with a dancefloor sensibility to match.

Support comes from lo-fi, post-apocalyptic project STRENGTH, CIVIL SIMIAN and multi-instrumentalist JESS EDLIN, all for the bargain price of three quid!

THUR 1 dec

ORCHID COLLECTIVE BRAND NEW FRIEND SON OF THE HOUND TOUTS

Gifted have a track record of incubating the country’s best up and coming acts – and the ORCHID COLLECTIVE are next on the list to hit the big time.

With a healthy regard for the work of Bon Iver and John Vincent McMorrow, the band combine layed vocals with reverb, resulting in a haunting live experience.

Support comes from BRAND NEW FRIEND, SON OF THE HOUND and TOUTS, and all for the usual low, low Gifted price.

Date: Thursday 10 Nov Date: Thursday 1 Dec

Doors 9.00pm / £3 Doors 9.00pm / £3

Aiken promotionS

Down here at the Empire we do both kinds of music, County and Western, so we’re thrilled to be welcoming THE CADILLAC THREE to the stage, one of the USA’s hottest talents. Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, this will be the band’s Belfast debut.

Date: Sun 13 Nov

When not writing songs for Keith Urban, or appearing in smash hit TV show Nashville, the Cadillac Three are beating their own path through the otherwise clichéd world of country rock. It’s new country, it’s big country and essential for fans of everyone from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Lady Antebellum.

Doors 8pm / £18

Aiken promotionS

For several years LAKE STREET DIVE were a part time project, with the members concentrating on other bands and studying jazz at Boston’s prestigious New England Conservatory of Music. A chance cover of I Want You Back saw them go viral on Youtube. The rest, as they say is history. Jools Holland followed a

Date: Wed 16 Nov

series of bigger and bigger live events. Things escalated quickly.

Part Beatles, part Motown, part jazz, the band have elevated pop music to something more intellectual, while maintaining an ear for a good hook. Essential stuff for fans of Vampire Weekend, Polaris and Paul Simon.

Doors 8pm / ÂŁ20

Glance AT A

Every Tuesday

COMEDY

with Colin Murphy or Jake O Kane & Guests

8pm // £8/£7

Saturday 5 Nov

springbreak 8.30pm // £11

Sunday 6 Nov

HAYSEED DIXIE 7pm // £17.50

Monday 7 Nov

SAINT SISTER 8pm // £13

Wednesday 9 Nov

ROBYN G SHIELS

Wednesday 16 Nov lake street dive 8pm // £20

Thursday 17 Nov SOUNDS OF NI 8.30pm // £5

Friday 18 Nov BELLEHOPPERS BLUES FEATURING

one horse pony 8.30pm // £13

Saturday 19 Nov

pearl jem

8.30pm // £12.50

Monday 21 Nov the low anthem

8.30pm // £10

7.30pm // £15

Thursday 10 Nov

Thursday 24 Nov

GIFTED

TUSKANY, STRENGTH, CIVIL SIMIAN, JESS EDIN

9pm // £3

Saturday 12 Nov OPPORTUNITY FROCKS 8pm // £10+BKG

Sunday 13 Nov the cadillac 3 8pm // £18

FRIENDS OF CANCER CENTRE

joe o’sullivan 8pm // £10

Saturday 26 Nov

the bon jovi experience 8.30pm // £12

Sunday 27 Nov the sweethearts of swing 7pm // £10/£12 @ door

Wednesday 14 Dec janet devlin 8.30pm // £12

7.30pm // £17

Thursday 1 Dec COLLECTIVE, BRAND NEW GIFTED ORCHID FRIEND, SON OF THE HOUND, TOUTS 9pm // £3

Friday 2 Dec le galaxie 8.30pm // £15

Saturday 3 & 17 Dec

PLEASUREDOME

Thursday 15 Dec THE CABEYTú BROTHERS 7.30pm // £16.50

Friday 16 Dec

raised on rock 8.30pm // £10

Sunday 18 Dec KEN HADDOCK’S

WHISKEY & SHORTBREAD CHRISTMAS SUPPER PARTY

CHRISTMAS CRACKER 1 & 2

8.30pm // £10

Wednesday 7 Dec dead men walking 8pm // £20

Thursday 8 Dec SOUNDS OF NI 8.30pm // £5

Friday 9 Dec bronagh gallagher 8.30pm // £11.50

Saturday 10 Dec the BJORN IDENTITY 8.30pm // £11

Monday 12 Dec LOW 8pm // £22.50

7pm // Free Adm

Monday 19 Dec

LISA HANNIGAN 7.30pm // £19.50

Thursday 22 Dec

GBH

PLUS THE DEFECTS, UNITED BOTTLES, STOP STOP START AGAIN, DJ SET

8.30pm // £17

Friday 23 Dec

geoff tate

8.30pm // £20

Monday 26 Dec KEN HADDOCK’S

BOXING DAY CHRISTMAS JUMPER PARTY

7pm // Free Adm

Saturday 31 Dec SUITED & BOOTED

NI SOUL TROOP”S NYE Special 8.30pm // £15

All ents, offers & pricing subject to change

Wednesday 30 Nov kate tempest

Bellehopper’s Blues featuring

Bellhoppers One Horse Pony Awaiting Image, logo, text

Based in Cork, but featuring members from France, the US and Ireland, ONE HORSE PONY take the blues into the 21st century, taking the universal language of the hard done by and making it their own, with a reputation for providing a hardstomping live experience.

