Starting this month, the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium has launched a series of Legendary Telescopes Tours. The tour takes you on a journey through the Armagh Observatory, giving you a fascinating insight into see its historic telescopes.
Armagh Observatory opened in 1790 and is now a Grade A listed heritage building in which astronomers still undertake fundamental research, and the oldest observatory in the UK and Ireland continuously in use for its original purpose. Inside the Observatory there are four generations of historic telescopes that remain in their original settings, as well as one modern telescope still used today.
Each tour is undertaken by an expert guide who will tell you about these telescopes and how they were used for pioneering science in their day.
Heather Alexander, Senior Education Officer at Armagh Planetarium and Observatory says: “Our new Legendary Telescopes Tours provides a great opportunity for people to gain a wider understanding around the work our astronomers today continue to carry out on site. We have a vast amount of unique stories to share and discover along the way. You can get your picture taken with the Grubb 10 inch and get up close and personal with the century-old Calver telescope.
“We hope these new tours will extend our visitor experience and demonstrate how much history is housed here. Plus, how the history of tomorrow is still actively being discovered and defined here in Armagh.”
Tours are running now until the 5th of September with an exclusive summer rate of £15pp. Groups are limited to 5 people plus 1 tour guide. Extras include 20% off products in Café and 10% off selected products in the Gift Shop. Book tours today via: https://www.armagh.space
The Get Wet Campaign, which kicked off this summer, is an initiative designed to get more people into watersports across Northern Ireland and encourage participants to join local water sports clubs.
The campaign has seen a range of water sport clubs based all over Northern Ireland offering local people an opportunity to ‘Have a Go’ in a variety of water sports for free or at a significantly reduced cost!
From a 5-day Sailing Summer Scheme by East Antrim Boat Club; yachting for beginners delivered by Rodger’s Quay in Carrickfergus; to St Ayles Skiff Rowing for Beginners in Killyleagh Harbour, there is something for everyone, catering for all abilities. More events launching in September.
Speaking on the campaign, Mike McClure from SportNI said: “With people looking for ways to improve their physical and mental health, water sports such as stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, open water swimming and recreational sailing have all seen a sharp increase in take up since restrictions have eased.
“This campaign is a fantastic opportunity to try out a water sport for the first time in a friendly environment under the guidance of competent coaches and instructors, and subsequently find out how you can continue to enjoy it by becoming part of a local club. It aims to encourage sustained local participation and to raise awareness of the amazing water-based recreation opportunities in Northern Ireland.
“The events offered as part of this campaign are suitable for anyone looking to get into a water sport in their area. No experience is necessary, and we have seen more and more people not traditionally associated with water sports dipping their toe into these fantastic sports.”
Some events are subject to minimum or maximum requirements specified by the event organiser: e.g., age, health, height, or weight. This is outlined in the information provided in the ‘Suitability’ section of each event. It is the participant’s responsibility to ensure they conform to the minimum requirements.
Get Wet is funded by SportNI with support from a range of water based National Governing Bodies (NGBs). The NGBs involved in this campaign are the Canoe Association of Northern Ireland, the Royal Yachting Association Northern Ireland, British Sub Aqua Club Ireland, Angling NI, Rowing Ireland, Irish Kite Surfing Association, and the Irish Water ski and Wakeboarding Federation.
The 2021 campaign is funded by Sport NI’s Build Back Better Project: Re-boot.
Thursday 19 August 2021: Derry City is warming up for the sensational return of the City of Derry International Choir Festival (CoDICF) in October when an unrivalled programme of events – including Grammy award-winners and exclusive global premier performances – will fill halls, churches and homes with world class, choral entertainment.
This special festival runs live and virtually from Wednesday 20 October until Sunday 24 October. Headline acts include the internationally acclaimed all-male chorus Chanticleer and award-winning vocal ensemble Tenebrae.
Celebrating its ninth successful year, the Festival has been carefully planned to include a synchronised mix of in-person and virtual events throughout the city as part of an immersive programme of live and digital concerts, performances, workshops, podcasts, and other events.
Over five full days, audiences will experience the elation of live music once again with a variety of exciting performances in various venues across the city, including the historic St Columb’s Cathedral, and the inspiring surroundings of the centuries-old St Columba’s Church, Long Tower.
This year’s Festival kicks off with the Opening Gala Concert on Wednesday 20 October featuring members of the Ulster Orchestra with local choirs and singers performing The Voyage. Composed and conducted by world-famous choral director Bob Chilcott, The Voyage is a deeply emotive orchestral and vocal composition depicting the voyage through life and how we come to terms with the challenges it brings.
