Author: whatsonni

The grounds of Belfast City Hall will be packed with free family fun activities on Saturday 22 April for Councillor Tina Black’s Lord Mayor’s Day.

Belfast’s First Citizen is inviting everyone to join her in ‘Celebrating Belfast’ on the front lawns of City Hall between 12pm and 5pm.

There will be something for all ages, including multi-cultural arts and crafts, live music, dance, street theatre and much more. Activities will also take place in 2 Royal Avenue, the city centre’s cultural and events space.

Looking ahead to the day of events, Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tina Black said:

“My Lord Mayor’s Day celebrations give everyone an opportunity to come into the city centre and enjoy an action-packed afternoon of free and exciting activities.

“The theme for my year in office has been ‘Celebrating Belfast’ and I have experienced first-hand the amazing work of people from all walks of life to support each other, their communities and the wider city, in these current tough times.

“I’ve been so impressed with so many of the groups and organisations I’ve met that I’ve invited many to them to join me at my event to help showcase the huge variety of talent our vibrant, multi-cultural city has to offer.”

Visitors can enjoy a packed line-up of live music, featuring a Kiddy Céilí, Belfast Dhol drummers, emerging local bands and musicians from Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran and Somalia, as well as performances from the South Asian Dance Academy.

Families will love the spectacular aerial circus show and comedy street theatre performances and trying their hand at old-style carnival games. Young people can also have a go at a variety of sports and make your own arts and crafts activities, before enjoying drop-in circus and creative writing workshops.

There’ll also be games and activities for older visitors, as part of our Age-Friendly Belfast programme.

Entry to the Lord Mayor’s Day event is free and is on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more details, visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/lordmayorsday

 

Eduardo Martin, the Grammy nominated and multiple life-time achievement award-winning Cuban guitarist and composer, joins forces with fellow award-winning, London based Cuban musician, Ahmed Dickinson – a guitarist described as a ‘true pioneer’ by Classic FM – to present ‘The Bridge’.

Launching an expansive tour of the UK and Ireland, Martin and Dickinson perform the music of their long-awaited album, ‘The Bridge’: a carefully curated compilation of Eduardo’s most alluring works for two guitars, where rock merges with son montunos; old Yoruba chants, feel-good rumbas and funk- boleros, with cinematic pieces sitting alongside Cuban tumbaos with slap bass. Perfect sound bites exploring the many facets of the guitar tradition from across the Americas. By incorporating the influences of jazz, flamenco, pop, Afro and raditional Cuban melodic and rhythmic intricacies, the music bridges the gap between generations and continents, past and present, uniting teacher and student. Says Dickinson:

“It is a privilege to play with Eduardo. Playing his music gives me a sense of musical sincerity. It is exhilarating to go on stage and convey all these melodies and rhythms that sound fresh, current and honest.” 

Eduardo Martin explains:

“The Bridge alludes precisely to the connections we have established musically, Ahmed and I. Also, the bridge that I establish throughout my compositions, between genres and musical styles that interest me. Finally, it is the connection with the audiences who enjoy our work.” 

Having first met as student and teacher at the Superior Institute of Art in Havana, the venerable musician and composer Martin instantly recognised in Dickinson a young man who knew the musical path he wanted to travel. The composer keenly followed Dickinson’s career over the years and a strong musical friendship developed. The pair first began to work together in 2014, when Dickinson invited Martin to London to perform a concert of his works at the Bolivar Hall. Since that performance, their musical partnership has flourished, pausing only for the time of the pandemic. Both artists are hugely in demand as solo performers, so to see them perform together in this project is one not to be missed.

This is a rare opportunity to catch guitar master, Eduardo Martin, on these shores. The collaboration with Ahmed Dickinson shares their rich culture and heritage, through the duo’s much celebrated artistry. Martin tells us, “This will be the first time we have been able to travel together since the pandemic. Playing live again fills me with a very great emotion. We have waited a long time and the feeling of anticipation and excitement to perform together again has only increased.”

Ahmed Dickinson and Eduardo Martin bring their music to Northern Ireland at the following venues 16^th  April, Portico of Ards at 3:00 pm.

