North Down Borough Council’s Summer Entertainment continues this Sunday, 18th August with the very talented Meilana Gillard performing at The Bandstand in Ward Park.

Meilana, a New York native is the best thing to happen to Northern Ireland jazz in years and has taken the scene here by the scruff of the neck. She studied at New School New York and ended up as Tenor player in the much acclaimed Charlie Persip Big Band but has credits with many of the biggest names in New York and is a member of the famous Diva Big Band as well as playing as part of the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.

With her band of highly talented musicians, Sunday’s set will be made of some much-loved standards arranged in Meilana’s unique style along with some of her own originals. If it’s quality jazz you’re looking for, then look no further than Ward Park this Sunday, you are in for a treat!

The show runs from 3pm – 5pm so gather your friends and family, pack the picnic and don’t miss it!

Keep an eye out in local press each week for details on each artist or for more information phone our Tourist Information Centre on 028 9127 0069 or visit: www.northdowntourism.com

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland over the next week (August 12 – 18).

• The Colmcille Experience, Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, Co. Londonderry, every Monday night. A night of song, dance and storytelling from the most talented people in Derry~Londonderry. Performers include World Champion Irish Dancers and All Ireland Musicians. You can enjoy the entertainment while tucking into a traditional Irish stew and wheaten bread. Time: 7 – 9pm

• Woodstock Rhythm & Blues Festival, various locations in Belfast, August 8 – 12. Returning for the sixth year, this festival has a fantastic line up of performances including Chris Farlowe and the Norman Beaker Band, Rab McCullough Band & Voodoo Hounds and Grainne Duffy Band & The Blues Katz.

• Belcoo Festival, Belcoo, Co. Fermanagh, August 10 – 18. There will be lots of fun for everyone with plenty of laughs, live music, activities, contests and a sports days taking place.

• The Ark Farm’s 23rd Anniversary Family Fun Day, Newtownards, Co. Down, August 12. Hand feed lots of very tame animals and get up close to the Sika Deer family or the little family of meerkats that have settled into their new home. There will also be a Falconry display, inflatable slide, three piece assault course, pony rides, bumble bee quad rides and a BBQ in the cottage garden.

• The International Ulster Grand Prix, Dundrod, Co. Antrim, August 12 – 17. Just ten minutes from Belfast, the world famous circuit at Dundrod will play host to one of only three international road races, some 50,000 fans and of course the world’s top riders.

• The Tuesday Tours, Ranfurly House Arts & Visitor Centre, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, August 13. Take a coach tour to historical sites associated with the Flight of the Earls and The Plantation of Ulster. The tour will visit Hill of The O’Neill, The Cardinal O’Fiaich Archive and Library, Armagh and the Yellow Ford battle site. Tours runs from 11am – 3pm.

• Kids Sea Creatures Nature Trail, Crawfordsburn Country Park, Co. Down, August 14. Enjoy a guided woodland walk filled with fun activities such as scavenger hunts, shelter building, bird watching and finding the mini-beast that live in the woods. Time: 10.30am and 2.30pm.

• Bangor Belle Steam Train, pick-ups at various locations, August 17 and 24. All aboard the Bangor Belle for a return journey to the seaside town of Bangor. The train departs from Belfast’s Central Station at 11:10am and pick-ups are also available from Whitehead, Carrickfergus and Lisburn.

• Victorian Weekend, the Argory, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, August 17 – 18. Bring your family for the chance to see what really goes on behind closed doors in the Big House. Visitors can meet the Housekeeper, the Governess and the Lady’s Maid and enjoy a delightful afternoon tea in the Octagon Room. Children can dress up, join in Victorian games and pick up some treats in the Victorian sweetshop. Time: 12noon – 5pm.

• Charles Wood Summer School, Armagh city centre, Co. Armagh, August 18 – 25. Charles Wood, the renowned musician and composer, was born at 11 Vicar’s Hill in Armagh and when he died in 1926 he left a legacy of over 250 sacred works that he is remembered by today. This festival will celebrate both his life and works.

