Over at BBC Northern Ireland’s Across The Line the staff have finally compiled their top twenty list of ‘bands what kicked ass’ during 2009, reflecting the votes of around fifteen different musicians, reviewers and writers.

It got me thinking – I don’t normally participate in lists, not because I dislike them, more because I can become fixated on the finer details of which position to put each band/film/song etc…

So, I thought I would gather some courage and stick out my own top five (easy now, give me twenty to work with and we’ll be here till next Christmas) Northern Irish bands of 2009.

1. And So I Watch You From Afar

I hear coughs in the background!…

No, speaking as honestly as one can I feel that after all the build up, after all the touring, after each massive home show…that this particular choice needs little explanation. There is a reason other bands look up to these four chaps, and there is a reason why all of us who are fans are so feverish about their unique brand of ‘fuck you’…

They rock.

…of course, I would say that.

2. A Plastic Rose

Again, a choice which for me explanation is secondary – A Plastic Rose are pure crowd ticklers, and come to the stage each time with energy to burn and ample passion to entertain. Constantly out performing the main acts in their early year support slots, they landed on their feet at the St. Patrick’s Day Hooley, joined ASIWYFA at CQAF, packed out the Spurs Of Rock stage at Glasgowbury; were rewarded for their efforts with top slots at the Reading & Leeds Festivals before returning home to several packed out shows.

…not to mention recording the ‘baste’ song of the year in ‘Kids Don’t Behave Like This‘.

3. LaFaro

Aside from being just generally, the musical equivalent of an aggravated wolf pack, LaFaro have really pushed forwards this year conquering the Ulster Hall not once but twice, as well as continuing to destroy crowds and take names.

Particularly, their reception at the Glasgowbury Music Festival, and headline gig at the Stiff Kitten stick out in my memory as real highlights of the year’s music calendar.

One of the most popular bands in the country, I think that this year has been all about LaFaro’s growing fan base, a band it wouldn’t be a stretch to crown ‘The People’s Choice’ – if someone hasn’t already done so.

With an album in the works, as well as their still growing popularity it’s not inconceivable that 2010 will be the year LaFaro clear house.

4. Team Fresh

A band constantly overlooked in terms of both their popularity with thoroughbred hallions and upstanding citizens alike, Team Fresh’s destruction of RADAR towards the end of the year caps off a mighty set of gigs for them in 2009 which will live on in infamy.

They’ve finally moved from choice of the curious, to an outright headlining act…standing proudly as the champions of rap fuelled riots here in Northern Ireland. With a solidified line-up hopefully they’ll continue to build on the success they’ve had so far.

5. Panama Kings

I can hear more mumbled disagreements at the back – and to that I say, ‘one man’s poison’.

Panama Kings have come out of 2009 with a bit of a scattered reputation, and a few blotches that hopefully won’t stain them in 2010 – though, that said, impressive festival performances during the Summer months over in England as well as a full UK tour with Ash towards the end of the year cement in place a band that have taken 2009 by the collar.

An admirable home performance headlining the Mandela Hall in October is the real jewel in the Panama’s crown for 2009, where their Four Nations branding kicked off to a solid start.

…and I must give an honourable mention to The Answer – I just didn’t know where to fit them in without tearing out my hair and rearranging the entire list. They went on tour with AC/DC, crashed the walls in at the Ulster Hall and their second album Everyday Demons rock into the charts amongst other epic bowel movements.

There are of course, so many other bands who I could have mentioned and are certainly worth mentioning – but I tried to keep my thoughts at the surface, on the instantly noticeable achievements that have happened throughout the year.

Of course I could disclaimer this whole thing, mentioning something about ‘opinions’ and ‘go fuck yourself if you disagree’ etc…

…but where’s the fun in that?

“Noughties electro disco pop, writ large in neon lights”

After taking the Reading and Leeds Festivals by storm back in August (they were the only band on the Introducing stage to be played by Nick Grimshaw and Huw Stephens), the good folk at BBC Introducing were very keen to get Soft Toy Emergency in to record a session for them. Subsequently, a few weeks ago, the guys dropped in to Maida Vale studios to do just that…

Check out their forthcoming single Critical live at Maida Vale

Check out Headline live at Maida Vale

Check out Circles live at Maida Vale

Check out Here With You live at Maida Vale

Alternatively you can visit Soft Toy Emergency’s BBC Introducing page for the videos of their Reading/Leeds performances.

The ‘festival team’ (I think that’s a suitable term) for A Plastic Rose on the Friday preceeding their trip to the Reading and Leeds Festivals where they played not one but two penultimate headlining slots on the BBC Introducing stage.

We’re all incredibly proud of them for kicking ass and taking names this weekend and hopefully it’s the start of a new chapter in the band’s accent.

