Microlip

Mention Portadown to anyone in Ireland and throughout the UK and there won’t be many positive words used to describe it. Battered and bruised by decades of sectarianism, this Northern Irish town is as divided as any you will ever come across. Freedom of expression and creativity are next to none, well until now.

Microlip are an indie/pop band from the town that are making big waves throughout Ireland and the UK. Local radio stations are pricking up their ears and the band are progressing rapidly with their debut album soon to be released. The Portadown quintet play listenable pop music with indie/folk undertones. After hearing the hype surrounding them it was time to go and see what all the fuss is about.

The location is Belfast’s famous Spring and Airbrake which the band are headlining. Levity Breaks and Kamikids provided top class support displaying what the local talent have to offer.

Microlip took to the stage to screams of enthusiastic (intoxicated) fans and went head first into their new single 'Dance Beneath the Feet'. Within the first few minutes it is evident that this is a well organised band. Everyone knows their place, there’s a strong stage presence and there is no shortage of confidence as front man Jaime McDonald belts out every note. With an uplifting ‘stick in your head’ chorus 'Dance Beneath the Feet' is without doubt the band's best and most marketable song.

The night took an unexpected turn when the band unleashed a cover of Rihanna’s 'Only Girl in the World'. Yes you did hear that right. Not one of Rihanna’s finest hours but definitely the stand out moment of the night. Belfast exploded to Microlip’s new rocked up version of the song which was then brilliantly merged with the Eurythmics' 'Sweet Dreams'. On paper I can understand that this seems like nails on a blackboard but it worked well and was evidently rehearsed to perfection.

After leaving the stage the band came back for an encore with another crowd favourite 'Man of Steel'.

Filling Belfast’s Spring and Airbrake is no mean feat and with fans as loyal as theirs Microlip are destined to go far. Their songs are tailor-made for big commercial radio stations across the UK. The only problem here is that they can sound too perfect, too pop. At times you want them to punk it up, scream instead of sing but maybe that’s just not them. So many pop bands have failed trying to be something they’re not. Sometimes it’s better to be your own band instead of a fabricated version of another and this is how Microlip are thriving at the minute.

This is what Portadown has been crying out for. Something that can represent the town, that can put it on the map for the right reasons. Microlip are an inspiration to many and will prove to be the catalyst for many other bands in the future, reigniting their home town along the way. Keep a close eye on these guys.
Eoghan McKeever
- Virgin Media