When the front man of Northern Ireland's loudest rock and roll band releases a self-reflective solo record, you realise the times are beginning to shift. For years Tim Wheeler has been our nations most revered raconteur of love and youthful abandon, Ash producing some of our greatest anthems. New album 'Lost Domain' carries many of the hall marks of it's authors most impressive traits; high on melody, not short on sing along quality and more of the fine guitar work which helped establish him as the indie hero of an otherwise scarred nation. Now back to play the album in full, Taylor Johnson gives his views...

What must be remembered here is that 'Lost Domain', Tim Wheeler's first solo album, will forever be associated with the tragic loss of his father which inspired it. As Wheeler's family and closest friends joined his army of fans in the Oh Yeah Centre last Friday, the emotions of this very personal homecoming were bound to impact the gig itself, and why not? Each carefully crafted song from the album was given it's chance to capture the crowd ~ and rarely did they waste their chance to do so.

The stunning 'First Sign Of Spring' and it's minimalist arrangements proved a moving snapshot into Wheeler's troubled mind, finally grasping at the first signs of light. "I still speak to you and I feel stronger...when I'm, lost I will hang on". 

'Vigil' provided a touch of the grandiose, a big, big tune. It filled the Oh Yeah Centre and really had the place rocking, the echoing cries of 'You are not alone' summing things up pretty concisely. Lyrically, Wheeler seems to have found more of himself on this album than ever before; finding a philosophical maturity brought on more by honesty than anything else. "The beauty of this life, everything you've known, in time we have to let them go..."

An encore of classics 'Goldfinger' and 'Oh Yeah' were never in danger of  producing anything less than the rapture of an Ash gig. (Members of Wheeler's road crew would later comment that 'Oh Yeah' was a late addition to the set ~ "You can't not play that Tim, this place is named after the bloody song!") though it was his old bands swan song which proved the highlight. Voted one of our nations greatest ever anthems (and singled out by Noel Gallagher as one of his favorite songs), 'Shining Light's piano led delicacy perfectly summarized the feelings of the night. It was an intimate performance, for an emotional occasion and a genuine pleasure to witness. The superb Tony Wright joining Wheeler on stage only heightened the feelings that you were witnessing something rather special indeed.

A proud night for Belfast.

Acoustic singer-songwriter Kris D Marsden's latest release see's a snapshot into the mind of a man in some degree of emotional turmoil. Rich in the sort of soft, Donovan inspired production that would make it onto any indie-romance film's soundtrack, 'Dear Dad' is Marsden's ode to his late father and a touching tribute indeed. The subtle integration of piano lies delicately amongst the anguish laden vocal, though it's difficult to concentrate on much beyond the sentiments of a song so deeply rooted in it's authors conscious.

Making no attempt to hide the blindingly obvious struggles of a bereavement can be risky business (clichés can be a dangerous game to play), but in this case each lyric carries an endearing quality, soft and relatable. There are no plastic emotions here. The only concern for Marsden will be capturing the songs quiet ethereal qualities live, as without it's careful arrangements it may fall away to a crowd. Having said this, 'Dear Dad' perhaps commands attention at it's most simplistic. "Sometimes in my mind I swear I can hear you...it's been ten years too long, ten years to realise you're gone and I miss you"

For fans of: Willamette Stone,  Neil Young, Elliot Smith
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No stranger to the gig circuit, Treehome frontman Ben Flavelle-Cobain looks more at home on stage than he does off it. Add to this confidence a watertight rhythm section and you have all the ingredients of a truly exciting act. The most interesting aspect of Treehome? Their age. Perhaps the term 'youthful verve' has never been so apt. Taylor Johnson took a listen...

Here, Flavelle-Cobain and his band of groove-loving cohorts have produced their finest work to date. A clear choice for single, 'Keep Our Loving Discreet' burns with a passion matched only by its catchy melody. The scrutiny this young band place on their jams speaks volumes for their work; maintaining a tight balance between exuberant riffs and punchy, hook-filled rhythms.

Sam Green's bass floats through the track's core almost hazily, acting as an almost innocuous conductor to the madness which surrounds him. Behind the drum kit, Michael Culbert produces a lesson of controlled punctuality. He remains in no danger of missing a single beat, yet pushes the boundaries enough to ensure you'll be air-drumming your way through consecutive listens.

If traces of Liverpudlian indie-makers The Coral's earlier psychedelia lie beneath Treehome's surface, it is seemingly not their main influence. That accolade must surely fall to legends The Red Hot Chili Peppers, whose soulful groove is plastered all over this polished four minutes of funk.