Experience a unique one man show, featuring 2 people in ‘Tall Tales & Short Songs’ at the Courtyard Theatre on Saturday 24 August, when one of Northern Ireland’s best loved broadcasters, Gerry Anderson is joined on stage by his favourite Irish folk singer, Sean Donnelly, for an evening of stories, songs, laughter, craic, and unmerciful banter.

BBC Radio Ulster’s This production is unique – a one –man show featuring two peopleGerry Anderson will treat the audience to a feast of preposterous stories that are not necessarily true and read excerpts from his two volumes of autobiography ‘Surviving in Stroke City’ and ‘Heads’ as well as some exclusive pieces he has written of which the audience will be unfamiliar. Sean Donnelly will be singing songs from his much sought after CDs such as ‘Like a Morning Star Fading’, ‘On Breezes Fresh and Fair’ and ‘Beyond the Open Door’.  The witty pair will also invite questions from the audience which will be answered enthusiastically but maybe not entirely truthfully.

Gerry’s natural wit and warm storytelling combined with banter and plenty of songs from Sean will provide a great evening’s entertainment Saturday 24 August at the Courtyard Theatre with tickets available for £12 online at www.thecourtyardtheatre.com or through Box Office on 028 9034 0202.

-Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s announces first shows for 2013-

The 2013 Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s has announced the first of its shows for this year’s event with an international mix of tenors, tension and transformation.

Opening this year’s event on 17th October is an international double-bill with the unveiling of Ireland’s largest land-art portrait created by acclaimed Cuban-American artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada followed by a performance by world renowned tenor José Carrerras at The Waterfront Hall in the evening.  Roger Bernat’s theatrical experiment in political engagement Pending Vote makes its Irish premiere as does Rob Drummond’s ‘edge of your seat’ performance of the infamous magic trick Bullet Catch.

Add to the mix world-class, home grown talent with a new major production of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot and an epic closing concert from the Ulster Orchestra and the stage is set for Festival 2013.

Ellvena Graham, Head of Ulster Bank Northern Ireland says: ” The strength of the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s is not only that it brings to Belfast new experiences but that it presents these in unusual venues making it more accessible as well as more exciting for all to enjoy. It connects audiences and artists in a unique and memorable way, while also providing a welcome boost for Belfast business.”

An epic opening day will witness the unveiling of Ireland’s largest land-art portrait piece which will be created by The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s first artist in residence, Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada, in collaboration with volunteers and community groups from all over Belfast.  Measuring a staggering five acres this piece will transform part of the Titanic Quarter and be open for all to view – free of charge. From a classical music perspective this year’s opening concert brings a touch of glamour to the programme with the legendary tenor, José Carreras making his Belfast Festival debut joined by Irish Soprano Celine Byrne and pianist Lorenzo Bavaj.

Throughout the eleven days from 17th – 27th October a strong theatre programme will be presented in partnership with the Lyric Theatre including; the Northern Irish premiere of Beckett’s theatrical masterpiece Waiting for Godot presented by the highly acclaimed Gare St Lazare Players Ireland, Rogers Bernat’s Irish premiere of political theatre Pending Vote – a show with no performers and where the audience become politicians for the night and vote to determine the direction of the performance and the Irish premiere of Bullet Catch – a tense ‘edge of your seat’ performance of a stunt that has claimed the lives of at least 12 people since its inception in 1613 and was deemed so dangerous that Houdini refused to attempt it.

Noirin McKinney, Director of Arts Development, at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland commented, “This year’s impressive festival programme brings the best and most sought-after arts from home and abroad.  The Irish premieres of ‘Bullet Catch’ and ‘Pending Vote’, are great examples of the festival bringing new and interesting theatre talent to Northern Ireland, offering a world-class experience for audiences, which is within the reach of everyone.”

