This Saturday night, 26 August, The 4 of Us will perform at Portico in Portaferry as part of the popular Lough Lively Sessions.

Listed in TV3’s Top 10 Best Irish Bands of All Time, The 4 of Us have been a steadfast part of Irish music for over 25 years.

In their critically acclaimed two-man show, brothers Brendan and Declan Murphy blend contemporary roots with rock; melodic songs and interweaving acoustic guitars, propelled by a stomp box rhythm.

The 4 Of Us shot to early fame in 1989 with their debut Songs for the Tempted, which featured the massive hits Mary and Drag My Bad Name Down. Sugar Island, their latest album, explores the Murphy brother’s early years growing up in a border town during the height of the troubles in Northern Ireland.

This is an evening of music not to be missed!

Tickets cost £10 and are on sale now  at www.visitardsandnorthdown.com or www.porticoards.com. Show time is 7.30pm.

Still to come at the Lough Lively Sessions in Portico are; Saffyre and Rapparees – book early to avoid disappointment.

The Lough Lively music events are supported by Ards and North Down Borough Council and The Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

Enhanced public transport options will ensure visitors to Air Waves Portrush enjoy a first class journey this year.

Organised by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council with support from Tourism NI and a range of local sponsors, it is one of the most anticipated annual events across the Causeway Coast and Glens region.

Huge crowds are expected to descend on the resort on Saturday 2^nd September and Sunday 3^rd September for the spectacular free air show, and Translink is encouraging people to make full use of its bus and train services which offer convenience and value-for-money. A Family & Friends Ticket, for up to two adults and four children provides unlimited bus and train day travel for just £22 while throughout September, Goldline, Ulsterbus and NI Railways passengers can avail of a third off day return travel, after 9.30am.

Translink is also operating a free park and ride shuttle bus service between the event car park on Ballywillan Road and the Curran Gate public access point on Causeway Street from 9am-7pm on both days. Portrush railway line services will be enhanced including connections to/from Derry~Londonderry along with additional rail shuttle services between Coleraine and Portrush. Visitors travelling from Portrush to Portstewart for the Air Waves Portstewart Saturday night entertainment are encouraged to use the 140 bus service running at normal times. Additional capacity will be added to scheduled services and the enhanced summer train timetable between Coleraine and Portrush will be in operation.

This year’s Air Waves event promises an enhanced visitor experience with the hockey pitch in Portrush transformed into a dedicated event village area. It brings together a range of food vendors, stalls and children’s amusements. East Strand (Village South) will host the Lancaster Lodge hospitality marquee, Ulster Aviation Society, Car Village and STEM Village whilst Lansdowne (Village North) will host the Naturally North Coast and Glens Artisan Market, the Cadets Core, fun zone and trade stands. Public access to the event site will be from Curran Gate and Sand Dune Terrace along Causeway Street.

Ramore Head will be closed over both days from 11am – 6pm to accommodate helicopter landings while East Strand beach will be closed from the Burn to Curran Point along with Arcadia Beach.

For a first class experience, tickets are still available for the ever popular Silver Wings Chalet (over 18 only) located at the Salmon Fisheries. Set directly under the central flight line of action, guests can enjoy an exclusive opportunity to meet the pilots, allocated car parking, a tailored buffet lunch with afternoon refreshments and a cash bar. Or why not relax in the outdoor enclosure and browse through a complimentary souvenir programme. This year, guests can avail of FREE whiskey tasting with Bushmills Distillery (Saturday only) and a chance to win some bespoke prizes, all for the special price of £65 per person, per day.

For more information go to www.airwavesportrush.co.uk. For further details about Translink visit www.translink.co.uk or call 028 9066 6630.

To find out more about what is happening across the Borough go to www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com or call 028 7034 4723.

This year’s City of Derry International Choir Festival has announced the final line-up of guest artists for its autumn event, due to take place 25 to 29 October.

In addition to the world-class vocal ensemble Tenebrae, announced earlier this year, the festival will open its doors with Swedish a cappella sensation The Real Group on Wednesday 25 October in St. Columb’s Hall. Known world-wide for their vocal exploration of jazz, pop and folk music, the group has become one of the cornerstones of the modern a cappella genre and has toured internationally for more than 30 years with the voice as their sole instrument.

