_{Western Sand are a four-piece band from Bournemouth who formed in 2008 and play their own style of southern hard rock, gaining a growing fanbase in the process. They released a new four track self-titled EP earlier this year and were recently announced as support for the Black Star Riders tour in the UK and Ireland. That includes the tour finale in The Limelight, Belfast on 15th December. The band consists of Tyler Hains on guitar and lead vocals, Jimmy Bradshaw on guitar, Nathan J. Kay on drums and Findlay Hotchkiss on bass. Lead singer Tyler recently answered a few questions for us.}

_{Swedish band Coldspell deliver the goods again with their third album “Frozen Paradise” released via Escape Music on 20th September. The previous albums “Infinite Stargaze” (2009) and “Out From The Cold” (2009) meant that I had high expectations for the new album and I wasn’t to be disappointed. “Frozen Paradise” delivers ten excellent rock tracks that definitely hit the mark and easily qualified for an NI Rocks Recommendation!!}