The band's lack of punkier aggression matters little, (that will never be their scene), as Flavelle-Cobain's smooth tones more than make up for it anyway. If there is to be one criticism, it comes in the songs falsetto'd breakdown. By no means is the additional female vocal a poor performance, on the contrary, it does its job well. However, when you hear Treehome's front-man fully going for it himself, the need for alteration almost seems unnecessary.

If this is the start of the road for Treehome, it looks a very promising road trip indeed.

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Despite being a somewhat enigmatic figure, Katharine Philippa is no newcomer to the music scene in Northern Ireland. Having released her first EP 'Fallen' in 2011, and recently graduating with a bachelor of music from Queen's University, she has been honing her craft for a number of years. 'Broken to be Rebuilt' is not only a culmination of years of education in her art, but a deeply personal exploration of life, love and pain.

Those who are lucky enough to discover her music are engulfed in a listening experience like no other. The title track opens the EP in spectacular fashion; a fragile, piano-led song which focuses on themes of despair, destruction, and subsequent healing and rejuvenation. This sentiment, 'Broken to be Rebuilt', epitomizes the entire EP. The tracks are sorrowful, however Philippa is not admitting defeat. This is not a mournful, self-pitying record - an underlying motif of optimism lies throughout.

The sprawling 'Hosanna' is a raw, emotive number. The acapella opening showcases Philippa's spellbinding vocal, with the lines 'God, if you are here, come and lend your ears / The world has become dulled, and I can't feel anything' reflecting Philippa's inner struggles with her faith. In Hebrew, hosanna means “please save”, and this sense of desperation permeates the track, driven by thunderous timpani, howling vocals, and rapturous organ.

Entrepreneurial singer-songwriter Daveit Ferris is better known today as the mastermind behind Chordblossom, one of the countries most successful local music websites. Ferris has worked tirelessly over the years to break new bands within Northern Ireland, whether through promotion, gig opportunities or the recording process. For a new generation of local music fans however, it may surprise them to learn that this unassuming music aficionado was once the front man of one of our best bands. This wasn't a band who showed glimpses of potential, Mascara Story was a band that fulfilled theirs and then some. More surprising still, Ferris is not now ready to rest on his laurels, reflecting on all the good he's done for the country. Instead he's embarked on his most audacious project yet, '365 Sparks' which see's him stick to a rigorous songwriting process that will allow him to release a new song every day of 2015. Ridiculous? Perhaps. Possible? With Daveit Ferris at the helm, you have to believe so. Having released several beautifully arranged EP's of various nature since  Mascara Story's breakup, the songs from 365 Sparks are inevitably destined to be steeped in various genres. Luckily, Ferris has proved time and time again that he is comfortable in many different formats. While debuting some of the material from his new project, Encore was immediately drawn to one particular teaser. Taylor Johnson gives his verdict...

 What can be gathered from 1 minute, 30 seconds of a song? Somewhere between 'All I Wanted's melodic Green Day inspired electric guitar tones, to it's writers trademark pitch perfect vocals, quite a lot indeed. One aspect of Ferris's songwriting that has always been evident is the passion that lies beneath every tracks surface. This is why so many put their faith in Mascara Story's maudlin tales, they pulled no punches, anger and regret radiating from every line like a teenage fist to a wall. There was no comfort to be taken here, the comfort came from within the moshpit, or through a pair of headphones as you stared out a bus window and remembered how much you loved (still love) that bitch of an ex-girlfriend that shattered your heart...but we digress.

As Ferris has got older, his influences don't seem to have evolved massively, though the sound has undoubtedly developed. The crunch from his amp has not been discarded, nor the pristine clarity of his vocals, even if the Beach Boys falsetto has been given a greater degree of freedom (no bad thing, provided they're not overdone). The chorus will also provide a nostalgic shiver for Mascara's old fans. It's been a while since we've heard his voice cascade through a breakdown like this. Once again, lyrically Ferris hits a raw nerve you didn't even realise was showing. "Since we met I can not sleep...all I wanted, was one moment, just to pretend we're alive". 

If anything, you want to hear him get darker, broodier and perhaps even more aggressive. Though it has to be remembered, this is just a drop in the ocean of 365 brand new tunes. If they're all of this quality (a very tall order) Daveit Ferris may be on to his biggest project to date.


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For fans of: Mascara Story, Green Day, My Chemical Romance

Christian Donaghey is a rare breed of  musician. Through careful craftwork of his sonic and lyrical prose, he has managed to accomplish more in his short time as 'Autumns' than many bands will throughout their career. From the inception of this new project only a year ago,  record labels and management executives have cast an eye towards Donaghey's dream like soundscapes, citing his minimalist visuals and waltz like tracks as potential trendsetters. The release of new single 'Commitment'  has already won the Derry native radio airplay and Encore NI was certainly keen to investigate the hype. To believe or not to believe? This was the question...