The gala concert also introduces a brand-new Festival commission for chorus and orchestra by Northern Ireland creative production company, Dumbworld.
Thursday 21 October marks the return of the award-winning Derry chamber choir Codetta, promising to be a major highlight for the 2021 programme as they perform The Road Home in Long Tower Church with Derry cellist Kim Vaughan.
The concert includes a world premiere of newly commissioned work by Irish composer Eoghan Desmond chosen in partnership with The Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland, as part of the year-long Colmcille 1500 celebratory programme, coordinated by Derry City and Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council.
School performances will be back with a non-competitive format for primary years encouraging children and teachers to take part in the fun and community-spirited Primary Big Sing event in Millennium Forum on Thursday 21 October.
This day of singing will include a workshop led by music education expert Lucinda Geoghegan featuring songs, games and rhymes, and a specially composed piece for young voices by leading Catalan composer and conductor, Josep Vila i Casañas. Post-primary schools will return for a day of competitions and a senior Big Sing on Friday 22 October.
The Festival is also hopeful that choirs throughout the island of Ireland will return for a day of competitions in various categories including mixed voice, equal voice, youth, sacred, pop, jazz and gospel, culminating in the brand-new Choir of the Festival competition.
Friday 22 October the Festival welcomes a return visit from the UK vocal ensemble Tenebrae for a live performance in St Columb’s Cathedral. The critically acclaimed, award-winning choir is one of the world’s leading vocal ensembles famous for its passion and precision, led by its musical director and founder, Nigel Short.
The Festival’s online programme features this year’s headline virtual act, the Grammy award-winning all-male a cappella ensemble Chanticleer from San Francisco, California. They will be making their virtual debut at the Festival on Thursday 21 October with a live Zoom workshop and a bespoke recorded concert.
Renowned internationally as ‘the orchestra of voices,’ Chanticleer was founded in 1978 and remain as the ‘world’s reigning male chorus,’ performing stunning concerts to every corner of the world.
The Virtual Choral Trail returns with the inclusion of local, national and international choirs. Following a hugely successful online-only festival last year, which generated an unprecedented 250,000 views from 50 countries worldwide, choirs and ensembles can take part by submitting their best performance through the Festival website to secure their place in the 2021 online programme.
Online audiences will also enjoy the sounds of previous international winners of the Festival in a special virtual concert, as well as a series of podcasts with guest artists and a virtual symposium on the theme of words, music and composition.
Welcoming this year’s programme of events, the festival’s Artistic Director, Dónal Doherty, said:
“There is a real sense of hope among singers everywhere that we will soon be able to return to regular rehearsals and performances. Singing together is our life-blood and this shared experience has been sorely missed over the past 18 months. We cannot wait to perform together again, or to enjoy the performance of other groups, whether outdoors or in one of the beautiful indoor venues that we’ll be using for this year’s festival.”
Dónal shares how in-person and virtual events has created a new dynamic to the festival’s programme:
“The extraordinary success of last year’s virtual festival has given us the confidence to present an exciting and varied programme for Festival 2021. Derry is a very welcoming city and we look forward to an even bigger global audience, either in person or online, being able to share in and enjoy this year’s five-day celebration of song.”
The 2021 Festival is supported by Arts Council Northern Ireland, the Department for Communities, Derry & Strabane District Council, Donegal County Council, Tourism Northern Ireland, Community Foundation Northern Ireland, Inner City Trust, the Irish American Partnership and Caldwell & Robinson Solicitors.
Immersive and thought provoking installation forms CNB21 offering
The creative team behind this year’s Culture Night Belfast installation have revealed ambitious plans to create a vast structural, lighting and sound show that will fill the Cathedral Quarter’s Writer’s Square next month.
Belfast artist Gawain Morrison and his team will turn Writer’s Square into The Ogham Grove, a monumental, immersive sculpture and accompanying digital trail which will create a whole new experience for Belfast. Susan Picken, director of Culture Night Belfast and the Cathedral Quarter Trust, said the plans Gawain has presented are “spectacular” and will “provide a very unique experience to each person who visits throughout the weekend”.
She added: “Gawain and his team of artists will transform Writer’s Square with a totally innovative and spectacular artwork that will invite visitors to explore the relationship with our native woodlands and the environment.
The Ogham Grove really tapped into our concern for the environment and the devastating impact of climate change. It also restates our commitment to support and work with our incredible cultural and creative sectors here in NI.
