Dancing At Lunacy

“You never think” said Ash frontman Tim Wheeler tonight “when you write a song, that there’s going to be a building named after it!”

I was seeing the band for the 4th time, wearing the T shirt that I bought way back in 2004 when I interviewed them backstage in Luxembourg. They’d been around for a few years even then, and I swear they still don’t look a day over 17.

Belfast has gradually recognised the need to give its tourists something to do, and so its rich musical stable has been given some kudos. And that has a new-ish home in the Oh Yeah centre, down in the hip and trendy Cathedral Quarter, all cobbled streets and arty venues. The Oh Yeah itself is dry, so I nipped across the road to the Duke of York for a quickie before the show, and wondered why I’d never been there before! What a great pub, full of life and chatter, and snugs, and pictures, and mis-matched tables!

Ash are incredible – they still have a teenage enthusiasm and energy, and they are constantly exploring new ways to be a pop-rock band. Back in 2004, they had Charlotte Hatherly with them on guitar, though they’re best known as “that 3-piece from Downpatrick”. She’s since gone solo, and tonight they had a new member, Russel, on keyboards and guitar. But they’ve also since done an A-Z alphabetical tour of Britain (what a logistical nightmare that must have been for the tour manager!) and decided that they aren’t making any more albums, just releasing singles.

It was one of those night’s when I just lurv being here, when Belfast is my favourite place in the world.

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