For full tour dates and to listen/watch go to http://linktr.ee/Cubafilinrecords

Full EPK with images, album information, artist interviews and biographies available here. Further links at www.ahmeddickinson.com and https://cubafilin.com/ Press queries to dickinsonahmed@gmail.com

Taking place from May to August 2023 at Seamus Heaney HomePlace, the upcoming events programme is overflowing with brilliant musicians, poets, authors, and artists.

Setting the tone for a wonderful summer season is ‘Ellipses’ by Maria McManus and Keith Acheson, featuring the very talented Arco String Quartet.

Poet Alice McCullough brings her critically acclaimed one-woman show ‘Earth to Alice’ to The Helicon on 12^th May, this event is taking place in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Mental Health Arts Festival, which runs from 11^th – 21^st May 2023.

Audiences will enjoy several genres of music throughout the season, featuring renowned performers such as Mundy (27^th May), Lisa Lambe (3^rd June), Ruth McGinley (1^st July), Luka Bloom (8^th July) and Colm Mac Con Iomaire (26^th August).

A film screening of the Oscar-nominated Irish-language feature film An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl) is planned for 10^th June.  This coming-of-age drama tells the poignant tale of a young girl sent to live with distant relatives in eighties rural Ireland.

Playwright, author and poetry aficionado Roger McGough brings ‘Alive & Gigging’ to HomePlace near the end of June.  This will be Roger’s second visit to The Helicon following a memorable sell-out appearance in 2019.

Then there is the special announcement of the debut performance of Brian Bilston in The Helicon in November.  Brian Bilston has gathered a huge following on social media and has been described as ‘Twitter’s unofficial Poet Laureate.’

The highlight of the summer is a weekend of events to mark the tenth anniversary of the death of Seamus Heaney.  Seamus Heaney HomePlace will welcome a number of award-winning poets from across Ireland and the UK over the course of this commemorative weekend.  The weekend will close with a poignant screening of Seamus Heaney and the music of what happens.

This special weekend is taking place from 25^th – 27^th August 2023 at Seamus Heaney HomePlace, Bellaghy and is part of a full programme of events happening throughout the summer.  A weekend pass for all five events is available to book.

Councillor Córa Corry, Chair of Mid Ulster District Council which owns and operates Seamus Heaney HomePlace, said:

“As always, I am impressed with the variety and quality of events on offer this summer at Seamus Heaney HomePlace.  I look forward to welcoming you to Bellaghy to celebrate the arts and enjoy the performances in the intimate setting of The Helicon.  The beautifully curated season demonstrates the significance of poetry and the ongoing influence of Seamus Heaney.”

Brian McCormick, Manager of Seamus Heaney HomePlace, said:

“The upcoming summer programme is full of award-winning performers and artists and maintains the standards our audiences have become accustomed to. The highlight of this season is a weekend of events to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the death of Seamus Heaney.  Through marking this significant date, HomePlace brings to a close a brilliant summer season of events.”

The summer programme will be on sale from 10am on Monday 3^rd April at: https://seamusheaneyhome.com/upcoming-events/

Picture This have added extra dates in Belfast, Killarney and Dublin due to phenomenal demand. Tickets for all extra shows are on sale now at www.Ticketmaster.ie

 

Last Monday, Picture This announce their long-awaited fourth studio album Parked Car Conversations, to be released 29 September 2023 (via RCA Records, Germany). This album announcement follows the release of two new singles from the band, ‘Get On My Love‘ and ‘Song To Myself’ , both tracks extending Picture This’ status as hit songwriters after their 18-month hiatus.

 

Parked Car Conversations has been named as Picture This’ most ambitious work to be released thus far. The album consists of 15 tracks written by the band over the last three years. Many of them, much like ‘Song To Myself’, illuminate an emotional depth that remained untouched on previous albums, presenting the band – particularly lyricist and singer Ryan Hennessy – at their most vulnerable. The album is a retrospective insight into Hennessy’s personal hurdles that seemed, at the time, impossible to overcome. The strength of overcoming such situations and the growth that comes from it is the focus of Parked Car Conversations.

