A collaboration between the magazine and Kick Out The Jams (www.myspace.com/kickoutthejamsnvtv), AU TV plays the best cutting edge videos and regional content along with exclusive acoustic and live sessions. The show is aired monthly throughout Belfast on the Northern Visions Television Channel (www.northernvisions.org) and posted onto this page soon after the broadcast date.
Neon Neon
Super Furry Animals’ Gruff Rhys and underground hip-hop supremo Boom Bip got together to create Stainless Style, a Mercury-nominated concept album about doomed car manufacturer John DeLorean. Here, they perform tracks from the album and chat to AU’s Francis Jones, while Jonny Tiernan delivers his links from the iconic car.
Panama Kings
AU52 cover stars Panama Kings play before a tiny studio audience as part of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. Intimate.
Jeffrey Lewis
The New York anti-folk hero comes to AU TV to do what he does best – hilariously twisted acoustic vignettes illustrated by his own inimitable artwork.
The Futureheads
Sunderland’s finest with three acoustic songs, filmed before their Lisburn show earlier this year, and in conversation with AU editor Francis Jones.
Biffy Clyro
A session recorded just before the Scottish three-piece took to the stage for their sell-out show last year at the Mandela Hall, Belfast.
Frank Turner
The ex-Million Dead man, now forging a career as an acoustic troubadour, drops in to play songs from his excellent Love, Ire and Song album.
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
Sam Duckworth isn’t one to be described as ’shy’ or ‘retiring’. Here, in an acoustic session recorded at Belfast’s Spring & Airbrake, he belts out songs from latest album Searching For The Hows And Whys.
Live At The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival
This time round, we have a triple bill of AU TV goodness. In conjunction with the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival and KOTJ, we hosted a series of gigs featuring the best in local music. The first night featured dapper singer-songwriter Tom McShane, dark but melodic indie from The Benjamins and the incomparable And So I Watch You From Afar. Enjoy.
Republic Of Loose
We have some genuine Irish heavyweights this time round on AU TV, with Mick Pyro’s soul-funk tyros coming to town. The band brings us an exclusive acoustic session featuring reworkings of songs old and new.
Two Door Cinema Club
Excitement time. Bangor upstarts Two Door have spent most of the last year steadily blowing minds across the North with their brand of fizzing electro-indie-pop. In a full AU TV special, the band play an electrifying live session and chat to AU editor Francis Jones.
The Flaws
Monaghan quartet The Flaws’ debut album Achieving Vagueness was met with rave reviews and nominations for the Choice Music Prize and the 2008 Meteor Awards. They took the trip up to Belfast to record an acoustic session for us, and this is the genuinely lovely result.
The Rumble Strips
This months AU TV episode is an extra special affair. The lovely Rumble Strips took some time of out their hectic schedule to play a rare acoustic set and have a bit of a chat in front of a small studio audience.
The Young Knives
We’ve been big fans of the Young Knives for ages, so it was a real treat to have them drop into the studio and perform a selection of both classic tracks and rarities.
And So I Watch You From Afar..
This outfit have been well described as a ‘post-rock sensation’ by the inimitable Adam Kula. Currently building up a head of steam with a series of superb releases and gigs, the guys show here that they can stripped down as well as they do rocked out.
Colenso Parade
Omagh’s finest indie popsters might be fresh faced, but don’t let that take away from the fact that they have a supreme knack for penning super-hooky nuggets of guitar goodness that work as well acoustically as they do all amped. Look no further than this unplugged session for evidence.
Mike Mormecha
The sickeningly talented and fantastically busy Mike Mormecha took some time away from mojoFURY, Red Organ Serpent Sound, Clown Parlour and his solo projects to show that playing guitar, singing and keeping the beat can all be performed simultaneously. Stunning.
