Digital T Showcases

DigitalT – the dizzy electronic sibling of the annual BelFEST bash – returns for its second year to give good showcase action. The first evening gets underway with a DJ set from Slick Nik accompanied by the new MC on the block, MC Kat. She’s a kooky and appropriately feline looking rapper from the ghetto that is Cookstown and she’s been dropping in on Belfast’s Beatsuite hip-hop club regularly of late. Preaching very much a peace, love and we are family message, her particularly female perspective makes a marked and welcome change from the macho posturing associated with the genre: “This is hip-hop without the ego… I’m in this for the love.”

Derry’s Sirocco MCs kick off their 30 minutes with ‘Lyrical Masters’ – their debut demo track that has been on pretty heavy rotation on NI radio. It’s all a bit of a laugh with plenty of pseudo American accents, frattitude, “girls on couches” and hand-waving galore. But unfortunately it quickly becomes clichéd and worn. In some ways the Sirocco’s get away with this because of the novelty factor in what they do and where they’re from. But like all novelties, the sheen soon fades and they can’t sustain the crowd’s attention for the duration.

In some ways Basic could be accused of gimmicks too. A bloke with a load of computers onstage with a guy with a double bass? Please! They’re winding us up. But Eamonn and Bruce have been gigging together for over a year and are nothing but serious about their task. Impossible to categorise and/or pigeonhole, they mix and match sounds at whim providing upbeat, energetic and ear-catching tunes that hold attention effortlessly. You get the feeling that a showcase ain’t gonna give you the best idea of this band – I feel like I should book them for a party.

Spree are almost drowned out by the chattering masses – one of the hazards of going on last at a free gig in a pub. For those of us interested, it was another genuine performance. Driven by the funky bass and swept along by Suzanne Savage’s astounding vocals, Spree are an excellent example of how “digital” music has progressed to full and proper band status. Joined for the last track by MC Kat – who in a playoff with Savage even holds her own singing – Spree wrap up the showcase event with strength.