Belfast IS Paradise City

Paradise City is Belfast's new classic rock club, and it is launching at the end of January, all things being equal.

The club is the brainchild of legendary DJ Monk, who is stepping out of the darkness of retirement and back into the limelight after a 15 year sabbatical, and his PR sidekick Phil Allely, who convinced the hooded one to flex his fingers on the decks once more.

The club's policy will be classic and old school, with the emphasis on the period between the late 60s and the early 90s, although Monk has promised to play some modern stuff as well (but only if he can bothered, he says).

A permanent venue has yet to be confirmed, and more details will be announced in due course, through the club's blog, www.paradisecitybelfast.blogspot.com, through Northern Ireland's only heavy metal PR company, Pied Piper, at www.myspace.com/piedpiperbelfast and through the club's Facebook page, where Monk's set lists will be published a few days before each show and where requests can be posted.

Meanwhile, the club already is venturing into the live arena, with the aptly named 'Paradise City - Live' at the Oh Yeah centre in the Cathedral Quarter on Friday 26 February. The first rock gig to be staged as part of the annual Guinness Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival, it will be headlined by Trucker Diablo, supported by Black Freeway and Circadian. It will be a 14+ show, with strictly no alcohol and tickets will be a mere £3.
Monk is keeping quiet on whether or not he will make a guest appearance, but watch this space for updates.