Munster Express Online

The Grand Finale of Artbeat this Saturday (28th) will see two of South’s hottest bands; Percolator, Black Robots joined in a triple bill with Ireland’s number 1 band The Cast of Cheers.

Kicking of the Artbeat Grand Finale at 4.30pm, the line-up is definitely the highlight of a strong summer of excellent gigs. And as per usual – all gigs are free courtesy of Waterford City Council.

The Cast Of Cheers

A great name, catchy songs and instant acclaim has made four-piece The Cast Of Cheers a band you will be hearing much more of in 2010. In early February, the band quietly released their debut album Chariot for free download on Bandcamp.com. Less than a week later, they had received attention from music blogs like Nialler9, Ragged Words and The Irish Times with many exclaiming, they will be your new favourite band.

Percolator

Percolator is a Waterford three piece that mix sweet and tender vocals with splintered polyrhythm patterns. The combination of double layered vocals, cut up crashing beats, driving melodic baselines and thrashing symphonic guitars swarms all around to create a mood of spacious melancholy.

Percolator’s compositions investigate alternative tunings and their sound often overlays a repetitive “motorik” beat onto which the dreamlike male/female vocals are hung. The band’s sound is too individual to be pigeonholed but if your looking for reference points then just think Autolux, Swervedriver, Stereolab, Pavement, My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth. Percolator is currently working on a studio album.

Black Robots

What seemed like the end was only the beginning. Black Robots in its current incarnation began at a party in a Warehouse on the outskirts of Waterford city.  Sarah Grimes and Dean O’Saurus began as strangers with nothing in common other than the fact that they had something that worked musically. One windowless room and a month of jamming in Lombard Street and they had a set and a half of songs.

Rubber Soul bow out

After a 12-week stint as Waterford’s House Band, Rubber Soul play their final John Roberts Square gig this Friday at 5pm.

Described as phenomenal, the six piece led by Shane Barry has kept the square hopping every Friday since the first Friday in June. The also had major parts in Spraoi as well as half a dozen celebrity weddings up and down the coast. Luckily for fans – all is not lost, Rubber Soul will continue what they do best in various hot spots in the City and the County over the coming months. Come along to John Roberts Square this Friday and catch the country’s finest house bands – Rubber Soul!