Irish cult indie band Microdisney reforming for first shows in 30 years

December 19, 2017

Irish group Microdisney were only together for a few years in the mid-1980s, but for a time were critical darlings with their mix of biting lyrics (courtesy Cathal Coughlan) and smooth, shimmering music (via Sean O’Hagan) and released a few cult classic records, including their 1984 debut Everybody is Fantastic and 1985’s The Clock Comes Down the Stairs which reached #1 on the UK indie charts. When the band split up, Coughlan formed The Fatima Mansions (who scored a few UK hits in the early ’90s), while O’Hagan formed the great High Llamas and also played in Stereolab as well. You can check out both Everybody is Fantastic and The Clock Goes Down the Stairs below.

Microdisney are being awarded the IMRO | NCH Trailblazer Award 2018, which according to RTE news, is “a new music award presented by IMRO and NCH celebrating significant albums by iconic Irish musicians, songwriters and composers.” For the occasion, the original lineup of the band — including C Coughlan, O’Hagan, John Fell (bass) and Tom Fenner (drums) — will reunite for their first show in 30 years to play The Clock Comes Down the Stairs in full, plus other selected works. That show, which happens at Dublin’s National Concert Hall on June 2, is sold out but they’re also playing London’s Barbican Hall on June 9 (tickets).

There’s also a brand new radio documentary about Microdisney, titled Iron Fist in Velvet Glove – the story of Microdisney which was produced by Paul McDermott and features interviews with the band as well as Rough Trade’s Geoff Travis, Robert Forster of The Go-Betweens, and more. Listen to the whole thing below.