Happy campers enjoying Kasabian

For the first time in three years I’m not going, as there are only a handful of bands I’d like to see this time round, but all I can say regarding this news, is thank fuck for that. If you take a flag to a festival, you qualify as a cunt. Same goes for the girl who wants attention and mouths the words (about half of them) she knows to the new Kooks song, as the cameramen at the festival desperately zoom in on her whilst sat on the shoulders of the boy that desperately fancies her, but is resigned to being the friend who mops up the tears every time the boy she actually does fancy realises what a twat she is… and waits and quietly weeps every night of the festival whilst listening to heart-wrenching sounds of her having sex with someone she just met in the tent next to his.

The only defence I’ve seen offered for flags is atmosphere and finding your friends/tent. It takes a special breed of twat to go out of your way to obscure peoples views at a gig/festival/whatever. Now I can’t help being quite tall, but that’s not my fault, and realising my height, I steer clear of wearing a top hat. If you need a flag to find your tent after about 10 minutes of setting it up you must be fucking stupid… and the rest is a load of bollocks anyway. Flags are nothing but an irritant, and if you want to stand out in the crowd without doing that much, you are a twat anyway. The flags that attempt to be funny are about as witty as the t-shirts from Primark you see idiots wearing featuring some ‘hilarious’ slogan about how they love drinking and women… e.g. ‘also comes in sober’, often warn by bald middle aged men being dragged round the shops on a depressing Saturday afternoon. Carrying a flag or men wearing dresses or people in stupid wigs or pretty much everything like that designed to make the wearer stand out is fucking stupid. You might get noticed briefly, but it’s not for anything worthwhile is it? Half the crowd might see and think ‘oh look there’s a guy in a dress’, whilst the vaguely sane people will think ‘what a wacky attention seeking twat’ but the real point is, no one wants to be your friend…

The news is everywhere at the moment, but here is some words from the Granuiad.

‘Music lovers going to the Reading and Leeds festivals this weekend will be banned from taking flags into the arenas. Organisers said flags would not be allowed in as they block the view of other people in the crowd. The annual music events, which begin on Friday, will see 150 acts play over three days, including headliners Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead and Kings of Leon. The official websites for both festivals state: “No flags will be allowed into the arena. They restrict the view of people behind.” Any festivalgoers caught crowd-surfing at Reading this year will also find themselves punished by new rules.’

There was an outraged response on the Guardian website too, but I think I’ve pretty much explained why banning flags is a good idea. If you want to read the article, you’ll have to look yourself, but I wouldn’t bother, I’m right and that article is shit and wrong. If you are going to Reading or Leeds this weekend, have a good time and I wish you luck in avoiding the idiots (around 80% of people who go).

Placebo are also rumored for Leeds Festival 2009, following the news that they have new material coming out in 2009. Interestingly, the band have also confirmed a slot at the German festival, Pinkpop. A popular choice for bands who then go on to play Leeds.

http://ping.fm/JO6YI go on sale today for Green Days UK Arena tour

FRIDAY

Tickets

Tim Burgess reveals Killing Joke, The Horrors and more for isle of Wight Big Top

DAY passes for Download festival go on sale today

Blink 182 deny comeback single is going to be called Reborn…

Liam Gallagher launches clothing range Pretty Green:

Glastonbury organiser Michael Eavis named one of Time Magazines 100 Most Influential People

Pete Docherty for Benacassim.

Dinosaur Jnr to give 1st track of new album Farm for free.

The new Eels single “Fresh Blood” is released on Itunes today.

Coldplay to give live album away for free via website

Paramore admit their album brought them together

Oasis caught up in swine flu situation in S.America

THURSDAY

Guns and roses guitarist hints at NON-US tour dates soon

Noel Gallagher records acoustic track in the toilets at Madison Square Garden for Bonos charity.

Metro Station announce headline show in the Uk this summer

Judas Priest guitarist KK Downing to open golf course in Shropshire

30 Seconds To Mars head back to Virgin Records for new album release

Motorhead invite The Damned to support them on UK tour

Wembley Stadium – denials live gigs are wrecking the pitch

Doves disappointed over Kingdom of Rust just missing number 1 spot

Britpop compilation album coming soon

The Killers say next single “The World We Live In” to come out 18th May and moan about US music fans

Faith No More added to Roskilde.

WEDNESDAY

600 drummers needed for record attempt / charity fundraiser

Gerard Ways BOOK to get movie treatment

Janes Addiction to release “Nothing Shocking” classic album through Rock Band

The King Blues…Jet…Red Light Company..and Starsailor… and more added to V festival line up…

The Enemy and Super Furry Animals have been added to the Somerset house gig line up…

The track listing for the new Eminem album Relapse has been leaked online…

Reports today Coldplay are experimenting with a “rave” sound on new material

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have deny they’re splitting up

Legendary metallers Fear Factory have reformed for Sonisphere and Bloodstock

Iggy Pops insurance adverts draw complaints

Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stones music used as pest control in Nevada (?)

