Lisburn bands set for SO:NI showcase

This promises to be a doubly special event as it includes an anniversary celebration for the headline band, and also serves as a warm-up party for one of Northern Ireland’s biggest festivals.

The gig will be headlined by Lisburn/Belfast rock’n’roll band Pay*ola – a widely renowned live act who this summer are celebrating 15 years together, and who are taking time out from working on their next album to play a few select anniversary gigs. With half the band hailing from the Lisburn area, and Hague’s Bar being one of their favourite venues to play – this show had to be on the agenda! Pay*ola plays passionate, melodic and gutsy hard rock with big hooks and a ferocious delivery – always worth catching in such an intimate venue. Expect tunes spanning their entire career, from all 9 of their CD releases.

Special guests on the night are Smoking Tongue – a Lisburn outfit who have really found their feet of late, moulding their soulful and intense rock sound into a potent force. The band has expanded to a 5-piece, revamped its line-up and has been playing its best shows and writing its best songs to date. They won last year’s Lisburn Battle of the Bands and haven’t looked back since.

Opening the show is Ezekiel Boom – a band built around Lisburn native, and current Bristol resident Alan Kennedy and his unique acoustic approach – involving poetry, comedy, occasionally singing in French and quite often full pirate costumes. An act that truly has to be seen (and heard) to be believed!

There will also be a special guest band on the night.

All of these acts share something in common – they will all play at Sunflowerfest 2013, to be held at Tubby’s Farm near Hillsborough on August 9-11 – and this night will serve a s something of a warm-up party and promotional event for the festival. Sunflowerfest is now in its fourth year, and you can check out this year’s excellent line-up at www.sunflowerfest.co.uk.

Doors open at 8.30pm, admission is £4.50 – with plenty of drinks promotions. The SO:NI shows will continue on the last Thursday of each month, and the team are always on the lookout for new bands in the area. Join them at www.
facebook.com/soni.live1