With less than a month to go, there are some huge highlights to look forward to – with Phil Coulter kicking things off on October 8

The countdown is on for the return of the City of Derry International Choir Festival – and with less than a month to go, we’re inviting YOU to take part.

Kicking things off, musical icon Phil Coulter will be at Derry’s Ebrington Square at 2pm on Saturday October 8 for a one-off ‘Come and Sing’ event which will be filmed for broadcast at the festival later in the month.

But it’s not just Phil who will feature in the historic broadcast, because members of the public are invited to come along and join an epic sing-along with the star, performing iconic hit ‘The Town I Love So Well’.

The event, a celebration of Phil’s 80^th birthday year and the City of Derry International Choir Festival’s 10^th edition, is sponsored by Allstate NI and is set to get the people of Derry in the mood for a fabulous festival of music.

The five-day festival programme, which runs from October 19 – 23, will comprise of gala concerts, live performances, both competitive and non-competitive, as well as world-class choral events.

In addition to events taking place in the main festival venue, Millennium Forum, there will be a comprehensive Community Programme involving more than 1,000 singers aged eight to 80 across 40 fabulous choirs.

As well as pop-up performances across the north west, there will be community concerts featuring local, national and international choirs and a Sacred Trail where visiting choirs will join churches across the region to perform at Sunday Services.

The community programme, sponsored by Alchemy, will see 60 performances across the five days and will extend throughout Derry, Strabane and Donegal.

For the festival’s many competitive events, the City of Derry International Choir Festival will be joined by competitors and adjudicators from nations across the world including Estonia, Germany, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, the USA, UK and of course, Ireland.

Other highlights to look forward to include the Opening Gala Concert with Carmina Burana at Derry’s Millennium Forum on Wednesday October 19, a concert by the Polish Radio Choir on Thursday October 20 and an evening concert by Finnish a cappella ensemble Rajaton, who will perform on Friday October 21.

The final day of the festival will see a new National Choir of the Festival Competition on Sunday October 23, before the Closing Gala Concert and Awards Ceremony at the Millennium.

 

To find out more and book tickets, visit www.derrychoirfest.com

 

 

The UK and Ireland’s best-loved blues festival returns to the Cathedral City of Armagh from Friday 30 September to Sunday 2 October

The 7 Hills Blues Fest returns to Armagh for a full weekend on Friday 30 September in an international showcase that brings world class blues, rhythm and roots music to a variety of unbeatable venues and locations across the iconic Cathedral City and the island’s capital of apples and cider.

Renowned as one of the best blues and roots music events in the UK and Ireland, this year’s 7 Hills Blues Fest returns after a three-year hiatus with a promise to shake, rattle and roll returning visitors from near and far with over 35 free live gigs and some cracking family entertainment.

Blue’s sensations 4 Stuck Men, One Horse Pony, Grainne Duffy and Paul Sherry are all part of this year’s headline event, joining trending jazz acts Casino Dixieland Jazz Band and Ludwig & Co to ensure that old style bluesy atmosphere the 7 Hills Fest is famous back for this autumn.

Celebrating some of the world’s greatest blues artists, including Ray Charles, Bessie Smith and BB King, all of Armagh’s best pubs and bars – including Red Neds, Hole in the Wall, Mickey Kelly’s, Devlin’s, Keegan’s, Rafferty’s, the Toby Jug and the Armagh City Hotel, are backing this incredible musical collective.

Festival organisers are also adding a new layer of entertainment this year too, with an all-new citywide Blues Busking Trail on Friday and Saturday, a ‘Blast from the Past’ vintage fair at the Shambles Yard on Saturday afternoon and a weather-dependent ‘Melodies on the Mall’ session early Saturday evening all guaranteed to mark the best of a great weekend.

Armagh’s historic Market Square is the place to be on Saturday afternoon from 1pm for a full-on free children’s event experience as the wee ones get their faces painted, model balloons and fill their boots with mischief as live musicians entertain from the Bandstand.

Armagh’s Bandstand will also be the place to experience a ‘Live Lounge’ show of local musicians perform their craft, hosted by the award-winning MD Rafferty Music School team.

Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Councillor Paul Greenfield, said:

“Armagh City punches well above its weight for the best in entertainment, hospitality and music and this year’s 7 Hills Fest promises to be our best yet. Soak up the sounds, chill or dance your heart away in our best venues, inside or out, and relax with family and friends.

“There’s always a reason to visit Armagh all year round, but if you want to kick off your autumn with an experience to remember, make sure to check in and celebrate the best of the blues with us.”