TUESDAY

Blur guitarist Graham Coxon promises greatest hits at Blur comeback gigs

Keane and the Horrors have been aded to the bill for this years Summer Sonic festival in Japan…

Kasabian admit they’re not MASSIVE Bruce Springsteen fans – despite being his Glasto “special guests”

Aerosmith announce free show to keep fans happy after cancelled gig and law suit

Yoko Ono’s reviving the Plastic Ono Band for London show.

Pearl Jam let Cold Case TV show use songs for the first time

Sonic Youth announce US tour

Billy Talent and Rise Against to headline punk stage at Reading and Leeds fest

Slash to be mentor on American Idol – Rock themed week

Elbow announce huge homecoming gig at MEN Arena 18th Sept

Pete Doherty confirmed for Libertines promoter Johnny ‘Rhythm’ Sedassy tribute show

MONDAY

The Enemy release second album Music For The People today.

There WILL be an Ozzfest in 2010.

Vampire Weekend have nearly finished writing their second album.

The Dykeenies play Glasgow show to mark album release

White Lies and The pretenders confirmed for this years latitude festival….

actor Simon Pegg in talks to direct video for Coldplay

Camden Crawl hail it a big success

Doves, Idlewild, Iglu & Hartly, Patrick Wolf, Dinosaur Pile-Up and Vagabond added to Isle of Wight

ACDC fans ticket scam at Birmingham LG Arena

Green Day announce UK tour

Lily Allen announces biggest UK tour to date (Q only)

The O2 Wireless Festival 2008

The O₂ Wireless Festival is a music festival in England that takes place every year in Hyde Park, London, and took place at Harewood House, Leeds in 2006 and 2007. It is owned and managed by Live Nation. The O2 Wireless Festival is one of the most renowned Festivals in the history of the UK. People are not joining from UK but they also come from different parts of the world to see extravaganza O2 Wireless Festival.

The O₂ Wireless Festival 2008 spanned 4 days in Hyde Park. An attempt to hold a parallel festival in Leeds similar to the Reading and Leeds Festivals (annually held pair of Reading Festival and Leeds Festival managed by Festival Republic) arrangement was unsuccessful. Instead of it, a variety of club nights featuring billed artists were held. The headliners were Jay-Z, Morrissey, Fatboy Slim and Counting Crows.

The event line-up was as follows:-

• Thursday, 3 July 2008:

Jay-Z, Mark Ronson, Hot Chip, Roisin Murphy, David Jordan, The Cool Kids, Hercules and Love Affair, Alice Smith, Kano, Saul Williams, Lethal Bizzle, Elliot Minor, Pete and the Pirates, The Stiff Dylans, Sparkadia, The Hot Melts, Electric Dolls, Beans On Toast, Red Snapper, Annie, Bryn Christophers, Kid Sisters, Tinie Tempah, Yelle

• Friday, 4 July 2008:

Morrissey, Beck, The Wombats, Guillemots, Dirty Pretty Things, Lightspeed Champion, The National, Siouxsie, The Courteeners, Black Kids, The Rascals, The Hosts, Kristeen Young, Howling Bells, Magic Wands, The Whigs, Nicole Atkins and the Sea, Mon Ouisch, The Fashion, The Reprieve, New York Dolls, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Liam Finn, Apollo Sunshine, Seawolf, Jaguar Love, Peter and the Wolf

• Saturday, 5 July 2008:

Fatboy Slim, Deadmau5, Robyn, Bootsy Collins, Neon Neon, Cornershop, Ryan Shaw, Underworld, MSTRKRFT, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Sam Sparro, Cut Copy, Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip, The Whip, Junkie XL, Akala, Audio Bullys, Cagedbaby, Japanese Pop Stars, Familien, Yacht, Booka Shade, Why?, Das Pop, InnerPartySystem

• Sunday, 6 July 2008:

Counting Crows, Ben Harper, Powderfinger, Goo Goo Dolls, Eddy Grant, Magic Christian, The Hold Steady, Bowling For Soup, Donavon Frankenreiter, Delays, Melee, Luke White, Galactic with Lyrics Born and Boots Riley, Roy World, Joe Purdy, Amy Studt, Dawn Kinnard, The Galvatrons, Silver Seas, Chief, Nellie McKay, Alice Smith, Ryan Shaw, Sons of Albion, Pablo Francisco, Jamie Kennedy, Jo Koy, Gabriel Iglesias

A few new bands have been revealed for this years Reading and Leeds Festival. Plain White Ts and Mindless Self Indulgence join the Main Stage on Reading’s Sunday and Leed’s Friday, while Jeffrey Lewis and former Black Flag frontman Henry Rollins will be on the alternative stage. Pete and the Pirates will be on the Radio 1/NME stage, and Tiger Army, The Briggs and Blackhole have been added to the lockup stage. The twin festivals take place on 22-24 August – tickets have already long sold out.

Last Shadow Puppets will be making their live debut on the NME/Radio 1 stage at Reading and Leeds underneath headliners The Cribs. The band is a side-project of Alex Turner from Arctic Monkeys and Miles Kane from The Rascals.

Source: NME.com