From international stars to world-class homegrown talent as Sir James Galway joins the Ulster Orchestra with A Musical Journey from Rodrigo to Tchaikovsky. Taking festival into unusual venues the UK’s leading historical performance ensemble La Serenissima will perform Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at Clonard Monastry. Festival will draw to a close at The Ulster Hall with a performance by the Ulster Orchestra entitled The Swan Songs of Strauss – featuring The Four Last Songs for soprano and orchestra which were the final completed works of Richard Strauss, composed in 1948 when the composer was 84.

Festival Director, Richard Wakely enthuses. ““This year’s programme expands the possibilities of presenting great works of art from home and abroad throughout the city and bringing audiences something that they cannot see elsewhere. We aim to provide the people of and visitors to our city with new ways to experience, engage and participate in a unique menu of artistic works that seek to both enlighten and entertain”.

The 2013 Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s would not be possible without the continuing support of various public and private sponsors, including Ulster Bank, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, the EU and the British Council. Plus the many venues, performers and partner organisations, whose commitment and passion bring the arts to life for all to enjoy.

The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s will deliver an eclectic mix of world-class theatre, music, dance, film, literature and talks in venues all over Belfast from 17th – 27th October 2013. More shows will be announced over the coming weeks and to find out more and book tickets visit www.belfastfestival.com or call box office on 00 44 2890 971197. #BelFest

The well-known London based choir, Libera, will return to Saint Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Armagh on Friday 9^th August, where they will hold a free concert premiering their new seasonal repertoire at 7.30pm. If you have never heard the unique, heavenly sound of LIBERA, then prepare yourself for something very special indeed.

The boys who make up the South London based vocal band Libera have been described as “normal” and “ordinary”. However, as their recordings and performances demonstrate, the music they produce is anything but. With shimmering, mystical chords and ecstatic harmonies they are unlike any other group you have ever heard. These are truly sounds to lift the soul.

Familiar to audiences across the world, the boys have a stunningly original sound, which is at once both ancient and modern. Their distinctive flowing white robes symbolise the traditional origins of their style – yet their music reaches across the generations to a new mainstream audience. Libera’s success in album charts around the world bears witness to the extraordinary appeal of this unique ‘boy band’. Enchanting audiences wherever they go, they have attracted an enthusiastic fan base in many countries, particularly the US and Canada, the UK, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and South Korea.

The group is well known to British audiences through TV appearances and staged concerts at venues as diverse as the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, the Grassington Festival, Abbey Road Studios and Arundel Cathedral. Recent appearances have included the Edinburgh Fringe festival, the National Concert Hall in Dublin and at St Peter’s Cathedral in Belfast. Libera have made many TV appearances including BBC-TV’s ‘Last Choir Standing’, on which the Libera boys were featured as guests. They were winners of the Saturday night show ‘When Will I Be Famous’ and had a whole documentary devoted to them on BBC-TV’s ‘Songs of Praise’. Other TV/Radio appearances have included BBC Breakfast and the Chris Evans Show. The boys are regularly to be heard on Classic FM, and last Christmas scored the top classical song download at iTunes. Libera regularly sing at events and services in cathedrals and churches like Buckfast Abbey and Westminster Cathedral.

In the US and Canada, Libera are known through their concert tours and TV appearances including a nationwide PBS special, which was filmed in Holland.  In 2007 the boys had their US debut at the 30^th Kennedy Center Honors, where they performed in front of the President and a hall full of celebrities – including Robert de Niro, Cameron Diaz, Diana Ross and Steve Martin. The boys were privileged to close the Kennedy Center Honours with a moving tribute to honoree Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. This was followed by Libera’s participation in the Papal Mass at the climax of Pope Benedict XVI’s first visit to the USA in 2008. Performing to a capacity congregation of 65,000 at New York’s Yankee Stadium, Libera were the only British artists to take part in this historical event.

Libera have travelled across North America several times, appearing in venues as diverse as the Crystal Cathedral in California, the St Louis Basilica, St Paul and Minneapolis cathedrals, the Moody church in Chicago, the Riverside Church in NYC and other venues both secular and sacred from Texas to Toronto. Just recently they opened the annual Starkey Awards Gala in the Twin Cities, where they were featured artists on the same programme as Miley Cyrus and Meat Loaf.

