Dublin five piece The Riot Tapes announce their return to Northern Ireland

The band will play Auntie Annie’s in Belfast on Thursday 2^nd of February (support TBA) and Sandino’s Back Room in Derry on Friday 3^rd of February with special guest Paul Casey.

Click HERE to win tickets!

Formed in late 2009, The Riot Tapes are: Chris O’Brien, Elaine Doyle, Tim Clarke, Robert Crosbie and Graham Dunne.

The band released the single ‘Photograph’ in Ireland in April 2011 and it went straight in at number five on the Irish download charts. The Riot Tapes have since become a live favourite in Dublin, headlining and packing venues like Whelan’s, The Workman’s Club and The Grand Social.

This year The Riot Tapes went into the studio to begin work on their much anticipated debut studio album which is due for release early next year.

In October the band featured heavily on The Apprentice. ‘Photograph’ was also used for the advertising for the series on national television. The Riot Tapes even made an appearance during one of the episodes when the teams were given a task to find the best in Irish music – The Riot Tapes were even chosen by both teams!

During their previous visit to the North the band played a fabulous set at Sandino’s in Derry at which Bronagh Gallagher (singer and actress – Star Wars, Pulp Fiction, The Commitments, etc) made a surprise guest appearance.

The Riot Tapes returned to the Grand Social in December to play a special event called ‘Fighting Chance’. The gig was broadcast worldwide on the internet and was hosted by legendary broadcaster and music journalist Dave Fanning. The band were also invited to play as special guests to Ham Sandwich at their homecoming gig in Kells last month and then went on to be added as support at the Ham Sandwich New Year’s Eve Party in the Village.

‘Photograph’ has been receiving lots of radio air play nationwide since its release and the band are a must see live act.

This winter, it was clear to be seen that the weather was milder than previous years, but for the snowdrops at The Argory and Springhill, it’s been a little confusing! The skies have been clear and as the sun comes out, so do the snowdrops, over a week earlier than usual.

This weekend, The Argory, near Moy and Springhill House, Moneymore will open a week earlier than planned so that visitors can experience every moment of these beautiful little flowers. Carpets of snowdrops will line the many walks around the properties; their bright, white nodding heads peeping through the undergrowth that bring with them a breath of fresh air and a sign that spring it on its way.

The small, white, bell-shaped flowers are always a welcome sight as winter draws to a close. Snowdrops are brave little flowers and the colder the weather, the longer they will last, with some flowering into March. Not only are the snowdrops brave enough to cope with whatever the weather throws at them, they are also the masters of subtlety. Their blue-grey spears have perforated the damp earth and the shoots have expanded and released their delicate, dangling green and white bells.

Come and meet these intrepid little flowers and enjoy an invigorating walk around The Argory and Springhill. Treat yourself to a hot drink in Springhill’s Servants’ Hall Tea Room or the newly renovated and eagerly awaited Courtyard Coffee Shop at The Argory; snug, warm and full of home baked produce. Don’t miss the opportunity to pick up an essential read in the second hand bookshops and treat yourself to something nice in the new and improved Argory gift shop, bulging with shelves full of new stock!

The Argory will be open on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 January and every Saturday and Sunday in February from 12 – 5pm daily. Springhill will be open on Sunday 29 Jan and every Sunday in February from 1-5pm daily.

For further information please contact the Argory on 028.8778 4753 or Springhill on 028 8674 8210.

BAFTA award-winning children’s television company Sixteen South, is searching for up-and-coming puppeteering talent to join their team and attend a workshop with a leading puppeteer.

Colin Williams, Creative Director and Executive Producer, Sixteen South, said: “We’re offering the opportunity of a lifetime for six talented people who have a real passion for puppetry to be trained by one of The Jim Henson Company’s lead puppeteers, Victor Yerrid.

“Outstanding workshop participants will be offered a paid position of Assistant Puppeteer on the production team of Pajanimals, which starts shooting on 27th February in Belfast for 10 weeks.

