On Thursday 7 June Comber Farmers’ Market will see the very first Comber Earlies arrive, as an important time of the agricultural year begins for the town named ‘The Home of Great Taste’.

With their own unique flavour, Comber Earlies have achieved PGI status which recognises the Comber spud alongside some of Europe’s most iconic regional food brands, such as Feta Cheese, Champagne and the Cornish Pasty.

Horner’s Farm Shop will have the first of its crop ready to try and buy, joined by Chef Dave Smyth from McBrides on the Square who will be serving samples of the nutty little potato to visitors.

Other traders at the market will have the very finest array of meat and fish, fruit and vegetables, jams and chutneys, home baked goods and breads, cheeses, speciality teas, sauces and syrups, seasonal plants, chocolate, free range eggs, granola, iced coffee, Mediterranean tapas, raw Jersey milk and more – all produced in Northern Ireland.

Chair of the Comber Farmers’ Market committee run by the Comber Regeneration and Community Partnership, Alderman Deborah Girvan, is delighted the Comber Earlies will be ready in time for the award winning market:

“I know it has been a difficult winter for our potato farmers with late frost preventing them from planting and indeed keeping them awake at night.  It is fantastic therefore that some will be available for Comber Farmers’ Market on the 7 June.  Then of course the whole town looks forward to the Comber Earlies Food Festival later in the month, when all the producers can come together to celebrate this humble and tasty little spud.”

Comber Farmers’ Market is held on the first Thursday of every month in the car park at St Marys Church in Comber Square from 9am to 1.00pm.  Car parking can be found at Parkway on Killinchy Street or in 1^st Comber Presbyterian car park on High Street.

 

For further information on the popular market go to www.combermarket.co.uk or find Comber Farmers’ Market on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

FIRST ALBUM IN SEVEN YEARS, WILDNESS, OUT NOW VIA POLYDOR RECORDS

DEBUT NEW MUSIC VIDEOS FOR “A YOUTH WRITTEN IN FIRE,” “LIFE AND DEATH,” “WILD HORSES,” AND “A DARK SWITCH”

 

“A Triumphant Return” Album Of The Week – The Sunday Times

**** Q Magazine **** Daily Express **** The Sun

 

29 May: This morning, Snow Patrol confirms 8 headlining dates in the UK and Ireland throughout December and January. The band will perform in cities including Dublin, London and Belfast (full dates below) – tickets will go on sale on Friday, June 8^th at 9am.

Snow Patrol’s album Wildness, their first album in seven years, is out now. Wildness taps into something raw and primitive. Lead-singer and songwriter Gary Lightbody says of the album: “There are many types of wildness, but I think it can be distilled into two: the wildness of the modern age, all its confusion, illogic and alienation and a more ancient wildness. Something primal, alive and beautiful that speaks to our true connectivity, our passion, our love, our communion with nature and each other. This is the kind of wildness the album is centered around. The loss of it. Trying to reconnect with it. To remember it.” Purchase Wildness on all formats here.

To celebrate the release of Wildness, Snow Patrol has debuted new music videos for “A Youth Written In Fire,” “Life and Death,” “Wild Horses,” and “A Dark Switch.” The band has previously released music videos for “Empress” “What If This Is All The Love You Ever Get?,” “Life On Earth,” and “Don’t Give In,” and you can watch them all here. Additionally, Ed Sheeran showed his support in an Instagram video here.

Snow Patrol recently returned to “Later… With Jools Holland” where they debuted a live rendition of “Empress,” along with performances of “Life On Earth,” “Heal Me,” and “Chasing Cars.” This weekend the band played BBC Radio’s Biggest Weekend in Coventry. Snow Patrol also appeared as musical guests on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on April 19^th and The Late Late Show With James Corden on April 24^th and performed “Don’t Give In,” the first single from Wildness.