No stranger to the effects pedal, Autumns new single 'Commitment' takes no time in making its point. At just under three minutes long, it's a public burial of the pop single blue-print, allowing a woozy bass line and Fugazi styled overtones to entrance the listener. Autumns make music within a silhouette, as if to shroud their true feelings in a haze of feedback. Although you never feel Donaghey is prepared to hold back his real emotion, he simply wants you to work for it.

This single would not look out of place in Liverpool's sludge-pop scene, (alongside the likes of Go Fiasco etc) though equally Autumns embrace of the darker end of indie's diverse spectrum could have seen them send Manchester's Haçienda into raptures ~ and yes, this is a bold proclamation for an act so young, but one we feel is entirely justified thus far.

While their dark and brooding melodies take a degree of influence from the ghosts of art-punk past, there's enough here to suggest Autumns may be a very unique act. Giving shoegaze a new lease of life, this is the sound the likes of Ballymena's sadly defunct Frank&Beans may have one day achieved under different circumstances. Effortless grunge, with layers of possibilities.

Though perhaps this development  shouldn't surprise us, this is the band who released their debut single on cassette tape after all...

For fans of: The Horrors, Joy Division, Pixies
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At this moment in time local music in Northern Ireland has (with a few exceptions*) never been stronger. In an age of increasing commercialism and lesser artistic control, it is fundamentally important for each local scene to support their acts as much as possible. Here in NI, we benefit from possibly the most supportive local music structure in Britain, with the mothering arms of Across The Line on the BBC, The Oh Yeah Music Center and a thriving series of websites and magazines dedicated to ensuring it's survival. One of the best schemes to develop in recent years is 'Scratch My Progress', a development program designed to mentor local artists, ensuring they get a chance to record professionally, meet industry bigwigs and take part in a photoshoot with photography legend Carrie Davenport (amongst others).

This years acts are perhaps the schemes strongest to date, an eclectic mix of the countries best through a variety of genres. On November 12th, the Oh Yeah Centre will play host to the official Scratch My Progress EP, featuring tunes from each act. To ensure you don't miss the next generation, Encore NI have provided a run down of each act and why you shouldn't miss this unique line-up.


Band: R51
Genre: Alt-Rock
Download: Slowhound, Skelf, Boxkite
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Once known as The Beast Of The R51 Broadcast, the mysterious R51's unique brand of alt-rock is as certain to amaze as it is to have you headbanging. A combination of front-woman Melyssa Shannon's Kate Bush-like lucid vocal and Jonny Woods stunning guitar soundscapes create the haze with which this band will draw you in.


Band: Hurdles
Genre: Indie-Rock
Download: France (new single ~ out soon!), Paper Soldiers, Ruthless
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The emerging faces of NI indie since their emergence last year, Hurdles have proved a breath of fresh air and then some. The release of their superb debut EP 'Where To Start' reinforced their importance (particularly after General Fiasco's sad disintegration) and followed a heroic gigging schedule. Now with a new guitarist and a fresh, groove inspired sound, Hurdles next release is expected to be their best.


Band: Hot Cops
Genre: Indie/Punk
Download: Another Teen Age (EP)
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Encore NI has already made multiple comments on the potential of this particular band. We've made no secret of our excitement and the praise heaped on their debut EP 'Another Teen Age' speaks for itself. Go see them.


Artist: Matthew Duly
Genre: Acoustic
Download: Locked Inside, Ghost In Your Memory, Different Colours
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Being the only solo singer-songwriter in the scheme may bring a certain degree of pressure for Whitehead's Matty Duly. If this is indeed the case, he's not shown it. With a beautifully weathered voice and finely tuned setlist, Duly's songwriting bursts with the kind of raw emotion necessary to win over any audience. He proved that himself, performing at our own Modern life Is Rubbish in September. His voice and demeanor also bear more than a passing resemblance to The Shin's James Mercer, a rare and impressive accolade.



Band: Serotonin
Genre: Alt-Rock/Grunge
Download: Cold Coffee, Peel (Another new single ~ out soon!), Cleanse Me
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Modern Life Is Rubbish  headliners Serotonin are another band regularly praised by the local press. Their stunning live shows and unpredictability remain their strong-points, though front-woman Lucy Loane's fierce vocals and powerful stage presence, also ensure their army of fans, never go home disappointed.

Don't miss the chance to catch this one off gig | Oh Yeah Centre, Belfast // November 12th, 8pm.

We'll be there!


*We are of course, not for one second prepared to undermine the 'Little Solidarity Movement' of the mid 2000's ~ A Plastic Rose, Fighting With Wire, ASIWYFA...