For more information, visit www.7hillsblues.com

Students to Gain Valuable Insight in Two Hour Visit

 

Globally recognised astronomical research institute, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, has recommenced its popular two-hour visits for primary school pupils. Led by one of the organisation’s Education team members, each tour will consist of one hour spent in the Dome Theatre, a 30-minute workshop and a 30-minute exhibition tour.

The educational tours will begin with a celestial journey around the Solar System in Armagh Observatory and Planetarium’s unique Dome Theatre. Pupils will then have the opportunity to take part in an ‘Out-of-This-World’ workshop and explore the organisation’s brand-new exhibition area.

Whilst in the Dome Theatre, pupils can choose from a range of dome shows, including ‘Astronaut.’ Narrated by actor Ewan McGregor, the short film examines the trials, tribulations and joys associated with becoming an astronaut, along with the effects of space travel and training on human beings.

In addition to viewing the suite of dome shows, pupils will engage with live, interactive material which can be tailored to their learning objectives. For this, the organisation’s Education team will guide them through the solar system, allowing them to choose which planets they want to visit, to ask questions and to show off their knowledge of space.

Each session in the Dome Theatre finishes with Armagh Observatory and Planetarium’s famous space roller coaster. A favourite element of the visit for many, the short dome show allows students to experience the sensation of being on a rollercoaster.

Helen McLoughlin, Operations Manager at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium said, “I am delighted to welcome primary school pupils from across Northern Ireland to tour our facilities here at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium.

“We are recognised across the globe as a leading centre for research into astronomy and are very much focused on harnessing that invaluable resource to deliver vibrant educational and outreach programmes.

“It is our hope that that by providing compelling, age-appropriate content via our dome shows workshop and exhibition, we might help to inspire the STEM leaders of the future.”

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is sited in a heritage environment with a rich scientific history. The organisation delivers internationally recognised research in astronomy and related sciences and vibrant educational and outreach programmes for all ages.

Established in 1790 by Archbishop Richard Robinson, the Armagh Observatory is the oldest scientific institution in Northern Ireland and the longest continuously operating astronomical research institute in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Dr Eric Lindsay founded the Armagh Planetarium in 1968. The oldest operating Planetarium in the UK and Ireland, it celebrated 50 years as Northern Ireland’s public face of space and astronomy in May 2018.

To book a primary school visit, call Armagh Observatory and Planetarium on: 028 3752 3689 or email: reception@armagh.ac.uk. Early Booking is recommended.

To find out more about Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, visit: https://www.armagh.space

Titanic Hotel Belfast, named Northern Ireland’s Leading Hotel at the World Travel Awards every year since opening its doors in 2017, is celebrating its fifth birthday this month, and the longest serving staff member General Manager, Adrian McNally, is proud to have retained a quarter of the hotel’s original staff since day one.

Speaking about the multi-award winning hotel’s milestone birthday, Adrian said: “We have achieved incredible success despite the challenges the hospitality industry has faced in recent years. I am extremely proud of the team in delivering outstanding customer service and for working tirelessly to live up to Titanic Hotel Belfast’s leading hotel status every day. The fact that we have managed to retain 25% of the original workforce during some of the most challenging times for our industry in our lifetime is testament to the privilege of being part of the team at Titanic Hotel Belfast.

“I would also like to thank Harcourt Developments for their unwavering commitment to Titanic Hotel Belfast and for continuing to invest in our accommodation and public spaces, enabling us to provide visitors with a truly unique experience when visiting Titanic Quarter.”

There have been more than 174,000 guests waking up to a Titanic breakfast in the past five years and over 3,200 weddings and events hosted in the unique private heritage spaces including the surroundings of the Drawing Office where many of the world’s most famous ocean liners including RMS Titanic  were designed.

Over 82,000 guests have attended events and weddings, while thousands more have enjoyed the hotel’s award-winning food and beverage outlets every month.

The concierge team has hosted more than 3,500 Heritage Tours giving visitors a flavour of the history of this unique hotel which includes Thomas Andrews original private office, the decadent Presentation Room, where Lord Pirrie showcased Harland & Wolff’s latest designs for transatlantic passenger liners, and Charles Payne’s office, Managing Director of Harland & Wolff during Titanic’s launch.

Even with three lockdowns during the first five years of trading, revenue at the hotel has increased significantly year on year, and the hotel is now operating with revenue 19% above pre-pandemic levels for overseas visitors, business events, meetings, weddings, dining and overnight accommodation.

Adrian added: “We are all too aware that a hotel stay can be viewed as an indulgence and we are putting measures in place to save on energy consumption and food waste to keep costs down. This will enable us to continue to compete in the marketplace with a focus and commitment to offer our guests an unforgettable experience at Titanic Hotel Belfast.”