This is a significant moment for CNB, not only is this our first large-scale artists’ commission but it also signals an exciting new format for the event as we move forward.”
The concept for The Ogham Grove takes inspiration from the ancient Celtic Ogham Tree Alphabet.
“Two monumental sculptures will be built in Writers’ Square, with themes drawn from our ancestral heritage and culture here on the island of Ireland” explained Gawain.
“The Tree Alphabet will act as the primer for learning about the Ogham characters, their meanings, and their tree associations while the Celtic Ogham Year Wheel signifies the links with our natural environment, living in harmony with it, and the awareness of our place in the universe, the lunar and solar cycles that drive the life on this planet of ours, and all of how life lives–in balance and together.
“The Ogham Grove offers a window into an alternative interpretation of the world around us, highlighting the importance that nature played in the societies of our ancestors, enabling us to reconnect with this heritage in a playful, thought provoking and visually stunning way, at a time when the natural environment and spending time outdoors has never been so important.”
Prior to the pandemic, Culture Night had been one of Belfast’s largest free events, a cultural celebration that attracted almost 90,000 local, national and international visitors to the Cathedral Quarter and Belfast city centre. The impact of COVID has led to a major review of the event however.
Susan added: “Culture Night 2021 will be much smaller in scale and scope and will take the form of an on-site installation that people can drop into and enjoy over the course of the weekend – this different format will allow us to focus on safety as well as making sure everyone has a great time.”
Gawain alongside his team, including artist and prop designer Dylan McCaughtry, designer, artist and engineer Neil Beattie, lighting designer Tomás FitzGerald and drum loop producer Damian Mills said the installation they are planing will leave visitors with “a monumental audio-visual experience that will be overwhelming both day and night.”
He added: “The actual scale of the structure itself will be impressive. The fact that at night-time the lighting will come alive will give it a very different feel from the daytime and allow people to experience it in different ways.”
The 2021 edition of Culture Night will have a completely new format and a new approach designed for a COVID-safe, post-pandemic environment. A major difference this year is the decision to suspend the previous open submission programme and instead focus on creating one central experience working directly with artists.
“One of the biggest changes this year will be that we haven’t run an open programme for submissions as in previous years” said Susan.
Susan continued “There won’t be the usual on-street activity or pop-ups that people are used to. Instead, Writer’s Square will be transformed with an exciting monumental installation, The Ogham Grove, running from Friday September 17 to Sunday September 19. This extended running time will allow more time and space to visit and experience over the weekend.”
“This will be a unique and sensory experience for anyone attending and will make for great photo opportunities” added Gawain.
This year’s Culture Night Belfast is supported by Belfast City Council, Arts Council for Northern Ireland, Tourism NI, Belfast Harbour Commissioners and Translink.
To keep up to date with all the CNB Presents The Ogham Grove updates go to culturenightbelfast.com or follow #CNB21 on social media.
Belfast’s Maritime Mile is getting ready to host a two-day festival of family fun on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 September.
The Belfast Maritime Weekender will bring Belfast’s maritime and industrial history to life and includes pockets of exciting seafaring activities stretching across Sailortown, City Quays and Donegall Quay, to Queen’s Quay and Titanic Quarter.
The weekend’s daytime and evening activities include live music and dance, nautical themed street performers, playful art and heritage installations, dance picnics for children, walking tours, a treasure trail, a pop-up market, illuminations, and much more.
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Kate Nicholl, said: “With Belfast Maritime Weekender we’re asking people to come on in and enjoy what’s on offer safely. This is our first council event since lockdown and a celebration of our amazing maritime heritage, along the spectacular Maritime Mile.
“Things are a little different this year from our usual Maritime Festival format, but we’re delighted to be giving people an opportunity to get out and about and enjoy ‘mini moments’ of fun. The experience has been designed with safety in mind, and we remind everyone coming along to keep safe and think of others as they enjoy the weekend.
“Look out for more fun-filled events and live music over the coming months as cultural activities make a welcome return to the streets of Belfast.”
The Belfast Maritime Weekender has been organised by Belfast City Council in partnership with Maritime Belfast Trust, and is supported by Belfast Harbour, Titanic Quarter Limited, the Odyssey Trust, Department for Communities and Maritime Mile partners and media partner Q Radio.
Kerrie Sweeney, CEO of Maritime Belfast Trust said: “Maritime Belfast Trust is delighted to partner with Belfast City Council on the Belfast Maritime Weekender, taking place along the Maritime Mile. The Maritime Mile may be only one navigational mile of water but it represents over 10km of iconic, heritage waterfront, comprising Sailortown, City Quays, Queens Quay and Titanic Quarter.