Snow Patrol has launched a Spotify playlister website where fans around the world can create their own playlist of Snow Patrol songs throughout the band’s catalogue and share these playlists with a friend. When sharing the playlist, the fan marks his/her location as well as the recipient’s location on a global map. Check it out and create your own playlist at http://playlist.snowpatrol.com

Since their 1998 debut, Songs for Polarbears, Snow Patrol has racked up an impressive number of critical and commercial accolades, including 15 million global album sales, 1+ billion global track streams, five UK Platinum Albums, and are Grammy, BRIT Award and Mercury Music Prize nominated. After their Fallen Empires tour ended in 2012, band members —which also include multi-instrumentalist Johnny McDaid, guitarist Nathan Connolly, bassist Paul Wilson, and drummer Jonny Quinn — decided to take a step back from the band, and focus on their own projects. Gary Lightbody continued his work with his Tired Pony side project with members of Belle and Sebastian, R.E.M, Reindeer Section and Fresh Young Fellows and moved to Los Angeles to begin writing songs for movies (including “This Is How You Walk On” for 2017’s Gifted), and doing a number of high-profile co-writes with Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Biffy Clyro, and One Direction. Taking this extended break from Snow Patrol proved to be a source of inspiration, and writing songs that were not pulled directly from his own psyche helped heal what Lightbody considered to be not so much writer’s block as life block.

 

Wildness Track Listing

01 Life On Earth

02 Don’t Give In

03 Heal Me

04 Empress

05 A Dark Switch

06 What If This Is All The Love You Ever Get?

07 A Youth Written In Fire

08 Soon

09 Wild Horses

10 Life And Death

Snow Patrol U.K and Ireland Tour Dates

Dec 5 /// Newcastle, England /// Metro Radio Arena

Dec 7 /// Belfast, Northern Ireland /// The SSE Arena

Dec 11 /// Dublin, Ireland /// 3Arena

Jan 25 /// Birmingham, England /// Birmingham Arena

Jan 26 /// London, England /// O2 Arena

Jan 29 /// Leeds, England /// First Direct Arena

Jan 30 /// Manchester, England /// Manchester Arena

Jan 31 /// Glasgow, England /// The SSE Hydro

www.snowpatrol.com

www.facebook.com/snowpatrol

www.instagram.com/snowpatrol

www.twitter.com/snowpatrol

www.youtube.com/snowpatrol

 

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has unveiled its best ever Summer Recreation Programme.

For the first time, activities will take place in venues right across the Borough.

Developed by Council’s Sport & Wellbeing Development Unit, the programme runs from Monday 2^nd July until Friday 17^th August.  Participants now have more choice than ever before with 59 courses covering 28 different activity options and 10 summer activity schemes.

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Joan Baird OBE said: “Council is delighted to introduce a Borough-wide Summer Recreation Programme for the first time which gives our residents and visitors the opportunity to enjoy fantastic fun activities from Ballycastle to Ballymoney and Coleraine to Limavady.  I would encourage all young people to take part in the programme and enjoy the many benefits associated with getting active.”

Sports Development Manager (Central), Stephen McCartney added: “I’m really excited about the scale and variety of courses and schemes on offer this year.  Council’s Sports Development Team is committed to offering quality activities which are reflective of the specific needs within our communities. This year’s programme demonstrates an innovative approach to sport and activity delivery. Our courses and schemes are developed with young people in mind and offer exceptional coaching and supervision with lots of emphasis on having fun.”

Enrolment for all courses begins on Saturday 2^nd June at 8.30am in Coleraine Leisure Centre, Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre (Ballymoney), Roe Valley Leisure Centre (Limavady) and Sheskburn Recreation Centre (Ballycastle).

Each course costs £32 per person, however there is a discount ticket available priced at £26 per course per person, available for anyone enrolling on a minimum of three courses (activities must be booked at the same time).

The Summer Recreation Programme also includes summer activity schemes based in Coleraine West, Ballysally, Bushmills, Portstewart, Castlerock, Garvagh, Kilrea, Dungiven, Armoy and Cushendall.

Summer Recreation Programme brochures containing this year’s Coaching Calendar and all Summer Activity Scheme details together with enrolment forms are available now from your local leisure / recreation centre.