John Paul Doherty, Creative Director at Harcourt Developments, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating the fifth birthday of Titanic Hotel Belfast, the jewel of the Maritime Mile. This historic and architecturally unique building was once the nerve centre of the largest shipyard in the world; a location steeped in history. The combined efforts of Harcourt Developments and the team at Titanic Hotel Belfast have created a unique hospitality experience – giving guests the chance to stay in one of the most historically important buildings in Northern Ireland; the very building where Titanic was designed and constructed just a few yards away. We feel we offer an emotionally rich and historically authentic experience unlike anything else in the world. The success of Titanic Hotel Belfast is due in multiple parts, not least from the wonderful service guests enjoy but also due to the curation of artworks and artefacts which are exhibited throughout the hotel. This includes the most recent addition in the Drawing Office Bar, of an original clock from SS Carpathia, the first ship to reach Titanic.”

To reserve a room at Titanic Hotel Belfast, please visit www.titanichotelbelfast.com and follow the hotel on at www.facebook.com/titanichotelbelfast; www.instagram.com/titanichotelbelfast; and www.twitter.com/titanichotelbel.

 

Armagh’s Market Place Theatre is set for some serious songwriting skills when artists Katey Brooks and Anthony Toner take to the stage to showcase their enviable talents.

Katey Brooks is a rebellious artist who resists formula. The powerful songstress defies easy classification, with a sound blending folk, soul, blues and Americana. Her versatility has become one of her biggest assets when lending her voice to different genres and moods. A devastating song-writing talent she is simply ‘not to be missed’ [Time Out]. 

Her most recent album Revolute was released in 2019 to huge critical acclaim across the world including a ‘Best Album of the Year’ credit from music magazine Popdust. Brooks’ vocals have featured on records with Queen’s Brian May, The Rolling Stones’ Bill Wyman, Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason and Paloma Faith. Katey Brooks will perform for one night only on Thursday 6 October. Tickets are priced £14 each.

Anthony Toner returns to The Market Place for an intimate evening of songs and stories, fresh from the release of two brand new albums in 2022. ‘Emperor’ is a completely acoustic collection, revisiting favourite songs from his back catalogue, including ‘Sailortown’, ‘The Road to Fivemiletown’, ‘Well Well Well’ and many more. New release, ‘The Book of Absolution’ continues where the hugely popular album ‘Ink’ left off, featuring personal songs full of insights about the human condition that never fail to strike a chord with listeners.

Between songs, Anthony always shares some hilarious and insightful stories from the road, and is also one of Northern Ireland’s finest guitarists. Anthony Toner will take to the stage on Saturday 8 October. Tickets are priced £15 each, and can be booked through the Box Office on 03300 561 025, or online at www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre

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.

 

An award-winning play, ‘Green & Blue’ tells the story of a developing friendship between an RUC officer and a Garda officer on the border at the height of the Troubles. This is a beautifully written play about what it means to be human in extraordinary circumstances, and what it’s like to be hunted when you’re protecting a man-made line on the ground.

The play stars two of Northern Ireland’s finest actors, James Doran and Vincent Higgins. James Doran plays Garda officer Eddie O’Halloran, originally from West Cork, patrolling the Monaghan side of the border while Vincent Higgins is David McCabe, an RUC officer whose experience of patrolling the Fermanagh side is vastly different from his southern counterpart.

Set in 1994, just before the IRA ceasefire, the pair recount their experiences, taking in the history of the conflict in Ireland, how they joined their respective organisations and the day-to-day life of working in a disputed territory.

The play is laced with humour, insight and lots of touching moments. Despite their different backgrounds, Eddie and David strike up a common bond and begin to learn more about themselves, their similarities as well as their differences. David’s experiences are harrowing, steeped in violence and the threat of violence, while Eddie’s are much more ordinary except for his occasional run-ins with the local IRA commander.

But there is a brooding sense of what happens on one side of the border affects the other side. The two areas share a mutual dependence. With that air of comradeship felt by two people doing the same job, the pair decide to meet in a farmer’s field that straddles the border and find out that the ‘grass is no greener for sure’ on the other side of this invisible divide.

Every line of the play is loaded, each scene redolent of the overall tragedy of Irish history and its wasted lives. These two ordinary men represent all of us and our place in a divided land. It allows us to glimpse the human beings behind the uniform. It eloquently explores the human cost of man-made borders.

‘Green & Blue’ will be staged at Armagh’s Market Place Theatre on Wednesday 21 September at 8pm. Tickets priced £15 and £13 [concession] can be booked online at www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre, or through the Box Office on 03300 561 025. This show is part of the Theatre’s Autumn 22 Drama multibuy offer.

