Stripped Down: The Wood Burning Savages & Sasha Samara

We are excited to announce the acts performing October's edition of Stripped Down at The Crescent. We are excited to welcome to the Cube The Wood Burning Savages and sasha samara, with host Gemma Bradley. 

---

Stripped Down at The Crescent is a series of gigs that brings together some of the most talented original acts currently working in Northern Ireland, performing stripped down versions of their songs.

Usually, a song starts life in a bedroom, a living room, or a rehearsal room, and it grows over time. Eventually by the time it gets performed by a full band or recorded in the studio it has matured and developed. Stripped Down hopes to bring some of these songs back to that early, genuine stage of life.

Stripped Down has been programmed by The Crescent’s Music Associate 23/25, Donal Scullion, who has been collaborating with our Technical Manager, Gareth Doran, to curate the events. Over a number of shows you will discover a mix of established acts, rising stars and emerging talent, representing Northern Irish Hip Hop, R&B, Soul, Funk, Pop, Rock, Indie and more.

These events are BYO; bring along a bottle, sit back and let the music take over, and enjoy these two incredible acts perform in an intimate setting.

---

The Wood Burning Savages are an incendiary four piece, based in Belfast, but formed in Derry City, who proudly wear the rebel spirit of their hometown on their sleeves. With blistering riffs couple with a sharp social and political bite, they are often compared to Benefits, Yard Act and Stiff Little Fingers.

Winners of the NI Music Prize for their ferocious DIY debut album, Stability, the band also took home the prize of Best Live Act, testament to their incredible wit and dedication to uniting and uplifting audiences. They have just announced their second album Hand To Mouth with single Grind Your Teeth giving a flavour of things to come.

They’ve played in session for BBC Radio 6 Music, Today FM, as well as being championed and featured by the likes of BBC Introducing, BBC Radio 1, Rolling Stone Magazine, The Sunday Times, RTÉ 2FM and Amazing Radio, with songwriter and broadcaster, Tom Robinson describing vocalist Paul Connolly as “one of the next generation’s great rock frontmen.”

Previous Live Highlights include well-received headline runs of UK and Ireland, SXSW, Left Field at Glastonbury festival as well as countless European festival appearances.

They embody the spirit of rebellion perfectly. – Rolling Stone Magazine

Smart, fearsome, passionate rock music that punches you right in the heart. – Gary Lightbody, Snow Patrol

Ferocious intelligence, primitive abandon and excoriating tendencies! In troubled times, the world needs punk rock heroes – The Wood Burning Savages are punk rock heroes! – Stephen McCauley, BBC Radio Ulster

Click here to check out their sound.

--- 

sasha samara is your friendly neighbourhood popstar, an emerging artist from Belfast who captivates her audiences with her heartfelt songwriting style and polished live performances. Her endearing honesty is delivered through open and soaring vocals and characterful lyricism, drawing from her influences of Taylor Swift, Paramore and RAYE.

With support from the PRSF funded Scratch My Progress programme, and a Northern Irish Music Prize for Best New Artist in 2020, she graced the stages of the Northern Irish Music Prize ceremony in 2021, and Other Voices Cardigan in 2022 with her trademark jubilant performance style.

Sasha’s latest single, simmer, builds upon her success, securing Track of the Week on Cool FM and RTE2FM and an Artist of the Week accolade from Q Radio.

Click here to check out their sound.