The Millennium Forum will host a number of world class music events to see in the New Year.

Three of Ireland’s most beloved artists, Sharon Shannon, Frances Black and Mary Coughlan come together for a night of music, songs and stories on Sunday 11^th January.  All three performers have achieved worldwide recognition for their craft and together create a special night that audiences will love, performing some of their greatest hits that have made them household names.

Saturday 17^th January sees the much anticipated return of Homegrown.  Due to the success of the last few Homegrown concerts, the new line-up this year includes Paul Casey & Band, Paddy Nash & The Happy Enchiladas, Best Boy Grip, John Deery & The Heads and special guest, Prima Quartet.

Scottish singer-songwriter, Sandi Thom, makes her debut to the North West’s premier venue on Thursday 29^th January. Over the last six years since Sandi Thom arrived on the scene she has sold in excess of one million albums, been nominated for a Brit award, won a Digital Music Award for her innovation as an artist, won Album Of The Year at the Scottish Music Awards and been given an Ivor Novello award for excellence in songwriting for songs such as I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker With Flowers In My Hair. Her latest release ‘Flesh and Blood’ saw her work with The Black Crowes, Bobby Keys and the legendary, Buffy Sainte-Marie.

The ever-popular, Mary Black, returns on Friday 30^th January with her eagerly awaited Irish Tour to coincide with the launch of her autiobiography, Down The Crooked Road.  This is Mary’s first Irish Tour in four years and she is looking forward to getting back to her local audiences.

To book for any of the above events, contact the Millennium Forum Box Office on 71 264455 or visit www.millenniumforum.co.uk

If your New Year’s Resolution is to take up a new hobby, learn a new skill, or simply get out and meet new friends, then The Market Place Theatre in Armagh is the place to look. With a range of wonderful workshops on offer, it’s never been easier to develop your skills.

Whether your style is gestural, meticulous or yet to be discovered, the ‘Take A Line For A Walk’ drawing workshops offer the opportunity to develop your skills, through a range of tools and techniques. Work from warm-up exercises to observational drawing, exploring light and shade, negative space and variations of scale. Please bring along a sketch book (preferably A2 size), or a role of heavy grade lining wall paper, a putty rubber, a range of pencils from 2B to 6B, and four or five objects that you would like to draw. These workshops take place on Wednesday mornings from 14^th January until 4^th February, 10am to 1pm each day, at a cost of £40 or £36 (concession).

A six week Salsa course aimed at those who would like to learn salsa dancing and other Latin American rhythms will take place on Thursday evenings from 15^th January until 19^th February. Expert dance tutor Deirdre Heagney will give a step-by-step guide through such dances as the Merengue, Cha Cha, Salsa and Bachata. Participation costs £25 for the 6 weeks. Finish the six weeks in style and join us after the final class in the theatre bar & bistro for a salsa social dance off, with the chance to win prizes and show off your new-found dance skills.

In the midst of economic turmoil, why not learn how to save your pennies and revamp your existing clothes instead of having to buy new ones. In the inspirational workshop, ‘Upcycle Your Spring|Summer Wardrobe’, you will learn how to remove and replace the sleeves of a top, use bleach and fabric paints to give an old top a new life, and how to give a plain top a designer touch by adding fabric, buttons and ribbons etc. You will need to bring old tops with you and also fabric or old garments that you can cut up to add to your upcycled top. If you have buttons and ribbons or other decorative materials bring them along too! This workshop takes place on Saturday 17^th January from 10am to 4pm. Participation costs £18 or £15 (concession).

‘Hone Your Writing Skills’ is a one day Creative Writing Course suitable for absolute beginners or the more experienced wishing to hone their skills in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The day will include hints and exercises and games to help you create characters, generate ideas for stories, and tips on how to recognise and eliminate overwriting. Tutor John McAllister is a novelist, poet and short story writer. His latest novel The Station Sergeant was made a book of the week by the New York Journal of Books. This workshop will take place on Saturday 24^th January from 10am to 4pm. Participation costs £16 or £14 (concession).

Tickets for all workshops can be booked on [028] 3752 1821, or online at www.marketplacearmagh.com And to keep up-to-date with the latest news at the Market Place Theatre, you can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/marketplacearmagh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/mptarmagh) where you will find all the latest information, special offers and video previews.

The Theatre at The Mill’s highly successful ‘In Conversation …’ series continues with a visit to The Courtyard Theatre from BBC Antique Roadshow specialist Marc Allum.

Marc will talk about his new annual almanac revealing intriguing nuggets such as What Lee Harvey Oswald’s wedding ring sold for: how much the World’s most expensive printed book cost per word; through to why someone was prepared to pay over £3 million for the miniature effigy of a dashing bodyguard.

Allum’s irreverent and anecdotal style will provide audience members with a unique insight into a world fuelled by history, avarice and passion.

With tickets priced at just £6 this is the perfect evening for all those who have a passion for everything antique…

For further information or to make a booking, visit our website www.thecourtyardtheatre.com or contact the Box Office on 028 9034 0202

The countdown is officially on for Northern Ireland’s biggest ever event, The Tall Ships Races 2015 organised by Sail Training International.

In six months time, an array of magnificent vessels from across the globe will come to Belfast for the first leg of The Tall Ships Races – another ‘big start’ for the city and from 2 to 5 July 2015, the Lidl Belfast Titanic Maritime Festival will welcome this global armada as it fills the Belfast Harbour alongside international markets, live music and fun fairs.

This amazing spectacle on both land and sea will ensure the thousands of international crew will have an incredible time before they embark on their journey towards Ålesund in Norway.

Belfast last welcomed the Tall Ships Races in 2009 and with 39 registered ships (including 14 Class As), plus expressions of interest from many others at this early stage, The Tall Ships Races 2015 is well on target for being a bigger and better spectacle!

The visiting vessels are from Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Organisers are also hoping to see some South American ships in the line-up soon as well.

The Netherlands’ Gulden Leeuw joined us for the 2014 Maritime Festival and is set to return for The Tall Ships Races. Captain Robert Postuma said they’re excited about their trip:

“We’ve entered the Gulden Leeuw for the Tall Ships Races 2015 and are very much looking forward to visiting Belfast again.

“Last year we enjoyed our stay in Belfast where we met friendly people and daring sailors! We look forward to meeting up again!”

Commenting on their forthcoming visit, Captain Chris Blake, from the UK’s Pelican of London ship, said that his crew are equally enthusiastic:

“The trainees and ship’s crew of Pelican of London are looking forward to returning to Belfast as we take part in the Tall Ships Races in 2015. Belfast has always looked after us well and made us all feel very welcome.”

The Tall Ships Races will be a fantastic finale for a summer of world class events including the Irish Open Golf in May and the Giro d’Italia’s legacy race, the Gran Fondo Giro in June.

For more information go to www.tallshipsbelfast.com or follow Tall Ships on Facebook @tallshipsbelfast or Twitter @tallships2015.