 

Speaking on the upcoming album, Ryan Hennessy says: “Parked Car Conversations is by far the most personal album we have ever created. There are so many deeply meaningful songs to us on this record and I hope they can be just as meaningful to those who listen. It is an album about everything involved with being human. Love and loss and hurt and euphoria and all of those other complex emotions that flutter in between. The ups and downs of living are conveyed through ballads and anthems alike on this record. It is a truly raw and open album and we’re inviting you in further than we ever have before. 

 

I think Parked Car Conversations is so authentically Picture This both sonically and lyrically and with some gorgeous new flavours that we have never had before. It really is so exciting to be sharing it with the world. This album is a soundtrack. Not to a movie, but to life.” 

 

Sonically, Parked Car Conversations carries the band’s existing characteristics of pop-rock, with hints of indie and folk-pop. Catchy guitar riffs combine with melodic hooks and anthemic choruses, which are embellished by Ryan Hennessy’s stunning vocals.

 

Parked Car Conversations will be available on CD and LP, and ltd. book. The latter forms an intimate and unique insight into the band’s daily life. From the first small gig to their headline show at last year’s Electric Picnic, Ireland’s biggest music event with over 70,000 visitors. Through the studio recordings and video shoots, a complete picture of the band emerges for the first time, which will connect hardcore fans and newcomers alike even deeper with the art and show the band more personally than ever.

 

UK/IRELAND TOUR DATES:

• 11/10: BRISTOL O2 ACADEMY 1
• 13/10: GLASGOW ACADEMY
• 14/10: BIRMINGHAM O2 INSITUTE 1
• 17/10: MANCHESTER ACADEMY 1
• 19/10: BELFAST SSE ARENA
• 20/10: BELFAST SSE ARENA
• 21/10: KILLARNEY INEC ARENA
• 22/10: KILLARNEY INEC ARENA
• 25/10: DUBLIN 3ARENA
• 26/10: DUBLIN 3ARENA
• 28/10: LONDON EVENTIM APOLLO

 

 

Follow Picture This on socials:

Instagram: @picturethis

Twitter: @picturethis

Facebook: Picture This

YouTube: @PictureThisBand

TikTok: @picturethis

 

77 Per Cent of NI Public Benefit from Time Outdoors

Marking the clocks going forward for spring, Outdoor Recreation NI is encouraging people across the country to use the extra hour to ‘Get Out More’.

As days lengthen and the weather improves, there is no better time to explore some of the hundreds of outdoor trails and places across Northern Ireland.

Kerry Kirkpatrick, Communication and Training Executive at Outdoor Recreation NI, says, “Spending time outdoors is  fundamental to our wellbeing. It allows us to connect with nature and to experience the beauty of Northern Ireland. We are lucky to have a plethora of amazing green and blue spaces on our doorstep and I would encourage people across the country to  take advantage of the extra hour that we have gained and get out more.

“To help them do this, our OutmoreNI.com website is a vital resource for those who wish to explore the wonderful outdoor spaces that Northern Ireland has to offer.

“The site, which is easily navigated, showcases hundreds of outdoor trails, that are curated to offer something for everyone, from walkers and families to mountain bikers, cyclists, and canoeists. It also contains a vast range of information on beautiful beaches, forests, parks, and nature reserves.

“Of course, we would also encourage people to protect the environment by exploring these areas responsibly and OutmoreNI.com provides a wealth of information on how to do so through its Right Side of Outside campaign.”

Research from the People in the Outdoors Monitor for Northern Ireland (POMNI) report,* which was conducted by Outdoor Recreation NI from November 2020 to October 2021, shows that 77 per cent of people surveyed across Northern Ireland say that getting outdoors is good for their wellbeing.

41 per cent of those surveyed say that connecting with nature is a key motivator for getting outdoors, whilst 72 per cent say that their local greenspace is within easy walking distance.

Supported by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and Sport NI, the OutmoreNI.com website showcases over 850 green and blue spaces and outdoor  trails across Northern Ireland. These include those on our doorsteps, along with hidden gems further afield.