“You don’t need any previous television experience, although you must have a real passion for the art of puppetry and be over 18 to apply. We’re looking for someone who can truly bowl us over with their enthusiasm.”

The free workshop will be held on Wednesday 8th February at Sixteen South and for a chance to attend, applicants should send their CV with a one page description of why they should have one of the six places. Applicants can also send clips of previous work and deadline for receipt of application materials is Wednesday 25th January at noon. Shortlisted entrants will be interviewed on Tuesday 31st January.

Victor Yerrid‘s credits include: Bear in the Big Blue House, Sesame Street, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Team America, Just Like Heaven, Men In Black II, Robot Chicken, The Sarah Silverman Program, Crank Yankers, Angel, Drawn Together, Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars, Greg The Bunny, Between The Lions, Sid The Science Kid – and of course Pajanimals, the new pre-school show made in partnership with The Jim Henson Company, Sprout and Sixteen South.

For further information, contact Julie Gardner by email: julie@sixteensouth.tv, by telephone on 028 9024 4675 (option 3) or by post to Puppeteer Workshop, Sixteen South Television, 7-11 Linenhall Street, Belfast BT2 8AA.

All media enquiries to:
Nicola Bothwell, Sixteen South on 07590 606727 or nicola@sixteensouth.tv

National Trust 2012 Science Show hosted by Lagan College, Saturday 28 January 11am-5pm, is guaranteed to amaze and excite the whole family with workshops and hands on activity from National Trust, Armagh Planetarium and GRAHAM Construction.

Marvel at the amazing show in the StarDome portable Planetarium, with a presenter from the Armagh Planetarium.

Be inspired by National Trust’s Geology Rocks, with the Divis and Black Mountain Warden, Go Wild Workshops, Go Potty Planting, Buzzing about with a Gardener and why not even meet the traditional Spade Maker.

Awe at the Flashes, Bangs and Explosions, fun in the science department with Lagan College and make building fun with Demos with Graham Construction.

Angela Watson, Visitor Services Manager from National Trust’s Belfast Properties, said:

“This is the first time we have held an event of this nature and we are delighted to be working in partnership with the local community, in particular, Lagan College, Armagh Planetarium & Graham Construction, who are all keen in getting kids interested in science.”

Nuala Griffiths, Community Liaison Officer, GRAHAM Construction, added:

“GRAHAM Construction is  pleased to support this very worthwhile event and to work in partnership with the National Trust, Lagan College and the Armagh Planetarium to help create more awareness on the importance of science in the working world”.

There is a small charge of £2 per adults and under 16’s are free, so pop along and get involved in making Science fun!

Follow us on www.facebook.com/belfastproperties and www.nationatrust.org.uk/ni

Widely regarded as one of the greatest musicals of all time, The King and I recently embarked on a National Tour and this brand new production arrives at the Grand Opera House on Tuesday 31 January.

Seen by millions of people across the world since it was first performed in 1951, when it was showered with awards and became the blockbuster Hollywood movie, its glorious soundtrack is still a bestseller today.

Roger and Hammerstein’s mesmerising classic blends, music, drama, dance and a heart-warming tale. Told using one of the most beautiful scores ever written with sweeping melodies such as ‘Shall We Dance’, ‘I Whistle A Happy Tune’, ‘Hello Young Lovers’, ‘The March of the Siamese Children’ and the unforgettable ‘Getting To Know You’.

Sumptuous costume and set design akin to the decorative masterpiece of the Grand Opera House auditorium, this highly professional production, from the Curve Theatre Leicester, has a local feel with talented youngsters from across Northern Ireland playing the King of Siam’s children.

Ramon Tikaram and Josefina Gabrielle take on the roles of the King of Siam and Anna, and local schoolchildren appear in the show after auditioning pre Christmas. The Grand Opera House hosted open auditions as part of its Education and Outreach Programme which sees local schoolchildren have the chance to participate in, be rehearsed and perform in fully professional productions on the Grand Opera House stage.