For further information, please contact Leisure Services on 028 7034 7234 or email SportandWellbeing@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk

DiscoverNorthernIreland.com has stacks of fun things to do across NI, from family days out to gigs and cultural events. Here are ten exciting things taking place this week (28 May- 3 June)

 

1. Causeway Coast Ford Fair, Portrush, 3 June. The 14th Annual Causeway Coast Ford Fair takes place on the West Strand.  The fair showcases a wide range of classic and vintage Ford vehicles and hosts a trade village selling car-related merchandise, a food village and a children’s entertainment area, offering a fabulous family day out for everyone.
2. Ballymoney Show, Ballymoney, 1-2 June. One of the oldest and largest agricultural shows in Northern Ireland, offering two days of fun for all the family. In addition to livestock judging the show offers equestrian events, home industries and school competitions, dog shows, live musical entertainment, tug of war games and football competitions and more. There are over 100 trade stands showcasing artisan food, rural crafts and agricultural products.
3. Michael McIntyre, Belfast, 2 June. Britain’s biggest comedian Michael McIntyre is going global with his Big World Tour coming to the SSE Arena. With his trademark quick fire style, he shares humorous anecdotes of his life, jokes and much more to create a night full of laughs.
4. Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival, Ballycastle, 25 May-3 June. The festival celebrates culture, cuisine and coastal treasures with exciting sea-focused events such as curraghs, have-a-go kayaking, cookery demonstrations, classes and traditional music. Naturally North Coast, the Glens Artisan Market and an ‘Ulster Chowder Cook off’ only give a flavour of what is on offer to see and do.
5. Walled City Marathon, Derry~Londonderry, 3 June. From the Everglades Hotel to the historic Guildhall Square, the SSE Walled City Marathon sees athletes from Ireland, Britain and across the world arrive in Derry~Londonderry to compete over a stunning 26.2 mile course that takes in all the sights and sounds of the city.
6. Otter MAYhem at Exploris Aquarium, Portaferry, 28 May. Combining the Spring Bank Holiday and World Otter Day, Exploris is hosting an Otter MAYhem event. Take part in animal talks and feeding demos as well as some ‘otter madness’ themed crafts and lots more entertainment for all the family.
7. Mid Ulster Vintage Rally, Moneymore, 2 June. Hosted by the Mid Ulster Vintage Vehicle Club you can enjoy the largest vintage vehicle rally in Mid Ulster. Hundreds of vehicles and items of machinery will be on display with fun for all the family.
8. Ulster Orchestra Season Grand Finale: Shostakovich Symphony No.5, Belfast, 1 June. Sweeping Romantic and epic national treasures come together in the season finale; three poetry-inspired pieces that reflect the concerns of the soul and ultimately end in the triumph of the human spirit will be performed at the Ulster Hall.
9. RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq The World Tour 2018, Belfast, 1 June. Enjoy a fabulous evening at the Waterfront Hall hosted by celebrity judge Michelle Visage, with sickening performances by Kim Chi, Latrice Royale, Shangela, Sharon Needles, Violet Chachki, Valentina and a surprise guest from the all new 10th season.
10. ForM Sculpture Exhibition, Bangor, 2-14 June. The exhibition showcases works from an array of artists in the beautiful surroundings of Bangor Castle’s Walled Garden. The sculptures, inspired by the garden, will give visitors a unique experience and the opportunity to see art in a different context.

 

For more information on these events or to plan a short break in Northern Ireland, visit  www.DiscoverNorthernIreland.com.

The Foyle Merchant and Maritime markets, a 42-feet catamaran with an international jazz band on board, visiting Tall ships, Flavours of the Foyle Seafood Kitchen and Trail and a spectacular VOYAGES showcase event that will bring the River Foyle alight with music and animation are just some of the highlights announced today as part of the Foyle Maritime Festival that will take place in Derry from 14-22 July 2018.

The Festival, which is one of Ireland’s top maritime celebratory events, attracting over 160,000 people in 2016, will once again welcome the Clipper Round the World Race when the city acts as a host port for the fourth consecutive time for this much anticipated event.

Announcing details of the exciting festival programme, the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr Maolíosa McHugh said the theme for this year’s Foyle Maritime Festival is “Voyages” with a strong emphasis on the city and district’s strong maritime history.

He said: “This year’s Foyle Maritime Festival promises to be another huge success for everyone involved. The programme has something for everyone with a bespoke and exciting programme of entertainment and animation on and alongside the River Foyle, including a food festival, artisan markets, live music and a range of keynote events that will justify the international audiences that the festival attracts to the city.

“I particularly like the idea that the theme of the festival is Voyages as Derry is synonymous with the sea and this acknowledges our rich maritime heritage and the journeys that we as a people, place and individuals have experienced. Not only was the city a major Irish emigration port throughout the phases of resettlement, it also played a key role in World War II when ships from the Royal Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and the US navy were all stationed here.”