Don’t forgot when visiting an outdoor spot, you can help protect it by following a few simple steps to ensure you stay on the ‘Right Side of Outside’ such as:

• Planning ahead by checking the weather and bringing the right equipment such as clothing, footwear, map, wet suit, paddles etc.
• Keeping your dog on a lead to avoid livestock worrying and disruption to wildlife.
• Only camping or lighting a BBQ in a designated area.
• Avoid starting open fires.
• Only parking your car in designated spaces and don’t forget to consider local access
• Taking your dog waste and litter home with you.
• Get involved and protect the environment by doing things such as taking part in litter picks

To discover new outdoor trails and places to explore throughout Northern Ireland, visit https://outmoreni.com/

Darkness Into Light, the annual fundraising event organised by Pieta, and proudly supported by Electric Ireland is set to take place on Saturday May 6 and will see thousands of people across Northern Ireland come together to mark the most important sunrise of the year.

Launched today, March 29, Pieta and Electric Ireland were joined by representatives from 14 local mental health charities to invite people across Northern Ireland to sign up to take part in this year’s fundraising event.

Taking place on the morning of Saturday May 6, people can either participate in one of the 16 organised walks, or run, swim or cycle in their own time or even take on a special challenge to fundraise for their local communities.

As part of this year’s campaign, Electric Ireland Darkness into Light ambassador and Belfast based medical doctor turned artist Anna McKeever has launched her own fundraising effort and has created an original oil painting entitled Cavehill at Sunrise which she has donated to Darkness into Light.

People are invited to enter the ‘iDonate’ Darkness Into Light raffle to be in with a chance to win this very special painting. One hundred percent of the money raised from the piece will be donated to mental health charities working to support those impacted by suicide in local communities across Northern Ireland.

The bespoke piece showcases one of Northern Ireland’s most recognisable landscapes and depicts the overriding sense of hope, strength and light of a vibrant sunrise stretching out over Belfast City.

The work, measuring 100 x 100cm, has been framed in a wooden box frame, hand finished in zoffany ink and is available to view in Anna’s Ormeau Road gallery now until the draw closes at 4.15am on Saturday May 6. The winner will be announced on Tuesday May 9.

Speaking at the launch, Darkness into Light ambassador, Anna McKeever said, “I initially trained as medical doctor and spent my career working in psychiatry and public health, before becoming a full-time artist. I am very aware of the impact mental illness can have, both on a professional and personal level. I am extremely proud to be an ambassador for Darkness into Light. I have created a bespoke oil painting for this year’s campaign, featuring Cavehill at sunrise. Fundraise with me on the Darkness into Light iDonate page to be in with a chance of winning this original artwork.”

To help Anna fundraise for Darkness into Light and be in with a chance of winning this special piece of artwork visit https://www.idonate.ie/raffle/AnnaMcKeeverDILPainting.

Bill Coyle, NI Residential Manager at Electric Ireland commented, “For more than a decade, Electric Ireland has proudly supported Pieta and its partner charities in the delivery of Darkness Into Light. This special sunrise event offers hope and solidarity to those impacted by suicide and self-harm across communities in Northern Ireland. We are delighted to welcome Anna on board as an Ambassador and are extremely grateful to her for the beautiful, bespoke and unique contribution she has made to this year’s campaign. With just over a month to go, we would like to welcome everyone to sign up, fundraise and get involved in Darkness Into Light to help raise vital funds for suicide prevention services in local communities.”

Sixteen walks have been organsied at various locations across Norther ireland, they will begin in darkness and continue through to sunrise; symbolising the journey from despair to hope.

Stephanie Manahan, CEO, Pieta said – “Darkness into Light is an opportunity for all communities to bring people together in the spirit of solidarity, comfort, and compassion to help people at a very local level and to raise awareness on mental health and the impact of suicide and self-harm. It is an opportunity to raise vital funds for a number of mental health charities in your local communities. There are many ways to take part in Darkness into Light and raise money for your local mental health charity; whether it’s taking part in one of the 15 local walks across Northern Ireland or by running, cycling or swimming we would encourage everyone to fundraise for your local charity and get up on the 6 May to join us for what is the most important sunrise of the year.”

To find out where your nearest walk is, to sign up and fundraise visit www.darknessintolight.com. Follow the conversation at #DIL2023

The multi-award winning Stendhal Festival is back for its thirteenth instalment this July 6th to 8th and the organisers are guaranteeing the public that they will have a ‘Wail’ of as time as they revealed the first wave of musical acts set to perform at Ballymully Cottage Farm, Limavady, this summer.