The King and I is at the Grand Opera House from Tuesday 31 January until Saturday 4 February. Tickets range between £15.00 – £31.00 and are available from the Box Office on 028 9024 1919, online at www.goh.co.uk or from the Box Office in the Theatre foyer.

2012 is kicking off where 2011 finished! Following 2 successful support slots at sold out shows for Black Stone Cherry in Belfast and Dublin, and playing The O2 in London, where they closed one of the nights of the December Sessions Festival, Northern Irish band Trucker Diablo are pleased to announce Kerrang TV and Radio have picked up the single Drink Beer, Destroy.

Kerrang Radio has already been playing the song, and now Kerrang TV have confirmed the video will be aired on their channel on Sky/Freeview etc. The band have dates in the UK lined up for February and March including the Metal Hammer organised Hammerfest, where they will share the bill with the likes of Anthrax! Prior to that, this Saturday sees the band celebrate the US launch of their album The Devil Rhythm, with a Belfast show in Ma Nelsons.

Ricky Warwick –Thin Lizzy
“One of the best new bands from Northern Ireland!!

Cormac Nesson –The Answer

“Great album guys..Refreshingly honest Northern Irish rock n roll”

Joe Elliot- Def Leppard

“Absolutely Rockin stuff”

Classic Rock Magazine (Featured on April Edition 2011: Track 14)

This track has a huge groove that owes something to the Almighty and Thin Lizzy

Dom Lawson – Metal Hammer
“Excellent arse-kicking rawk action!”

Andy King –Total Rock
“Sounds like an anthem to youth, drinking and err… destroying! Aaah I remember those days!!

Catch up with the guys online at:

www.facebook.com/truckerdiablo
www.twitter.com/truckerdiablo
www.truckerdiablo.com
www.ripple-music.com

Following two superb shows in Ireland last summer Ryan Adams has announced two intimate fully seated solo acoustic shows in Dublin and Belfast this April.

The dates will see the North Carolina musician perform at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre and The Waterfront Hall, Belfast. Ryan Adams released his 13^th studio album Ashes & Fire last October on his own label Pax AM records. Recorded with producer Glyn Johns (Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones), the album was a Top 10 hit in both the US and UK album charts.

TICKET INFORMATION

Thursday 19 April:           Olympia Theatre, Dublin

Tickets priced from €44.05 inclusive of booking fee

Friday 20 April:                 Waterfront Hall, Belfast

Tickets priced from £30.00 inclusive of booking fee

Waterfront Booking Line: 028 9033 4400
Buy online: www.waterfront.co.uk

Tickets for both shows are available from Ticketmaster:

In person: from 100 Ticketmaster outlets nationwide
24hr hotlines: Tel: ( ROI ) 0818 719 300 / ( NI ) 0870 243 4455
Buy online: www.Ticketmaster.ie

Tickets for Ryan Adams are on sale this Friday, 20 January at 9am.

A number of free business events for small businesses and retailers will be taking place in the city in the New Year, organised by Belfast City Council.

Local retailers will benefit from a number of free retail masterclasses which will be running until March. The council will also be supporting the sector through the organising of `Belfast Independent Retail Week’ from 5-11 March which will celebrate independent retailing in the city, through a week-long series of workshops, events and promotions.

Retail masterclass `The Customer is Always Right versus the Customer is Always First!` will take place in the City East building in east Belfast this evening, allowing businesses to find out what constitutes good customer service and after care.

Other masterclasses in January, February and March will look at the importance of branding for retailers; why retailers should be trading online and using social networking to promote their business; and how loyalty schemes and promotions really drive volume and generate repeat business.

Local businesses can also benefit from a number of upcoming BEN (Belfast Entrepreneurs Network) events in the New Year, facilitated by the council.

A Speed Networking Event, jointly organised with Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce, will take place in the City Hall (Great Hall) on Tuesday 24 January where small businesses can meet new contacts and spread the word about their business.