Jacqueline Whoriskey, Head of Festival and Events with Derry City and Strabane District Council says they have been working closely with festival partners the Loughs Agency and Foyle Port to ensure that this year’s programme reflects the significance of the event for the city and the close relationship it has with the river and its maritime heritage.

“The highlight event of the festival will be a spectacular VOYAGES showcase event on and alongside the river that encompasses land, water and air with the Clipper Race yachts joining Tall Ships, cruisers, yachts and punts from across the region and beyond as part of a live theatrical performance that will culminate with light and fireworks on the water,” she said.

In addition to the festival programme, local promoters have programmed a range of entertainment and musical events in Ebrington Square to coincide with the festival including two outdoor concerts that will add considerably to the range of events and musical experiences on offer throughout the nine days of the event.

There will be visiting tall ships berthed along the Quay and to add to the splendour of the occasion there will be a wide variety of food and bespoke craft stalls in both the Foyle Merchant and Maritime markets as well as lots of water activities including the River Foyle Races, organised by the Loughs Agency and participants from a variety of rowing and yacht clubs across the country.

Helena Hasson, Event Co-ordinator with the Council, said other highlights include the arrival and departure of the Clipper race yachts, boat tours and motor runs down the River Foyle and an interactive education area entitled ‘The Science of Water’ sponsored by DuPont Kevlar®.

“We are very grateful to all of our funders, sponsors and festival partners, who have been working with Council to develop this year’s programme. This is a huge week for the city to showcase all that’s best about our city and region and the support from everyone has been brilliant. She also added ‘We are delighted that in addition to our festival programme, local promoters have independently programmed a range of entertainment and musical events, including two large outdoor concerts in Ebrington Square to coincide with the festival.

“Likewise we are thrilled that the Foyle Cup is also on at the time of the festival and we’re working with the event organisers to support all event plans. With so much to experience in the city between 14 -22 July we are confident that locals and visitors alike will enjoy one of the most exciting weeks of entertainment and sport that city has hosted for several years.”

Encouraging the public to put the dates in their diaries and to extend an invitation to family and friends to come home for the celebrations, the Mayor said:

“The Foyle Maritime Festival is hugely important for the City and District and the wider North West region in promoting the area as a world class tourism destination and a maritime hub. The programme of events being put together for the festival is phenomenal with something for everyone to enjoy, whether it’s boating and yachting, live music and animation, or maritime history. The event has been hugely successful in the past attracting over 100,000 people and we are confident that this year will be another amazing celebration that will put our city and district on the international map.

“We are particularly keen to attract people from the city and district and wider region to take this opportunity to come home and be part of the festival celebrations. Not only is it a chance to catch up with family and friends but it’s a great opportunity to see how the city has transformed and developed and ready to welcome you back.”

The full festival programme will be launched in the coming weeks but details of the festival are available online where you can sign up for updates at  www.foylemaritimefestival.com or you can follow us on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/foylemaritimefestival  and on Twitter @Foylemaritime

Belfast’s only dedicated Jazz bar, Berts will bring to life the illicit world of the Roaring Twenties with a themed night of swinging jazz and bootlegged booze on Friday 25^th May.

Berts Jazz Bar and Monkey 47 presents The Golden Age of Jazz Party, inviting guests to don their best ‘flapper’ attire and be transported back to 1920’s New York where prohibition ruled the streets, but jazz ruled the city.

The evening will pay homage to a genre of music that captivated a generation, with exuberant big band jazz performances from ‘Kyron Bourke and The Hard Boiled Shimmy Shammers’, speakeasy cocktails and an atmosphere reminiscent of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel.

Guests will be greeted with a complimentary Monkey 47 Teapot Punch cocktail on arrival and there will be a prize for the most glamourous attire on the night. While dining tickets are sold out, guys and dolls can grab a spot at the bar with standing tickets for £15.

Expect glitz and glamour from start to finish, with surprise performances and a pop-up photo Moon Booth where guests can have their picture taken in-front of a beautiful night sky backdrop.

Speaking about the event, Kyron Bourke, lead singer of The Hard Boiled Shimmy Shammers said, “The Hard Boiled Shimmy Shammers are simply the Bee’s Knees. Their music will transport you right back to the Roaring Twenties to speakeasy’s where zozzled flappers and their jelly beans once illegally imbibed jag juice and foot juice, not to mention noodle juice. This is no phonus balonus, these guys are the real Tabasco.”