Date: Fri 18 Nov

Citing influences such as Blind Lemon Jefferson and CW Stoneking, the band have graced every stage worth playing in Ireland, from Electric Picnic, through to Indiependance.

With releases flying high in the iTunes charts, the time is ripe to let the blues back in your life.

Doors 8.30pm / ÂŁ13

It’s a welcome return for this Rhode Island psych-pop outfit THE LOW ANTHEM, who will be peddling their awesome new album Eyeland, a multi-faceted exploration of alt-folk that have seen them compared to everyone from Bon Iver to the Flaming Lips.

sauce factory and brought to you via a near fatal van crash, Eyeland continues the high standard you’d expect from the crafters of 2008’s breakthrough release Oh My God, Charlie Darwin.

Nothing short of a fully-fledged event.

Recorded in a derelict pasta

Date: Mon 21 Nov

Doors 7.30pm / £15

Oncologist by day, songwriter by night, JOE O’SULLIVAN made his live debut this time last year in the Empire Music Hall. Well, the night was such a success, he’s doing it again.

Inspired by the stories of quiet heroism and setbacks he sees every day at work, Joe crafted songs that don’t shrink from the realities of serious illness, while focusing on the hope that drives the human spirit.

JOE O’SULLIVAN Date: Thu 24 Nov

Performing songs from his debut album as well as classic covers and brand new material.

All in aid of the Friends of the Cancer Centre.

Doors 8pm / £10

Not, thankfully a Status Quo tribute band, rather Northern Ireland’s finest tribute to the days of victory rolls, red lipstick and seamed stockings. The three piece take their cue from the works of the Andrews Sisters, and will transport you back instantly, to a more civilised time. With authentic outfits and the moves to match, the stylish trio will be helping us bop the night away, with some help for the harder moves, in an act that’s guaranteed to get your feet on the floor, and bum off the seat!

Date: Sun 27 Nov

Doors 7pm / £10/£12 at door

KATE TEMPEST With debut album Let Them Eat Chaos hitting the decks at the start of October, KATE TEMPEST continues the street poet heritage of the likes of Benjamin Zephaniah, John Cooper Clarke or Mike Skinner.

The multi-disciplinary artist will be bringing her debut Belfast

Date: Wed 30 Nov

show to the Empire Music Hall, and we’re very excited to host such a singular talent.

Jobs, racism, homelessness and hope, Kate’s themes hold a mirror up to modern British society, a compelling, if uncompromising vision.

Doors 7.30pm / £17

It’s great to see things looking bright for the hardest working band in Ireland. LE GALAXIE haven’t ridden a wave of hype, dropped a massive hit single or surfed the zeitgeist, opting instead for the hard work that’s seen them play every stage going.

Date: Fri 2 Dec

And it shows. With a formidable stage presence and the songs to back it up, Le Galaxie have slowly built up a loyal fan base and a blistering back catalogue.

We’re certain that this is the last time you’ll see them grace a stage as intimate as the Empire.

Join the movement.

Doors 8.30pm / £15

CHRISTMAS PARTY NIGHTS MAURICE JAY’S

christmas cracker The Ultimate 80’S CHRISTMAS PARTY Parts I & II

Date: Sat 3 & 17 Dec

Date: Fri 10 Dec

Doors 8.30pm / £10

Doors 8.30pm / £11

Punk’s Not Dead (though punctuation might be…) as welcome the super-group DEAD MEN WALKING to the Empire.

Consisting of Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers), Kirk Brandon (Spear of Destiny/Theatre of Hate) and Segs and Ruffy from the Ruts, Dead Men Walking

Date: Wed 7 Dec

bring us back to a time when you could rely on a band to be angry…

With a massive back catalogue to draw from and some of the best anecdotes in the business, Dead Men Walking encapsulate thst hard to define Spirit of 77.

Doors 8pm / £20

You may know Bronagh from her acting, which encompasses everything from Irish cult classic the Commitments, through to Pulp Fiction and Star Wars, the Phantom Menace. But it’s music that remains her first love, with the Derry born artiste happiest writing, recording and playing to sold out crowds across the globe.