Topping this years’ bill are a plethora of unique and exceptional musical talents including; The Wailers, Bell X1, Newton Faulkner, The Scratch, Cara Dillon, Turin Brakes and Yazz Ahmed.

Stendhal will of course continue its commitment to showcasing the very best and emerging Northern Irish talent and this year Ballymully Cottage Farm will play host to some unmissable home-grown acts.

Joshua Burnside, Roe, Sasha Samara, Fya Fox, Winnie Ama, No Oil Paintings, Red Eye Pariah and loads more will be taking to the Stendhal stages.

Stendhal will also showcase some of the best emerging and new acts from The Republic of Ireland and this year Sprints, ModernLove, Crow Black Chicken, Overhead, the Albatross and more, join headliners Bell X1 and the Scratch in making the journey over the border.

Stendhal debuts this year include; Manukahunney, Pinkslips, Claire Sands, Invaderband, Boy M5, Search Party, Tramp, Marion Hawkes, Cora Kelly, Emily McCormick, Polar Bolero, Edgy C and GG Carma and Baroda, so there will be ample opportunity to find your new favourite act at the festival this summer.

Dance and DJs are also on the agenda at the event with DJ sets from critically acclaimed ex-Portishead DJ Andy Smith and BBC 6 Music DJ the Fun Lovin’ Criminal himself, Huey Morgan.

Festival Director Ross Parkhill says he is thrilled with how the line-up is taking shape.

“As usual we have a fantastic mix of genres, we have legends like The Wailers and Bell X1, some of the hottest up and coming acts from all throughout Ireland, Ivor Novello Award winners, NI Music Prize winners and there is still plenty more to come,” he said.

“The Wailers are without question our most requested act to return ever following their sensational performance at the Karma Valley Stage five years ago and we can’t wait to see them again.

“We are delighted to finally be welcoming a couple of acts who we have wanted to play here for years in Bell X1 and Cara Dillon. Bell X1 will be performing an exclusive all electric show for us this summer having spent quite a while touring acoustically with a string quartet so that is really exciting and of course then having the Roe Valley’s very own songbird in Cara Dillon, finally playing her home festival, will be something special indeed.

 He added: “We are also so pleased to be welcoming back Turin Brakes for the first time since they headlined the event 13 years ago and we can’t wait to show them the progress that the festival has made over the years, in part thanks to them.

 “Throw in the Brilliant Newton Faulkner, The Scratch and Yazz Ahmed and our headline acts so far are a great mix of styles and have the broad appeal which we hope will see us have another successful year as we continue to recover.” 

Ross concluded by taking the time to say a few words of thanks: “To everyone who has bought their ticket already, thank you so much for your continued faith in us, it means the world to us.

He added: “We’d also like to thank Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, The Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Help Musicians NI for their continued support and for the first time this year we’d like to thank a brand new partner, Alchemy Technology Services from Derry/Londonderry. We greatly appreciate the support provided and wish you a warm welcome to our Stendhal tribe.”

Much more programming is still to be announced with more music, the comedy, poetry, family line-ups and more being revealed in the coming weeks.

For tickets and more information visit stendhalfestival.com 

Back by popular demand, Pat Abernethy and Dave Marsden return to The Market Place Theatre with ‘Songs From Ireland’, an intimate, musical evening.

You can expect some well-known songs, some you may never have heard of, but they will all reflect the Irish spirit in its many forms; nostalgia, romance, emigration, politics, sentimentality, loss, regret, humour. The songs have all been selected because they say something that resonates with Pat and Dave musically and lyrically.

 

Between songs you will also be regaled with stories from their days in Ireland throughout the years.

The song selection will include those either written or sung by the likes of Paul Brady, Tommy Makem, The Fury Brothers, Christy Moore, Thomas Moore, Brian Kennedy, Bagatelle, Pete St. John, Shane McGowan, Phil Coulter, Mary Black, Jimmy MacCarthy, Van Morrison, Val Doonican, Richard Thompson, Dolores Keane, Christie Hennessy, Horslips, Johnny McEvoy, and many more.

 

‘Songs From Ireland’ will be staged on Wednesday 12 April at 8pm. Tickets priced £15 can be booked online at www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre or through the Box Office on 03300 561 025.