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.

 

Northern Ireland’s premiere Christmas event, Enchanted Winter Garden, is returning to the award -winning Antrim Castle Gardens. In 2021 this Christmas spectacular welcomed a staggering 119K visitors to our Borough. This year’s event will run for from Saturday 26 November until Tuesday 20 December, from 4.30pm – 9.30pm.

Once again as the winter sun sets over Lough Neagh, Antrim Castle Gardens will come to life with a magical Christmas experience for all the family. Dazzling illuminations, artisan food stalls, walkabout characters and star attractions, including the Big Wheel, Helter Skelter and The Wonderland Wood, are all making a welcome return.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy some new attractions at this year’s event including a new and improved Santa’s Grotto, Pixie Path and Whoville Village, which will include the return of fan favourite the Grinch.

 An Evening of Inclusive Enchantment will run on both Wednesday 7 & 14 December with reduced numbers, lighting and sound levels, Sensory & Quiet room, ideal for children and adults with additional needs.

The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Alderman Stephen Ross commented “I am delighted that Enchanted Winter Garden is returning to Antrim Castle Gardens. In 2021 it attracted an incredible 119K visitors to our Borough and I hope this year we can encourage these visitors and more to return.

The event has something for everyone. It is a great way to not only see what Antrim has to offer, but also spend quality time with family and friends over the festive period.”

Tickets for the event are now on sale with tickets priced at £7.50 adult, £5 child, £22 family ticket (2 adults & 2 children) and under 2s free.

This year, to offer a little extra help for families over the festive period, residents from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council will be able to enjoy the event at a reduced price (£6 adult, £4 child, £18 family ticket), which can be claimed at point of sale using your home postcode.

To book visit enchantedwintergarden.com. Our Arts and Culture Customer Hub service, which includes a live chat facility and direct telephone number (T: 0300 123 7788 calls charged at local rate) that can assist with ticket queries if customers are unable to book online. The Customer Hub operates Monday – Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am-5pm.

Light up your Christmas with a visit to Enchanted Winter Garden and make memories with family and friends.

Following on from last year’s success, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is once again planning an out of this world experience for families across Northern Ireland as it launches this year’s Mission Santa event.

Ready to blast off for its third year, the spectacular space pantomime has been created by BNL Productions to get Armagh Observatory and Planetarium’s visitors into the festive spirit.

Along with Marzipan the Elf, visitors to the event will be able to help save Santa from inside mission control during an immersive and theatrical show.

The exciting experience includes access to an exclusive dome show, titled the ‘The Alien who stole Christmas.’ The show will be displayed in the magical star dome theatre, and every child in attendance will receive a present and a printed family photograph.

Education and Outreach Manager at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, Sinéad Mackle, said: “Following on from the resounding success of Mission Santa in 2019 and 2021, we are excited to welcome visitors to the 2022 event.

“This enchanting adventure captures the magical essence of Christmas in a unique experience, harnessing the wonders of space and the drama in a live theatrical show.  The high demand for tickets over the last few years has ensured that Mission Santa is a must-see festive event that children and adults alike will not forget.”

Mission Santa lasts 90 minutes and will run every Saturday and Sunday from 19^th November – 23 December. Pre-booking is essential as places are limited.

There are also a number of relaxed performances and school bookings are available. Tickets are £20 per child and £18 per adult. Tickets can be purchased via www.armagh.space

The 1975 release ‘I’m In Love With You’ – the third track from their highly anticipated forthcoming new album ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’.

 

You can listen to ‘I’m In Love With You’ HERE while you can watch the video, directed by Samuel Bradley, HERE.

 

‘I’m In Love With You’ follows recent releases ‘Happiness’ and ‘Part Of The Band’, the band’s acclaimed comeback single which Pitchfork praised as “the kind of grand, playful pop song that only this band could pull off”.

 

All three tracks will feature on ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’, the band’s fifth studio album, released Friday 14th October via Dirty Hit and available to pre-order now at the1975.com.

 

In support of ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’, the band have also announced details of the UK & Ireland leg of their ‘At Their Very Best’ tour in January 2023. Tickets are available via fan presale from Wednesday 7th September, with tickets then on general sale on Friday 9th September. You can find more information HERE.

 

The 1975 made their long awaited live comeback last month, headlining Japan’s biggest rock festival Summer Sonic 2022 in Tokyo and Osaka before returning for two triumphant homecoming headline slots at Reading & Leeds Festival.