Date: Fri 9 Dec

Gather Your Greatness is Bronagh’s third album of original material and one of the most hotly anticipated Irish releases of the year. Endorsed by everyone from Brian Eno to the NME, Gallagher’s song writing is as essential as her voice, one of the country’s most underrated talents.

Doors 8.30pm / £11.50

SHINE

This is a very special show. LOW will be presenting their seminal Christmas EP. Released over 15 years ago, it gave us alternative types something else to listen to in the festive season, asdide from the Cocteau Twins’ version of Frosty the Snowman.

With 11 studio albums under their belt, and the love of a slegion of devoted fans, a Low concert is a rare treat, and we’re certain of a sell-out show, so get those tickets early if you don’t want to miss out.

Date: Mon 12 Dec

Doors 8pm / £20 +BKG

SD entertainment

Proof that there is life beyond the X-Factor, Gortin native JANET DEVLIN has overcome being eliminated by Misha B (Misha who?) and earned the support of everyone from Dragon’s Den’s Duncan Bannatyne to Courtney Love.

With her self-funded debut album Janet worked with Hand Built By Robots supremo Newton

Date: Wed 14 Dec

Faulkner and toured the States and beyond, earning praise for her staggering voice and songwriting skills.

Not content to go down the haory club-singer route, Janet coninutes to plough her own furrow and will be debuting songs from the awaited album #2.

Doors 8.30pm / £12

cabeytÚ shows europe

THE CABEYTÚ BROTHERS

The two Argentine natives have built a reputation of being the number one party draw in their adopted hometown of Benidorm – quite an accolade when you consider the competition on offer!

Both multi-talented brothers have rocked the stages of South

Date: Date: Thu Thu 15 15 Dec Dec

America as artists in their own rights, and with over 15 different instruments in their repertoire expect something for everyone in their massive twohour experience.

Its Rodrigo cabaret!

y

Gabriela

goes

Doors Doors7.30pm 7.30pm/ /£16.50 £16.50

Ken Haddock’s­­­­ Whiskey & Shortbread christmas supper SUPPORT FROM AMANDA AGNEW

Enjoy a complementary Christmas bites, Kitty’s special Shortbread and a wee seasonal sup for Ken’s annual Christmas party.

Date: Sun 18 Dec

Doors 7pm / Adm Free

Lisa has often been in the background of the Irish music scene, quietly producing works of understated genius. At Swim is no different. It’s already topped the Irish cahrts and earned Lisa her first UK top 40 placing Released this year it features The National’s Aaron Dessner and is the culmination of a period of reflection that saw her contribute to the soundtracks to box office smash Gravity and cult classic Fargo.

It’s an intimate show for the talented lady and one that’s sure to sell out early.

Date: Mon 19 Dec

Doors 7.30pm / £19.50

The architects of UK82 (see also Street Punk, real punk and UK Hardcore), GBH are one of the most influential bands we’ve ever had at the Empire, with everyone from Nirvana through to the Queens of the Stone Age claiming lineage to the Brum four-piece.

At their peak, GBH lived in a world with the threat of global annihilation, a repressive Tory government and massive youth unemployment, so you could argue that there’s never been a better time to revisit the back catalogue!

Date: Thu 22 Dec

Doors 8.30pm / £17

SD entertainMent

We’re not so genteel as the surroundings might suggest here at the Empire. We’ve got a penchant for the loud, the fast and the riff laiden. Which is why we’re very excited to welcome Queensryche vocalist GEOFF TATE to the Music Hall.

With over 20 million album sales

Date: Fri 23 Dec

to their name, Queensryche dominated the late 80’s progressive metal scene with their sprawling concept album Operation: Mindcrime. Named for the album Tate’s band continues to spread the word.

Essential stuff for fans of Tool, Sabbath and Judas Priest

£17 Doors 8.30pm / £20

BOXING NIGHT CHRISTMAS JUMPER SUPPER CLUB SUPPORT FROM

AMANDA AGNEW

It’s time to pull out those nutty Christmas knits and present your best post-Quality Street, Roses-athon self for a seasonal special!

We want to see your very best ugly, itchy jumpers, the ones that every aunt and granny have a pattern for. With vertigo inducing patterns of snowflakes and winter fauna or flora, plus the odd pom pom or tassle for good measure!

It’s the best Boxing Night party in Belfast and we’ve a complementary supper (no sprouts or turkey, promise!!) and prize for the best jumper of course.

Date: Mon 26 Dec

Free Admission

Date: Saturday 31 Dec

Doors 8.30pm / £15

ni soul troop’s and

suited booted nye special

NI Soul Troop / Pocket Billiards / Aggressors BC / Buzz Sounds Crew

Merry Christmas from The Belfast Empire BOTANIC AVENUE BELFAST T: 028 9024 9276 WWW.THEBELFASTEMPIRE.COM