Entrepreneurs in the city will also learn how to use PR to promote their business at another BEN event on Thursday 9 February at Belfast Exposed in Donegall Street. While they can learn how to say a positive ‘no’ to their customer’s demands without losing the business at a further BEN event on Thursday 8 March at the Ridgeway Room in the Lyric Theatre. All of the BEN events start at 6pm following registration and food at 5.30pm.

Belfast Independent Retail Week will be taking place from 5-11 March and will celebrate the range and quality of independent retail in the city as well as highlight the quality neighbourhood shopping and unique retail experiences available in Belfast to local people and visitors.

For further information on Belfast Independent Retail Week and the free business events and masterclasses organised by the council, go to the council website www.belfastcity.gov.uk/business

The Grand Opera House’s Giant of a pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk is enthralling audiences with its magical 3D effects, fabulous song and dance routines for every member of the family and a more talented cow than even David Attenborough knows about.

Following the story of adventurous Jack Trott, played by Aidan O’Neill and his Mother Dame May McFettridge Trott, the fairytale has more thrills and spills than you can shake a bag of magic beans at.

Add Paddy Jenkins as the dottery King Crumble and local beauty Tanya Shields as his darling daughter Princess Apricot and the seeds are sown for a beautiful romance to occur.

Don’t miss the chance to see this fantastic tale told with wondrous sets, lavish costumes and magical 3D sequences at the Grand Opera House.

Jack and the Beanstalk runs until Saturday 21^st January, with evening and matinee performances available. Tickets start at £11.00 and can be purchased via telephone on 028 9024 1919, online at www.goh.co.uk or by visiting our Box Office located in the Theatre foyer.

One of Northern Ireland’s most innovative new businesses has teamed up with Pubs of Ulster in an effort to promote the hospitality trade in the run up to Christmas.

My Tour Talk which is endorsed by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board is set to roll out its new app technology to provide users with insider information on up to 20 Belfast-based pubs and up to 50 additional bars in the free listing directory. Pubs of Ulster, the representative body of the pub trade in Northern Ireland, is backing the product as it has the potential to bring a welcome boost to hospitality businesses during the festive period.

Available on both iPhone and Android devices the app allows the user to listen to helpful ‘local’ information on each pub in the tour such as its speciality drink, best times to visit as well as the more traditional information about the history of the venue. It should prove attractive to tourists visiting the city because once downloaded they will not incur additional roaming charges by continuously dipping in and out and the GPS mapping system will recognise where the user is in the city and direct them to the nearest pub on the tour.

My Tour Talk is already proving a hit in industry circles since being established18 months ago by winning a competition funded by NITB and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, and being shortlisted for the Travel and Tourism App of the Year2011 and more recently being the Northern Irish winner of the IntertradeIreland Seedcorn competition.

Jamie Hanna of My Tour Talk said, “The Belfast Pub Tour is one of a range of apps we have developed in the past year. We are confident in the overall user experience as we carried out extensive research with bar owners to ensure the content is interesting and professional local actors keep the quality of the audio at a high standard. We are delighted with the recognition the apps are receiving and look forward to building on this partnership with Pubs of Ulster together with our endorsement from NITB further cements our position in the local tourism industry.”

Chief Executive Colin Neill said, “The local pub trade has become an increasingly important part of our local tourist offering, with visiting a pub rated by tourists as the most popular activity when taking a break in Northern Ireland.  It is clear that pubs play a vital role in the overall visitor experience and any initiative that helps boost this is greatly welcomed by the pub industry.  The Belfast Pub Tour apps are a unique and innovative way of doing this and have the potential to increase customer footfall in pubs in Belfast during what will hopefully be a busy Christmas trading period.  We look forward to working further with My Tour Talk and exploring more innovative opportunities for pubs across Northern Ireland.”

The Belfast Pub Tour App is available on iTunes or by visiting www.mytourtalk.com.  Watch the video…