In East Asia, the sounds of Libera are frequently heard in mainstream TV and radio programmes and their CD’s ride high in the classical and pop charts of countries like Japan, South Korea, Singapore and the Philippines. The boys have sung the music for several feature films and television programmes. The most recent tour packed out the major concert venues in Tokyo for 3 nights and the boys were feted by thousands of enthusiastic fans who queued for hours to meet the boys and collect autographs. During the recent tour in the Philippines, Libera topped the main album charts and sung to the major concert halls in Manila and Cebu crammed full with excitable fans.

Through their involvement in Libera, the boys have travelled the world, recorded movie soundtracks and CDs and served as backing singers to mega-stars. But, as one of the boys said, “The travelling and filming is fun but even if we didn’t go anywhere I’d still want to do it because I just love singing.”

Admission to the concert is free. For more information contact Armagh Tourist Information Centre on 028 3752 1800 or visit www.armagh.co.uk.

Clare Foreman, Leanne Briggs and Donna Wilson, members of local book club “Reading Between The Wines” swotting up ahead of The Open House Festival Book Clubs which will be taking place in Bangor throughout the month of August.

Bangor’s book lovers are in for a treat this August as The Open House Festival will be holding three Book Club events as part of their action-packed festival programme. Come and join these special festival book clubs where a sparkling literary panel from the local community will read from and discuss hand-picked books. Read the books (or don’t read the books!), then share your views with us over a beverage or two!

The first Book Club will be taking place in The Hutch at The Rabbit Rooms on Friday, August 9^th at 7.30pm and the featured books will be “The Great Gatsby” by F Scott Fitzgerald, “Give Me Everything You Have” by James Lasdun and “The Hive” by Gill Hornby. The panel for this event will include BBC broadcaster, Cherrie McIlwaine, journalist and political blogger Nick Garbutt, teacher and avid reader Alison Belch and the panel will be chaired by author and screen writer, Colin Bateman.  Tickets are £5, bookable in advance.

The next event is on Friday, 16^thAugust, also taking place at The Rabbit Rooms and in preparation for this Book Club, you are asked to read “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn, “My Animals And Other Family” by Clare Balding and “How To Get Filthy Rich In Rising Asia” by Mohsin Hamid. This event will be chaired by BBC correspondent Stephen Walker and the panel will include actress Nuala McKeever, broadcaster Joe Lindsay and journalist and blogger Nick Garbutt. Doors are open at 7.30pm and tickets cost £5, bookable in advance.

And finally, Fealty’s Bar will be hosting a Book Club on Monday 26^th August and the chosen book is “On The Road” by Jack Kerouac. This event is free and starts at 8pm.

These events are a wonderful opportunity to discuss books with other readers and literary experts so get reading and don’t miss out!

FROM breathtaking coastlines to fortified cities and a vacant jailhouse, Northern Ireland’s tourist attractions are on a par with many of the world’s famous sites, according to the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB).

Full of natural beauty and fascinating places to explore, there is no need to travel around the world to indulge in history, catch a glimpse of stunning scenery or see some of the world’s most captivating sites.

“Northern Ireland is an enthralling place to visit with sites and attractions that are on a par with many of the world’s famous tourist attractions,” says NITB Destination PR Officer Pauline Gormley.

“Each one offers a unique insight into Northern Ireland, from its past and the time of the Ulaidh who were the people of early Ireland that gave their name to the modern province of Ulster right through to its future and political landscape,” she said.

“We have our very own breathtaking coastline along the North Coast route which is ranked among the top in the world, sites of important archaeological importance such as Navan Fort and the Beaghmore Stone Circle and places that are completely unique to Northern Ireland that can’t be found anywhere else in the world including the Giant’s Causeway,” she added.

To help you discover more of what is on offer in Northern Ireland, NITB has compared some of the world’s most famous attractions with those right on our own doorstep.