 

The band will hit the road again in November and December for the North American leg of their ‘At Their Very Best’ tour. Tickets are on sale HERE with a number of dates, including New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden, already sold out.

 

Formed in Manchester in 2002, The 1975 have established themselves as one of the defining bands of their generation with their distinctive aesthetic, ardent fanbase and unique sonic approach.

 

The band’s previous album, 2020’s ‘Notes On A Conditional Form’, became their fourth consecutive No. 1 album in the UK, landing at No. 1 in Australia too. The band were named NME’s ‘Band of the Decade’ in 2020 after being crowned ‘Best Group’ at the BRIT Awards in both 2017 & 2019. Their third studio album, ‘A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships’, also won ‘Mastercard British Album of the Year’ at the 2019 ceremony.

 

The 1975 UK & Ireland 2023 Tour Dates:

 

Sun 08/01/23 – Brighton – Brighton Center

Mon 09/01/23 – Bournemouth – Bournemouth International Center

Tue 10/01/23 – Exeter – Westpoint

Thu 12/01/23 – London – The O2

Sun 15/01/23 – Birmingham – Resorts World Arena

Mon 16/01/23 – Cardiff – Motorpoint Arena

Thu 19/01/23 – Glasgow – SSE Hydro

Fri 20/01/23 – Manchester – AO Arena

Sun 22/01/23 – Nottingham – Motorpoint Arena

Mon 23/01/23 – Leeds – First Direct Arena

Weds 25/01/23 – Newcastle – Utilita Arena

Thu 26/01/23 – Liverpool – M&S Bank Arena

Sun 29/01/23 – Dublin – 3Arena

Mon 30/01/23 – Belfast – SSE Arena

​​‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’ Tracklist:

 

1. The 1975
2. Happiness
3. Looking For Somebody (To Love)
4. Part Of The Band
5. Oh Caroline
6. I’m In Love With You
7. All I Need To Hear
8. Wintering
9. Human Too
10. About You
11. When We Are Together

https://the1975.com/

https://twitter.com/the1975

https://www.instagram.com/the1975

https://www.tiktok.com/@the1975

 

www.instagram.com/trumanblack

https://www.instagram.com/bedforddanes75

https://www.instagram.com/1975adam

https://www.instagram.com/rass1975

 

DUE to increased demand, Hastings Hotels and McComb’s Coach Travel have announced new dates for the hugely popular Line of Duty Experience, the original tour of filming locations from the hit TV series, on Saturday 8^th October, 5^th November and 3^rd December.

The Line of Duty Experience, begins with lunch in the Grand Café in the Grand Central Hotel, before an action packed guided tour onboard a luxurious coach, taking in some of the most recognisable filming locations and finishing the afternoon with an AC12 cocktail or Wee Donkey mocktail in the Observatory, Ireland’s tallest cocktail bar. Guests will also receive the Hastings’ Line of Duty duck which has been designed with some of Northern Ireland’s best-known sayings.  

The tour starts at Belfast’s Grand Central Hotel in Bedford Street which is located beside the Invest NI building – the setting for AC-12 HQ. There will be various stops across the City Centre including ‘Pelbury House’ the headquarters of the Central Police force which provided the backdrop of Ted Hastings famous peaked-cap adjustments; ‘Kingsgate Printing Services’, the building used as a front for members of the OCG (Organised Crime Gang); the Lorry Park where Kate shot Ryan Pilkington before doing a runner with Jo Davidson in Series 6 and of course the iconic Subway location, the favourite meeting point for Steve and Kate to have their secret rendezvous, and perhaps the most striking spot to get that LOD selfie!

There’ll be the chance to visit the sites of some of the most memorable car chases including the crash from Series 6 when DC Chloe and DI Arnott had been transporting Jimmy Lakewell from prison to AC-12 HQ to interrogate him when the police convoy was attacked by the OCG as well as the bridge where DI Fleming dramatically fired an assault riffle at a fleeing four-wheel drive, killing her dodgy partner and crime gang mole, Dot Cotton.

Other filming locations on the tour include Brentiss Prison which viewers watched prisoners being escorted to, including Detective Superintendent Jo Davidson after her arrest; Tresco Storage, the company used in Series 3 by Danny Waldron to store the decapitated head of Linus Murphy which was later discovered by Steve; and who could forget the incident in the opening episode of Series 6 that first made viewers suspect that DCI Davidson was a bent copper, when enroute to raid the address of a suspect in the murder of Gail Vella Hickies, she redirected the convoy to Hickey’s Bookmakers for what she ‘suspected’ was an armed robbery.

The Line of Duty Experience is £65pp and to book go to www.mccombscoaches.com or call 028 9086 6162.