To find out more or book a Standing ticket, visit facebook.com/bertsjazzbar https://events.glistrr.com/merchant/e/121https://events.glistrr.com/merchant/e/121https://events.glistrr.com/merchant/e/121or call Berts Jazz Bar on 028 9026 2713.

 

What: The Golden Age of Jazz Party

When: Friday 25^th May

Where: Berts Jazz Bar, 16 Skipper Street, Belfast

Evocative and lyrical songs such as Wood and Weatherly’s Roses of Picardy and Elgar’s Sea Pictures give the flavour for what promises to be a ravishing afternoon recital by Kathryn Rudge on Bank Holiday Monday in the stunning acoustics of Portico Arts & Heritage Centre in Portaferry.

Mezzo-soprano Kathryn Rudge is the darling of classical music for good reason. “It doesn’t take long (five notes maybe) to hear why people are so excited. Her mezzo-soprano voice already has tremendous reserves of power, impeccable intonation, the capacity for a gloriously sustained legato and, most interesting of all, a distinctive vocal quality. The timbre has white-hot intensity that extends undiminished through all of two octaves.” The Times

Performing an afternoon concert at 2pm on Bank Holiday Monday (28 May), Kathryn will be accompanied by pianist James Baillieu. Described by The Daily Telegraph as ‘in a class of his own’ James Baillieu has been the prize-winner of the Wigmore Hall Song Competition, Das Lied International Song Competition, Kathleen Ferrier and Richard Tauber Competitions. James has given solo and chamber recitals throughout Europe and further afield. He collaborates with a wide range of singers and instrumentalists including Ian Bostridge, Dame Kiri te Kanawa, Annette Dasch, Markus Werba and Catherine Wyn Rogers.

This recital will be the concluding concert of Festiv’Ards 2018, the four-day festival celebrating the best in classical music that takes place 25-28 May. Supported by Ards and North Down Borough Council and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, this year’s festival programme includes a free opening concert with pianist Michael McHale on Friday 25 May at 7.30pm. Saturday’s afternoon concert at 2pm features violinist Patrick Rafter before the star choral group The Tallis Scholars perform at 7.30pm. On Sunday, classical guitarist Thibaut Garcia performs at 2pm then the Ficino Ensemble at 7.30pm. Bank Holiday Monday morning starts with organist Daniel Cook at 11am before Kathryn Rudge and James Baillieu take to the stage at 2pm.

For further information on any of the concerts happening during Festiv’Ards please visit www.porticoards.com or buy tickets in person at The Rock Bakery in Portaferry.

5 stars all round for ‘The Nature of Forgetting’ coming to the MAC 31 May – 3 June

‘Utterly unmissable.’  (★★★★★ The Edinburgh Reporter)

Produced by Theatre Re, The Nature of Forgetting comes to the MAC Belfast for a limited run from 31 May – 3 June following a sell-out run at the 2017 London International Mime Festival.

The Nature of Forgetting is a powerful, explosive and joyous piece about what is left when memory and recollection are gone.  Featuring a multi-talented ensemble of actors, this show examines the fragile human condition of dementia, in a compelling, physical style embracing mime, theatre and live music.

Tom has just turned 55. As he dresses for his birthday party, tangled threads of disappearing memories spark him into life, unravelling as a tale of friendship, love and guilt.

This ambitious project with actors, mimes and musicians has been created in collaboration with UCL Neuroscience Professor Kate Jeffery and inspired by interviews and workshops with organisations such as the Alzheimer’s Society. It was in development for 16 months and was conceived by the theatre’s director Guillaume Pigé.

Guillaume Pigé comments, “The Nature of Forgetting is not about dementia. It is about the fragility of life and that eternal ‘something’ we all share that is left when memory is gone. Our collaboration with Professor Kate Jeffery and our interviews with people living with dementia and their carers have resulted in a life-affirming journey into a weakening mind, where broken does not have to mean defeated.”

Simon Magill, Creative Director at the MAC says: “Continuing to bring you the very best across all art forms, we are delighted to be hosting this really extraordinary production.  It is a joyous, vital story full of survival and hope.”

Theatre Re presents The Nature of Forgetting at the MAC from 31 May – 3 June.

For more information about the show or to book, visit themaclive.com.  Supported by National Lottery funding through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.