“Throughout the last 18 months, the city’s waterfront has become a real solace for local people to walk, run, cycle and explore. As a charity dedicated to preserving Belfast’s rich maritime heritage, Maritime Belfast Trust has worked tirelessly during this period to strengthen the outdoor experience with playful art and heritage installations, such as Soundyard and Riverbox. The Maritime Weekender is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our achievements and celebrate the re-opening of our attractions and hospitality businesses, in a safe, well managed, open-air environment.”
Ibe Sesay, presenter of Q Radio Drive, said: “After a long 18 months, Q Radio is buzzing to be part of Belfast Maritime Weekender 2021, a home-grown festival and Belfast City Council’s first major event to be held in the city since the pandemic began. Despite the huge challenges presented by the Covid-19 there is a fantastic line-up of attractions celebrating Belfast’s unique maritime history and Titanic legacy, from walking tours, street performers, live music and a pop-up market to name a few!”
While there will be no tall ships this year, Belfast will be welcoming a host of vessels and boats to the quayside, giving visitors an opportunity to climb aboard and discover more about life at sea from the visiting crews. The Irish Lights vessel ILV Granuaile and 1960s old style tug boat Brocklebank will also be in port, with a range of displays, demo racing and other on-the-water attractions all part of the weekend entertainment.
A self-led Maritime Treasure Trail is on offer with theatrical performances along the route, and a range of ticketed tours will take place daily, including Maritime Mile walking tours, photography tours, cycle tours, under the Lagan tours and Glass of Thrones walking tours. You can also catch the powerful National Geographic photography exhibition, ‘Planet or Plastic?’ courtesy of SSE Airtricity and not-for-profit organisation, Sick of Plastic.
The Belfast Maritime Weekender also marks the start of Belfast City Council’s Belfast Music programme, with gigs and performances lined up until December. Aside from buskers and live music across the Maritime Mile, a number of special performances will be happening in some unusual venues including Mindfulness Sound Bath sessions in St Joseph’s Church, an open mic night in the American Bar and a cabaret in the Drawing Office at the Titanic Hotel.
The Cathedral Quarter Trust, the organisation behind Culture Night Belfast has appointed a Creative Lead for their 2021 project.
Earlier this year Susan Picken, director of Culture Night Belfast and the Cathedral Quarter Trust, announced the event would look very different this year.
Next month the annual event will return with a new format and a new approach designed for a COVID-safe, post-pandemic environment. A key difference this year is the decision to suspend the previous open submission programme and instead focus on creating one central experience working directly with artists.
“The biggest change this year will be that we won’t be running an open programme for submissions as in previous years” said Susan.
“Instead, Writer’s Square will be transformed into a monumental, immersive cultural experience running from Friday September 17 to Sunday September 19. In addition, an intriguing interactive trail will help visitors to reconnect with, and explore the rich artistic environment of the Cathedral Quarter. ”
Artist Gawain Morrison, who has been appointed as the Creative Lead, and his team have been tasked with the job of creating a unique, COVID-safe, installation that will dominate Writers’ Square in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter across the Culture Night weekend.
“The arts and the wider community have had a particularly difficult time over the past 18 months,” said Susan, adding: “While the situation is slowly improving, It is still very important to us that we are able to reflect the changing requirements of audiences whilst ensuring that everything we do is fully COVID secure.
“We were all really intrigued and excited by Gawain and the team’s proposal and I am certain their work will bring Writer’s Square to life over the weekend whilst also linking in to our central themes of nature and environmental sustainability. We will be creating something new for Belfast, a unique space for people to enjoy, relax and appreciate the natural world.”
Gawain brings over two decades of experience in multi-platform media production and events organisation to the project alongside his team, including artist and prop designer Dylan McCaughtry, designer, artist and engineer Neil Beattie, lighting designer Tomás FitzGerald and drum loop producer Damian Mills.
Speaking of the project Gawain said: “The brief itself was very open in terms of where you could go with it, while it was site specific there was a lot to work with in terms of making it visually interesting whilst keeping within the brief of creating a city garden.
“We are planning the installation so that visitors will have a monumental audio-visual experience, it will be overwhelming both day and night.
“The actual scale of the structure itself will be impressive. The fact that at night-time the lighting will come alive will give it a very different feel from the daytime and allow people to experience it in different ways.”
