Sonic Treats

TONY CLAYTON-LEApicks five of the best acts at Belfast's Belsonic festival, and quizzes The Enemy and Oberhofer about their festival lives

Two Door Cinema Club

Thursday August 23

It’s a long way from Bangor to the Olympics, but it seems that Two Door Cinema Club – whose singer, Alex Trimble, enjoyed a good old warble at the opening ceremony of the athletics event several weeks ago – have jumped the shark. It’s a curious position to be in; less than three years ago, the trio (which also features Sam Halliday, lead guitar, and Kevin Baird, bass) were just another aspiring Northern Irish indie act on the edges of electro-pop. Just over two years ago, they released their debut album, Tourist History; about 18 months ago they nabbed the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year 2010; and then, following a veritable blitz of music placements in TV advertisements and games – someone clearly was working very hard on the band’s behalf – they proceeded to sell more than a million copies of it. At this show they’ll preview tracks from their forthcoming (leaked online!) album, Beacon.

Song of the Day:We love Something Good Can Work, so either that or Undercover Martyn.

Madness

Friday August 17

It’s highly unusual for a “heritage” act to get a creative edge on bands many, many years their junior, but that’s exactly what Madness did in 2009 when they released what is arguably their best album to date, The Liberty of Norton Folgate. Of course, the Camden Town ska-pop act are perhaps too well known for their string of more than 20 superlative hit singles, released between 1979 and 1985; and there was the band-authorised Our House musical, which ran in London’s West End from late-2002 to mid-2003. In short, the best of Madness’s songs (and there quite a few of them) have become part of the pop-culture landscape, rightly viewed as classics of their kind. And yet The Liberty of Norton Folgate (a concept album about London, described by the now defunct Word magazine as “Peter Ackroyd writing for The Kinks”) caught pretty much everyone by surprise. A new album is due shortly; in the meantime, prepare yourselves for a feast of the familiar.

Song of the Day:Primrose Hill (from their 1982 album, Rise Fall), which out-Kinks The Kinks and almost out-Beatles The Beatles.

Emeli Sandé

Thursday August 16

Let’s forgive her the early association with Chipmunk, and let’s pass over that fact that – like, you know, for a second, like – Simon Cowell professed her to be his favourite songwriter (“at the minute”). Let us, instead, hail Scotland’s Emile Sandé not just as a writer of strong urban pop/soul material for the likes of Cher Lloyd, Cheryl Cole, Professor Green and Tinie Tempah (and, says us, really looking forward to hearing them, the reformed “not-Sugarbabes” Mutya Keisha Siobhan), but also the proud creator of this year’s debut album, Our Version of Events. She’s come a long way in a short time, then, but the former medicine student seems to have her wits about her – not only does she abandon a song within a day if she can’t finish writing it, but she’s engaged to a scientist, not a pop star. Clever.

Song of the Day:My Kind of Love hits the spot, thanks for asking.

Tom Jones

Friday August 24

It’s Not Unusual. Thunderball. Green Green Grass of Home. Delilah. Evil. Go on, pick out the odd song title. No? Let’s see . . . How about Evil, which was recorded with Jack White? To say it’s been a long journey from whiffy cheese to some form of credibility for Sir Tom Jones is something of an understatement. As most of us know, Jones started off playing working men’s clubs in Wales in the early 1960s, graduated to international pop star status from the mid-60s onwards, and then drifted into a lifestyle that involved little artistry. By the late 1990s, however, Jones has been cast in a completely different light: collaborations with The Cardigans and Portishead, records produced by Wyclef Jean, and, of late, two nuanced albums that prove he has more to him than a longing for Las Vegas nightclub residencies: 2010’s Praise Blame, and this year’s Spirit in the Room.

Song of the Day:"And he strikes! Like Thuuuuunnndderrrrrballl!"

Paramore

Sunday August 19

My, haven’t they grown up? Formed in 2004 by Hayley Williams (then aged 15), and brothers Josh (then aged 16) and Zac (then aged 14) Farro, Paramore made a decision quite early on not to go the teen pop star route (Williams, in particular, had been groomed by a major label for just that role). Instead, they stuck to their indie guns, honed their pop sensibilities, and released album after album that together copperfastened their appeal to a teen demographic.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing, however; in 2010, original members Josh and Zac Farro left the band amid hissy fits, kiss-offs and backchat (“We want Josh and Zac to do something that makes them happy . . . we support them finding happiness elsewhere,” went the official band statement. “Paramore is a manufactured product of a major label,” blogged Josh). Despite all of that, the good ship Paramore (self-professed Christians all) sails on.

Song of the Day: Brick by Boring Brick – unusually for Paramore, it blends a neat Smashing Pumpkins-style sound with a Twilight-esque storyline.

* Belsonic 2012 runs from August 15th-26th in Belfast's Custom House Square. belsonic.com

Tom Clarke/The Enemy

What is your most memorable festival experience?T in the Park this year was my favourite gig we've ever played. V festival last year was pretty special, too; we were the secret, unannounced band and we expected to play to a half-empty tent. Instead, the show was so packed they had to stop it halfway through to let the crowd calm down.

Were you ever a festival-goer yourself?I went to Reading one year just before we were signed, but to be honest, I could never really afford to go to festivals.

Do you feel pressure to play specific songs?Not really. I look forward to playing the crowd-pleasers. Giving fans what they want is what makes us happy.

Do you feel nervous playing in front of thousands of people?Depends. Sometimes you do, but nerves are healthy sometimes. The moment on stage when the nerves disappear and you realise you've got the crowd is unrivalled, though. It's the best feeling in the world.

What is your must-have backstage accessory?A good attitude. Too many bands/artists forget to bring one.

What do you talk about backstage with the other music acts?Just normal stuff. To be honest, I'm more at home in the pub with my mates talking about everyday stuff than mingling with trendy musicians. We normally turn up, play, and then go watch some other bands.

Any surprises in store for Belsonic?Well, not surprises, but I'm really excited to be able to play a long set. We've been given a really good slot and apparently we'll be able to play for a decent amount of time, so there should be plenty of chance for a sing-song.

Top tips for surviving a festival?Don't fall over.

What is the weirdest festival you've played at?Snowbombing in Austria. Halfway up a snow-capped mountain with a town full of lashed music lovers. Or maybe Tokyo Summer Sonic – in a baseball stadium in a heatwave.

Do you prefer to play in a venue with a roof?It normally sounds better under a roof. It depends, though – you can't beat an outdoor gig, providing the sound is good. It's hard to get right, mind.

* The Enemy play Belfast’s Belsonic festival on Monday, August 20th

Brad Oberhofer/Oberhofer

What is your best festival experience?2012 South By Southwest was crazy.

And your worst?I can't think of any bad ones.

What is the weirdest festival you've played at?Rock in Rio in Lisbon. It was an incredible time, but playing on a bill with Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, The Offspring and the Smashing Pumpkins was pretty wild!

Were you ever a festival-goer yourself?I used to go to Bumbershoot festival in Seattle every year, and this year we're playing it. Cool, huh?

Your top festival survival tips?Drink lots of water – and don't be afraid to pay for ice cream.

Are backstage facilities important to you?I honestly don't really care. I'm just happy to play shows.

What do you talk about backstage with the other music acts?The same things I would talk to anyone else about – poodles, hair accessories, types of shampoo, string theory . . .

Festivals are just take-the-money- and-run gigs for musicians – discuss. It’s not true for everyone. I think they’re fun!

* Oberhofer play Belfast’s Belsonic festival on Thursday, August 23rd