Fortified World – Walled City of Derry

You don’t have to travel to China to see an example of walled fortification as the city of Derry is one of the finest examples of a Walled City in Europe and the only remaining completely intact walled city in Ireland.  Just like the Great Wall of China, the City Walls were built as a defence mechanism against invasion.  Built during the period 1613 – 1619 to defend against early 17^th century settlers from England and Scotland, the Walls of Derry were one of the few fortifications that were never breached.  They are approximately one mile in circumference and provide stunning views over the historic landscape.

Breathtaking Coastline – Antrim Coast

If you are looking for a spectacular coastal drive then the Antrim Coast tops the list of the most breathtaking, sea-hugging routes in Europe, according to the Sunday Times travel section.  The coastline is packed with stunning scenery including the Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, Dunluce Castle, Cushendall, Cushendun and the fishing village of Glenarm.  The Antrim Coast has been ranked first in the list of the Six Best Coastal Drives which includes Biarritz to Bilbao, Naples to Tropea, Dieppe to Le Havre, Kalamata to Monemvasia and a round trip of Reykjavik.

On the Inside – Crumlin Road Gaol

Just like San Francisco’s Alcatraz Prison, Belfast has its very own vacant jailhouse full of history and notable inmates.  Closed in 1996, which marked the end of 150 years of imprisonment, conflict and execution, the Crumlin Road Gaol was designed by Sir Charles Lanyon, built between 1843 and 1845 and cost £60,000.  The jail was modelled on London’s Pentonville prison and throughout its history it is estimated that around 25,000 prisoners were held here.  It is now the only Victorian era prison to remain in Northern Ireland.  In the Gaol’s lifetime 17 men were executed by hanging and their bodies buried within the prison walls in unconsecrated ground.  Today its cells are vacant, wings silent and the yards are empty, and historical and educational guided tours are running where you can hear about the history of the prison from the time when women and children were held within its walls through to the political segregation of republican and loyalist prisoners.  The historical and educational tours of the Gaol run every day between 10am – 4.30pm (Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day excluded).

Political Power – Stormont

The White House is one of the world’s most symbolic buildings but when it comes to political power houses Belfast’s ‘House on the Hill’ is just as architecturally impressive.  Home to the Northern Ireland Assembly, Stormont was officially opened in 1932 by the then Prince of Wales and is set in the grounds of Stormont Estate which is a public park with majestic lawns and forest paths.  The great white Grade B listed building is made from English Portland stone and has six floors and six pillars at the entrance of the building, representing each county of Northern Ireland.  It is open to the public between 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday.

Archaeological Importance – Navan Fort

According to Irish mythology, Navan Fort in Co. Armagh was one of the great royal sites of pre-Christian Gaelic Ireland and the capital of Ulaidh (where the name Ulster originates from).  It was founded by the goddess Macha in the 5^th or 7^th century, around the same time of the construction of the Parthenon Temple in Greece.  Archaeological excavations at Navan Fort have revealed that a 40 metre mound that is still present today on the site dates back to 95 BC when it is believed to have been used for a pagan ceremonial purpose.

Impressive Bridge – The Peace Bridge

Few bridges are as impressive as California’s Golden Gate Bridge but if you don’t want to travel over 5,000 miles there is a stunning suspension bridge located a little closer to home.  The Peace Bridge was opened in 2011 and is a cycle and footbridge across the River Foyle in the city of Derry.  The 235 metre bridge was designed by Wilkinson Eyre, who also designed the Gateshead Millennium Bridge in Newcastle upon Tyne.  The inspiration for the bridge was Derry’s iconic hands across the divide sculpture, conceived as two distinct structural systems that work in harmony.  At the middle of the river both systems overlap, boldly interacting to create a single unified crossing – a structural handshake across the Foyle.  It is illuminated at night and is fast becoming a major landmark in the city.

Prehistoric monument – Beaghmore Stone Circle

Forget the standing stones of Stonehenge, the Beaghmore Stone Circle in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone was discovered during peat cutting in the 1940s and is a fascinating complex of early Bronze Age megalithic features, seven stone circles and cairns.

