WHOISKALLA? SOLD OUT HEADLINE SHOW WITH SUPPORT FROM SCHTICK & ALFIE NORMA
Being a Ballymoney native, one of my favourite things in the world is driving to and from a gig, a full two hours of just listening to music and chilling out. This night was no different as I made my way to The Union Bar, a venue I hadn’t been in for a while, so I was excited to make my return.
I hadn’t heard any of the acts live yet and was buzzing. The vibe was relaxed, and as I entered the room it was already packed with people. I caught Kalla for a brief moment at the bar when I arrived, the energy he radiated was contagious. The minute I spoke to him, I knew it was going to be a good night.
First, Alfie Norma took to the stage. I’ve been aware of Alfie’s work for a while but had never had the chance to see him live, so I was extremely excited. I remember the first time I heard Alfie i was judging the Kickstarter programme for ChordBlossom earlier in the year, i was instantly captivated by his unique-sounding voice. This, to no surprise, also happened to me in The Union Bar. I found myself in a complete daze, taking in every ounce of his vocals and beautiful guitar melodies as if it were the last time I’d ever hear music again. The addition of Seán Bergin (violinist) mid-set really added a different dynamic to the evening. Alfie’s guitar and vocals were beautifully complemented by Seán’s violin. When Alfie’s set ended, the room erupted into clapping and cheering, he no dount had the seal of approval from the audience.
Taking to the stage next was Schtick, a band that I really back. I’ve been following them since they uploaded their first video back in March, and I’ve loved everything they’ve been doing since. This was their debut gig; I have never seen a crowd so excited for a new band to take to the stage. Some bands wait five or six years for a crowd to be that invested, and they’ve managed it in just a few months. Something that stood out to me throughout their set was their mix of genres. I understand that as a newer band they’re still trying to figure out their sound, but what they showcased that night blew many people away. Lead singer Altan McDermott did an exceptional job of controlling the crowd. At times I watched him staring into the audience, taking in every moment; you could see how much that gig meant to them all. As Altan explained between songs, it had been a long time in the making, and he was just glad to finally be on stage. The future is bright for Schtick, seriously one to watch.
Credit: Logan Whiteside
Lastly, Kalla took to the stage. I had heard a lot of brilliant things about Kalla, so I was extremely excited. One of the biggest things that drew me to this gig was the poster, it was truly incredible. I later found out that he designed it himself. It did exactly what it needed to, it had me intrigued before I’d even heard his music. Kalla’s set was very personal. He spoke about how he moved to London in the past and how it just didn’t feel like Belfast did. He talked about the energy Belfast has, especially in the local music scene, something I really agreed with. I found myself subconsciously nodding my head as he spoke. Kalla took us through a plethora of emotions; he even pulled out a flute at one point, maybe as a means of flexing his copious amounts of musical talent. The set ended as The Union Bar filled with chants of “KALLA, KALLA, KALLA.”
A brilliant night with so much of this country’s talent on show — keep an eye on all three of these artists. Nights like these remind of us how strong the Belfast music scene is.