Prior to the pandemic, Culture Night had been one of Belfast’s largest free events, a cultural celebration that attracted almost 90,000 local, national and international visitors to the Cathedral Quarter and Belfast city centre. The impact of COVID has led to a major review of the event however.
Susan said: “Culture Night 2021 will be much smaller in scale and scope and will take the form of an on-site installation with an interactive trail that people can drop into and enjoy over the course of the weekend – this different format will allow us to focus on safety as well as making sure everyone has a great time.”
Whilst it may be smaller in scale Gawain said it won’t be any less spectacular than previous years.
He explained: “From the moment that the Culture Night team told us we’d won this proposal to now it’s been fairly full on. We’ve been able to go from the high level concept to how do we make this happen to working with Neil and Dylan on the practical side of it in a very short space of time.
“This will be a unique and sensory experience for anyone attending and will make for great photo opportunities.”
This year’s Culture Night Belfast is supported by Belfast City Council, Arts Council for Northern Ireland, Tourism NI, Translink and Belfast Harbour Commissioners.
To keep up to date with all the Culture Night Belfast updates go to culturenightbelfast.com or follow #CNB21 on social media.
If you’re looking for new ink or just some inspiration for your next piece look no further than Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, with five premier tattoo studios all located within the heart of the city.
Whether you want simple line work, geometry, realism or blackwork, there are many talented artists to suit all styles.
Here are 5 tattoo studios in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter:
1. Belfast City Skinworks
Based in Belfast for the last 30 years Belfast City Skinworks is one of Belfast’s oldest and most established Tattoo and piercing specialists in the city.
Located in the old building of St Malachy’s Christian Brothers School, the tattoo studio has gone from strength to strength, even tattooing boxing legend Carl Frampton.
Providing a complimentary consultation service and a large portfolio of past work the company caters for first time tattooers or regulars who are ready to get a new piece.
With a huge studio space on Royal Avenue and 11 resident artists, A Sailors Grave is certainly a popular choice for tattoo lovers in Belfast.
The variety of artists available at the studio means you will be sure to find an artist that specialises in the style you like. Calia Dagger specialises in fine line and dot work whilst Sabra Carson specialises in neo-traditional.
Based in North Street Meraki Tattoo specialises in blackwork and geometry and cosmetic tattooing.
As an appointment only based studio you will have to contact one of their artists; Mark, Brandon, Nathan or Liam directly to book an appointment. You can see a selection of the different artists work on their social media to find which style would suit you best.
Based in Royal Avenue Penthouse Ink pride themselves on catering to all styles and offering custom designs.
Clients of the studio have praised its friendly atmosphere and laidback staff. Resident artists Jan and Aaron both have their work displayed on social media for customers to check out their style.
Established in 2010, Addinktion Tattoo is based on Donegall Street in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter.
Offering custom tattoos by resident artists Dre and Adam, the company has a wide variety of styles and designs featured on their social media, including tarot based designs and portraits.
Andy Dunlop from acclaimed band Travis is set to entertain music lovers later this month as Flowerfield Arts Centre continues its series of free outdoor concerts.
He’s just one of an amazing line-up of artists set to play at the popular Saturday Lunchtime Live in the Park events, held on the terrace each Saturday from 12noon to 1pm
This Saturday (August 14th), enjoy the musical stylings of the String Ninjas, a Belfast-based instrumental duo consisting of guitarist Gavin Ferris and electronic violinist Mick Conlon.
Having recently performed at festivals across the UK, the Ninjas are renowned for wowing audiences with their energetic live performances ranging from 90s dance to classic rock and jazz.
Rising star and singer-songwriter Molly Hogg will grace the terrace on Saturday 21st August. One to watch, Molly has performed at festivals throughout Northern Ireland as well as on UTV.
To end the month, none other than Andy Dunlop, lead guitarist from the internationally renowned band Travis, will perform alongside singer/songwriter Peter McVeigh on Saturday 28th August.
Don’t forget to bring a blanket and a picnic to enjoy during the shows. Limited seating will be provided with social distancing measures in place for your safety.
The concerts are weather dependent so visit www.flowerfield.org or follow Flowerfield Arts Centre on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for regular updates.
Saturday 21 August will see the very best of Bangor come to life as we encourage you to join us to shop local, eat local and enjoy lots of seaside fun.
From 12noon to 6pm, the town will have an extra special buzz with fabulous shop window animations and pop-up performances throughout the day. Be captivated by the finest local singers, actors, dancers, mime artists and musicians who will entertain and delight!
