ASH caused a bit of controversy when their website depicted naughty shower scenes from their controversial video. The site appears to be in a state of limbo just now, but try www.ash-official.com in a few days to rate their progress. For a more reasoned guide to the local scene, try the brand new home of the Radio Ulster show, ACROSS THE LINE (www.bbc.co.uk/atl) for MP3 files of unsigned bands, plus news, interviews and links. Relaunch date is March 2.
The Belfast Telegraph put up their site (www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk) well before it was commonplace, and they're currently enjoying phenomenal success. As well as up-to-date news stories you can spy on the drinkers at the Crown Bar, thanks to a well-placed webcam.
A key band around town is CECIL'S FLEA CIRCUS, with their wonky synths and eccentric stage off-kilter. Their old website was famously batty. The new one (http://listen.to/cecils) is still a bit eccentric, with a fake
wooden worktop and some guff about a webmonkey to entertain you.
Good old Neil Hannon. He was never going to foist a shoddy pice of gear our way, so the Divine Comedy site (www.divinecomedy.com/liberator.html) is a bit elegant, rather learned and trimmed with red leather. Altogether, rather yummy.
Susan Enan is a singer,performer and academically trained music arranger. Her live shows are relatively rare, but always fine. Key in her URL (www.susanenanband.co.uk) and you'll have plenty to keep you interested.
Also, check out the stuff from the Evening Session, the Northern Irish department of the Radio 1 Session. Lots of enlightened ideas and stuff from the presenters, Colin Murray and Donna Legge, plus downloads of excellent, unique sessions (www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/inside_r1/session_nireland/index.shtml).
Fastfude (www.fastfude.com) is a site dedicated to local music. You can hear lots of music from these parts, which is great, although their message board has been prone to abusive and negative outbursts. Don't you just love those brave begrudgers hiding behind pseudonyms?
Put your sunglasses on before heading into the realms of the GECKO site (http://listen.to/gecko). Lots of lime green, and interesting claims on behalf of "the kings of the funky jungle"). If you're looking for a portal site for Northern Ireland, why not investigate Global Gateway (www.globalgateway.com).
We'd only expect funky behaviour for Derry beat practitioners, Hedrock Valley Beats. So we're relieved to note that their site (www.hedrockvalleybeats.com), looks excellent, and is full of boss info about their current remix projects and suchlike.
The Irish News (www.irishnews.com) is a bit behind the Belfast Telegraph in terms of resources, but has some strong features relating to sport and family roots, and they do some nice e-cards. The entertainment section, Metro, is decent enough.
Catch the gossip on Jasper (http://listen.to/_jasper) or investigate the workings of recording studio JOE'S GARAGE (www.joesgarage.co.uk).
Last year's winners of the Fastfude Gourmet Season was KALEDOSCOPE, who play it loud and fast. To learn their worth try (www.qagi.demon.co.uk).
For an overview of the LUSH club on the north-west coast, and the Kelly's complex that surrounds it, there's a site that does the job nicely (www.kellys-portrush.com).
Or would sir prefer some jubilant, ragged noise, courtesy of THE MUSH PUPPIES? Try (http://business.fortunecity.com/perot/275/front.htm). It's coming your way in a matter of days. NIMUSIC.COM is an online directory of the music industry players, artists and facilities that matter in Northern Ireland. A joint effort from CV3, BEAT SUITE and OH YEAH, it's currently on the launchpad (www.nimisic.com). We've can't really ignore OH YEAH, even if it was put together by yours truly and some mates. So we'll just urge you to check the site (www.ohyeah.net) for lots of useful writing and a few choice sound samples. Don't forget the interactive guide to Van Morrison's East Belfast.
A brand new development is PILLBOX MAGAZINE (www.pillboxmagazine.co.uk), the creation of writer Autumn Teeter. It has some snazzy features, including interviews with Ash, Eddie Izzard and Snow Patrol. The artwork rocks.
The site for ROO (www.fastfude.com/roo) is aesthetically smart, and gives an indication of the band's sharp intent. For something with a folksy dimension, try the COLIN REED site (http://members.xoom.com/colin_reid).
For a glimpse into Belfast clubland, the SHINE site (www.shine.net) is a good start. Meanwhile in Maghera, SCHISM RECORDS are ahead of the game with their enterprise (www.schismrecords.com), which looks after Asterix, Lima, Pulszar and others. and of course, we'll recommend SNOW PATROL (www.jeepster.co.uk/snowpatrol), for all things lovely and intelligent.
You may find disturbing items in the THERAPY? dungeon (www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk), and if you don't the boys will be disappointed. We like TILER too, so have a look in their direction (http://listen.to/tiler)
THE UNDERTONES are getting ready for a few dates in the summer, and you'll finds some like-minded souls on the web (www.theundertones.net).
VAN is essentially still The Man, and there are several sites hailing his worth. It's entirely unofficial, but the best VAN MORRISON site comes from California (www.harbour.sfu.ca/~hayward/van/van.html). It has some amazing elements, including a glossary of Van terms and references.
WATERCRESS have put some work into relating to their people. (www.watercress.net). It looks well. ANDY WHITE has taken his site location to Switzerland (www.dplanet.ch/users/andyw), where he currently lives.
For a punky dimension try YAZUKA (www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/arena/3575). Or if you you want to push it a bit further, there's always ZEROTONIN (http://go.to/zerotonin). Have a visit and see why they're calling their art "a purgation of self-discovery". But hey, be careful out there.