The festival will also see the second outing of its Festival Chorus, a massed choir made up of members of every choir in the city and local singing enthusiasts, who will come together for a special performance of John Rutter’s Gloria, joined by the Ulster University Chamber Choir and award-winning Codetta. The 100-strong choir will be accompanied by internationally-regarded organist Catherine Ennis, brass and percussion in the stunning surroundings of the Guildhall on Thursday 26 October.

After audiences are wowed by choral masters Tenebrae in St. Columb’s Hall on Friday 27 October, the festival will host a late-night event in The Glassworks featuring ‘atmosfolk’ duo Saint Sister, Morgan MacIntyre and Derry native Gemma Doherty, with their mix of soulful vocal harmonies, dreamy synth and electro-acoustic harp.

Ciaran Scullion, Head of Music for Arts Council Northern Ireland, principle funder of the festival, commented, “The City of Derry International Choir Festival has quickly established an international reputation as a major celebration of the choral tradition with an impressive 60 choirs  taking part in the 2016 festival, reaching total audiences of 15,000. This year sees yet another impressive programme featuring professional, world-class, award-winning choirs alongside local and national choirs from the UK and Ireland.  In only 4 years, the festival has achieved excellent artistic profile, demonstrated significant benefits to the local economy, engaged the communities of Derry-Londonderry and put Northern Ireland on the world map for all the right reasons.”

With such an eclectic and spectacular line-up of guest artists, the festival is sure to feature something for every taste in music and tickets are now on sale for all events via the Millennium Forum.

For all festival information and updates visit www.derrychoirfest.com

It’s hard to believe the summer holidays are almost over, but no end of summer would be complete without the annual Bluegrass Picnic.

This is the finale to eight weeks of super summer Sundays so come down and spend your bank holiday Sunday in the beautiful setting of Ward Park, soaking up the sounds of American Bluegrass.

Chicago’s Henhouse Prowlers may have the traditional Bluegrass line-up of fiddle, banjo, guitar, stand-up bass and mandolin, but they do things in their own unique style. From lightning-fast picking to sentimental ballads, The Prowlers combine outstanding musical virtuosity with an energetic live performance – The Prowlers’ live show leaves no one wanting.

This is a great afternoon to pack a picnic, grab your friends and chill out, listening to great tunes this Sunday between 2:30-5pm.

This is a FREE event.  Please note that Ward Park is an alcohol-free zone. All events are weather dependent and therefore subject to change. This year’s music programme is in association with Open House Festival.

Lookout in local press each week for details on each artist or for more information phone Bangor Visitor Information Centre on 028 9127 0069 or visit visitardsandnorthdown.com

Open Mic Night at the Alley Theatre will return to the Alley Theatre this Thursday, 24^th August, featuring an almighty line up and guest host, Gary Elliott.

Locals acts including; Shonagh Forbes, Paul O’Doherty, Juno Hassan, Glen Harkin, Dean Maywood, Jay Jane Kens, Jimmy Tinney, Amy O’Neill, Ruairi McCafferty and The Elliott Duo Band, will take to the stage and showcase their amazing talents to an open audience.

Jacqui Doherty, Venue Manager of the Alley Theatre said: “This is a real opportunity for local artists to not only perform in the intimate Alley Bar but to also try out their new material on the music loving audience. The evening will be joy to all music lovers and is a perfect way to relax with family and friends. The variety of talent we will have on the night, with music styles ranging from folk, pop, country and acoustic music, will ensure everyone is entertained.”

Gary Elliott, host of the Open Mic Night at the Alley added: “This is now the second open mic night at the theatre, since the beginning of summer. After the success of the first open mic night, we knew we just had to hold another. The crowd was amazing and the talent was just spectacular first time round so we’ve decided to make it a regular thing. I’m therefore pleased to now confirm that the open mic nights will continue throughout the autumn, with three dates planned on 5^th October, 16^th November, and 21^st December. Anyone who would like to take part, please get in touch as we would love to have you perform.”

Open Mic Night at the Alley Theatre will take place on Thursday 24^th August. Doors open from 7.15pm with music beginning at 8.00pm. Tickets cost £3.00 and are available online at www.alley-theatre.com, via telephone on 028 7138 4444 or at the door on the evening (tickets will be limited). If you would like to take part in any of the open mic nights, contact Jacqueline Doherty on 028 7188 4760. Keep up to date on all events via the Alley Theatre Facebook and Twitter pages.

Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre in Limavady will host children’s classic ‘Alice Through The Looking Glass’ on Tuesday 22^nd August at 12pm.

Perfect for and families and Alice in Wonderland fans, the performance by Quantam Theatre depicts the adventures of Alice through her mirror into a strange, unknown world. Children can follow Alice’s fantastical trail as she travels across a chess board until she is finally crowned as the queen.

Packed full of Lewis Carroll’s most memorable and enduring characters, Michael Whitmore’s delightful adaption captures the charm of the original story with a modern twist.

To book tickets or to find out more information, please contact Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre on 028 7776 0650 or visit www.roevalleyarts.com

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Maolíosa McHugh is inviting everyone to a free ‘Family Fun Day’ at the Foyle Arena on Friday 25^th August.

The fun day will benefit and help raise awareness and funds for the Mayors’ chosen charity – AWARE. The charity offers a range of support services and programmes to help and educate people on depression. The Mayor said the fun day was a great way to show support for the charity and an opportunity to provide a fun day out for families in one Council’s finest leisure and event arenas. He added: “The ‘Family Fun Day’ will be a great day out. Parents and their children are invited to come along from 2.00 – 5.00pm to enjoy the activities.

“There is so much planned for the day that will keep the children entertained for hours. Activities will include; face painting, glitter tattoos, bouncy castles, a bouncy castle obstacle course, a photo booth, kid’s carousel, free wall climbing and £1 swims!

“I am very pleased to be in my position as Mayor to host this event and I would like to ask anyone attending to support my chosen charity AWARE, by making a small donation to the charity. Representatives from AWARE will be there on the day promoting the fantastic work they do and answering any questions you many have about their work.”

In addition to the ‘Mayor’s Family Fun Day’, the Foyle Arena is one of a number of Council leisure facilities currently offering a range of summer activities for kids including; swims, squash, badminton, all for just £1 until the end of August.

“I hope families from throughout the city and district and our visitors will come along and take part in the fun filled day of free entertainment at the arena. Kids should be encouraged to be active and outdoors during the good weather and taking part in these events could be the encouragement they need to get out there and get active. Leave the television and laptops at home for a day and take in the fresh air at St. Columb’s Park and enjoy the entertainment on offer at the Foyle Arena.” He added.

Margaret McCrossan of AWARE said, “We really appreciate this support and I would like to thank the Mayor for choosing AWARE as his charity. Our trained volunteers and support groups work with people with depression and bipolar disorders as well as their carer’s. We also deliver information outreach sessions to communities, schools, universities and workplaces and provide support for those in need. Fundraising effort such as this help us to keep going and provide these much needed services. We shall be at the Foyle Area throughout the day to join in the fun activities and provide advice and information on what we can offer.”

The Mayor’s Fun Day takes place on Friday 25^th August from 2-5pm at the Foyle Arena. Further details on leisure and sports activities and facilities throughout Derry and Strabane is available at www.derrystrabane.com.

Come and enjoy a very different experience this Sunday 20^th August as Ards and North Down Borough Council’s David Kirk switches roles.

David spends Monday to Friday supervising the gardens in the Borough and making sure they are beautifully kept with a dazzling array of flowers.  This Sunday David will transform into a punk musician with Wasted Talent.

David – ‘can’t wait to perform in his local park’ – he regularly attends the Sunday music sessions and has been looking forward to this opportunity all summer.

He said ‘our music appeals to all age groups – we will be playing two hours of classic punk music from The Clash, The Jam, Sex Pistols, The Ramones, Stiff Little Fingers, Rudi, and many more – so spike up your hair and don’t miss out!’

Sunday afternoon’s performance will take park-goers on a trip down memory lane to their punk hey-day – a new departure for Ward Park!

If you fancy spending an afternoon in the great outdoors, enjoying top class live music, then pack a picnic and don’t miss it! The free event takes place this Sunday from 3 – 5pm.

Please note that Ward Park is an alcohol-free zone. All events are weather dependent and therefore subject to change. This year’s music programme is being provided by Open House Festival.

Keep an eye out in local press each week for details on each artist or for more information phone Bangor Visitor Information Centre on 028 9127 0069 or visit:

www.visitardsandnorthdown.com