From Main Street to High Street and Project 24 to Pickie Funpark you can experience and enjoy live performances, shop window animations, special offers, tasty food and much more.
Project 24 will host the ‘Taste Ards and North Down’ local food, drink and craft market from 12noon to 6pm where you will have the opportunity to meet our local producers and pick up some delicious treats and unique crafts.
The McKee Clock arena will play host to the UK’s Strongest Woman 2021 event where 12 athletes from all 4 corners of the UK will compete in grueling contests to become the first ever UK’s Strongest woman. A not to be missed event with 9 tests of strength to find one champion. (Pre-booking essential).
As part of the Back in Bangor celebrations we also have a variety of exciting and authentic foodie experiences on offer from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 August.
Highlights include:
Bangor Beer Club Special The Bangor Beer Club returns at the Salty Dog. This is the best place to meet some of the great local characters behind the ever-growing NI craft brewing scene.
The Great British Menus with Andy Scollick An opportunity to enjoy the Great British Menu as presented by our rising star, local chef Andy Scollick.
Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Mark Brooks said;
“While we are unable to run large scale events like we usually do, this new town animation approach designed for a COVID-safe environment where entertainers are spread out right across the town, allows shoppers to enjoy performances while remaining outside and socially distanced.
“I am looking forward to seeing a buzz back in Bangor and hope that it is a successful day for the town and its traders.”
So why not delight in some much-needed entertainment and relaxation with a special day Back in Bangor this August.
· All providers will operate with COVID-19 measures in line with current government guidance.
· Help us to stop the spread of COVID-19. Regular rapid lateral flow testing is strongly recommended prior to attending this event. For more information see www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/lateralflowtests
When it comes to gigs in Belfast, the city’s Cathedral Quarter is a hub of fantastic music. From festivals, venues, and theatre spaces to bars and clubs there’s no better place to relax to your favourite genre.
Northern Ireland is full of talented local musicians that deserve our ongoing love and support, and several of them are hosting headline gigs around The Cathedral Quarter this year.
It’s time for you to check out our amazing local bands, learn their lyrics and practice your best hand horns.
Here are 5 local gigs coming up this year that you should check out:1. Junk Drawer Album Launch Venue: Black Box, Hill Street Date/time: 16th September @ 7:30 pm Price: £7 entry or £21 entry + Ready For The House LP Junk Drawer will be launching their new album “Ready For The House” as part of Black Box Recorder. The album was released through Art For Blinds Records back in 2020 and the album features their lead single “Year Of The Sofa”, the winner of the Best Single at The Northern Ireland Music Prize in 2019”. The band describes itself as “four multi-instrumentalists drawing from post-punk, krautrock, psychedelia, experimentalism and art-rock”.
2. BICEP Venue: Telegraph Building, Library Street Date/time: 2nd October Price: £30 + BF Bicep are a popular DJ Duo from Belfast made up of Andrew Ferguson and Matthew McBriar, the group are best known for their chart-topping single ‘Glue’. The electronic music stars are now strangers to The Telegraph Building stage having previously played the venue in 2018 and 2019.
3. Brand New Friend Venue: Black Box, Hill Street Date/Time: 16th October @ 7pm Price: £10 + booking fee Brand New Friend, a five-piece indie-pop band from Castlerock, are back and headlining their own show at The Black Box this October. Since the release of their debut album ‘Seatbelts For Aeroplanes’ back in 2018, Brand New Friend have been performing at venues and festivals across the UK and Ireland, supporting the likes of Snow Patrol, Lewis Capaldi, RAT BOY, and Ash. Brand New Friend brings energy to their shows like no other, promising an unforgettable night for their first headline gig post-COVID.
To book tickets go to ticketmaster.co.uk or you can stream all of Brand New Friend’s music on Spotify.
4. Joshua Burnside Venue: Ulster Sports Club, High Street Date/time: 12th & 13th November @ 7 pm Price: £14 Joshua Burnside is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter based in Belfast and was the artist in residence at The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. His new album “Higher Places“ incorporates elements of Irish Folk, rock, Americana, and electronica, and has featured on BBC Radio 6.
For more information or to book tickets go to ticketmaster.co.uk or you can listen to Joshua Burnside on Bandcamp
5. Amy Montgomery Venue: Ulster Sports Club, High Street Date/time: 26th November Price: 10+ booking fee Amy Montgomery is a singer-songwriter from County Antrim. At just 21 years old, she creates a fearless and confident persona in terms of singing and performing. Covered in war paint and performing barefooted helps to create a unique and memorable experience, as well as her strong and powerful voice.