It is possible that Neolithic occupation and cultivation preceded the erection of the burial cairns and ceremonial circles that can be seen on the site today.  It is thought to have been a focal point for religious or social gatherings with some archaeologist believing the circles were constructed in relation to the rising of the sun at the solstice as a plea to the gods to help with crops.

Man made reservoir – Silent Valley

Just like Hoover Dam, the Silent Valley Reservoir has become an important visitor attraction, attracting around 50,000 visitors per year who come to enjoy the peace and solitude of this mountain area with its unique landscape and varied wildlife.  Situated in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Silent Valley features a dam ringed by dramatic mountain panoramas and the famous Mourne wall located in the U-shaped valley of Kilkeel river.  The reservoir is the main water supply for most of Co. Down and a large part of Belfast.

Film locations – The Game of Thrones

The stunning landscapes in the Lord of the Ring’s trilogy captivated movie fans from around the world and saw them flocking to New Zealand to marvel in its breathtaking scenery.  Now movie fans have also been flocking to Northern Ireland to tour the locations used in the filming of HBO’s Game of Thrones, one of the most popular and successful fantasy TV series ever made.  The series is shot on location in Northern Ireland and locations include the Titanic Studios, Tollymore Forest Park, Ballintoy, Shane’s Castle, Inch Abbey and many more.  It is already said to have contributed £65 million to the local economy.

Unique attractions

Northern Ireland is also home to many unique tourist attractions which can’t be found anywhere else in the world.  Belfast is the birthplace of the world’s most famous ship, the Titanic, and 2012, the 100^th year anniversary of the sinking of the sink, saw the Titanic Belfast visitor attraction open which is now the most popular tourist attraction in Northern Ireland.  Located right beside the ship’s construction site, Titanic Belfast tells the story of the Titanic from its conception in Belfast, to its tragic end and the discovery of the wreck.

Also unique to Northern Ireland is Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Giant’s Causeway, which was formed due to intense volcanic activity 60 million years ago.  It is steeped in legend with the most famous myth being that it was built by Finn McCool as a way to reach his Scottish rival Benandonner.  The story goes that Finn fell asleep and the Scottish giant came across to find him.  Upon seeing that the Scotsman was much larger than her husband, his wife Oonagh wrapped him up and passed him off as her baby.  Benandonner began to wonder what size the ‘child’s’ father must be and made his return to Scotland, tearing up the Causeway as he went.

A short break in Northern Ireland starts from £49 per room. To book a short break and find out more about Northern Ireland’s world-class attractions visit discovernorthernireland.com.

As the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s looks towards this year’s event, Festival Director Richard Wakely today (Tuesday 6th August) announced the appointment of the Festival’s first ever “Artist in Residence”.

Internationally acclaimed Cuban-American artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada will work alongside volunteers and communities from all over Belfast to create a giant land-art portrait that will transform five acres of land in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter – the unveiling of which will open the Festival on 17th October.

Rodriguez-Gerada has created poignant land-art portraits all over the world and this piece  represents his first land-art work in the UK or Ireland. Supported by Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Ulster Bank, Northern Ireland Tourist Board and the European Union, the final piece will be created using materials sourced solely from the land. Entitled ‘Wish”, Rodriguez-Gerada’s portrait of an anonymous local child gazing towards the future will represent a new face for Belfast on the old face of the city and will capture the purity of a child making a wish.

Rodriquez-Gerada is excited about his UK and Ireland premiere and the opportunity to work with the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s, “I create work that brings awareness to social issues and am looking forward to working with people from all over this fascinating city, from all backgrounds and beliefs. This is a project about identity, sustainability and aspirations and I believe that Belfast is one of the most interesting cities in the world in which to present such a piece.”

Rodriguez-Gerada is a founder of the New York Culture Jamming movement and an innovator in the international art scene. Since the late 90s he has been replacing the faces of cultural icons chosen by advertisers with the faces of anonymous people to question the controls imposed on public space, the role models designated and the type of events that are guarded by the collective memory. His large scale time based works avoid negative impact on the environment, challenge the conformity in contemporary art and allow for a reflection that goes beyond the completion of the piece to focus in its concept, process, and the metaphor that comes forth because of the material chosen.

Commenting on the appointment Festival Director, Richard Wakely, stated “We are truly privileged to have the opportunity to work with such an exciting and innovative contemporary artist. Jorge’s commitment as our ‘Artist in Residence’ offers the unique chance for local people to work alongside one of the world’s most influential emerging artists and be part of the creation of a world-class piece of art that speaks to the future of our society. “

Damian Smyth, Head of Drama and Literature for Arts Council of Northern Ireland commented, “To have access to an international artist of this calibre is an exciting engagement opportunity for both local artists and the wider community and really connects Belfast to world-class talent. ”

Ellvena Graham, Head of Ulster Bank Northern Ireland, “We are very excited by Jorge’s appointment and his unique land art project which brings another innovative dimension to this year’s Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s.  Titanic Quarter is a symbol of Northern Ireland’s economic regeneration and it is very fitting that this vision for the future will be proudly created and displayed here.”

The 2013 Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s would not be possible without the continuing support of various public and private sponsors, including Ulster Bank, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, the EU and the British Council. Plus the many venues, performers and partner organisations whose commitment and passion bring the arts to life for all to enjoy.

Wish will be revealed on 17th October and run throughout Festival until 27th October and can be viewed free of charge from various specified locations within the Titanic Quarter. To get involved in this project or for more information visit www.belfastfestival.com or call 02890 971197. Or follow the project on Facebook and Twitter. #BelFest

This Sunday, August 11^th, Ronnie Greer and his Band take to The Bandstand in Ward Park to entertain the crowds at North Down Borough Council’s Summer Entertainment concert.

One of the justifiable legends of the Northern Ireland music scene, Ronnie Greer is also one of its favourite performers. A superb blues and jazz guitarist, his fingers have added passion and fire to some of the greatest blues bands in the country, including for a time the legendary Jim Daly Blues Band and a host of others.

Ronnie never fails to wring the last drop of emotion out of a solo, while still keeping the toes tapping. As a sideman and frontman, Ronnie has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in the business – including the likes of Dr. John, Lowell Fulson, Phil Guy, Johnny Mars and many more.

So if you fancy a relaxing afternoon in the park, enjoying the sounds of live blues and jazz, then gather your family and friends, pack a picnic and come to Ward Park this Sunday from 3pm – 5pm for this totally FREE event!

Keep an eye out in local press each week for details on each artist or for more information phone our Tourist Information Centre on 028 9127 0069 or visit: www.northdowntourism.com

The CultureTECH Festival have today released details of group bookings for community and youth groups ahead of their September festival.

The festival, which takes place from September 9-15, is a celebration of digital technology, media, music and arts featuring over 160 events and sessions across the week. The announcement will see community and youth groups from across the city be given priority bookings for many of the festival’s most exciting events including a huge games arcade in the Millennium Forum and CultureTECH Junior, a dedicated strand of events for young people, sponsored by Seagate.

Festival Marketing Manager, Connor Doherty said: “We’ve always been very keen to work with as many local groups as possible to make sure that this year’s festival reaches the whole of the city. From today, community and youth groups can block book sessions within the games arcade, CultureTECH Junior and a variety of theatre, arts and technology events across the week.”

“We will also be announcing a series of events to take place in various neighbourhoods across the city during the festival. We have over 100 exciting speakers and dozens of artists, musicians and performers taking part in the festival and we want to make sure that it is accessible as possible for anyone who wants to take part.” he added.

In addition to games and the CultureTECH Junior exhibition, the full list of events where group bookings are available include film screenings, free coding workshops for kids, a multi-media performance for babies, theatre workshops and several theatrical performances.

Although the majority of the programme is completely free to anyone interested in attending, youth and community groups will also be able to reserve seats in advance for performances and take part in hosted, private sessions. Any community, youth group or school interested in booking spaces can contact Connor directly via email to connor@culturetech.co or by phoning 02871 262379.