Sound of Belfast is just around the corner and the annual celebration of Belfast’s music scene looks to be one of its best yet. Featuring 62 events spread across 25 venues across Belfast, there really is something for everything.
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With so much to choose from, we thought we’d pick out a heap of events that you definitely shouldn’t miss.
- Mark Hegan – EP Launch – The Deer’s Head – 9th November 2023: Former In An Instant front man Mark Hegan has branched out on his own and after a stream of singles, is set to release his debut EP. Support from Taylor Lally and CAITTY.
- Modern Music 101 – Oh Yeah Music Centre – 9th November 2023: New Champion Management head honcho Ben Magee is giving up his evening to impart his wisdom on how to run a successful release campaign. Artists will be able to ask questions in what is sure to be a valuable session for artists at the beginning of their careers.
- Family & Tribe and Joseph Toman – Duke of York – 10th November 2023: Launching Billions, the Debut EP from ‘Family & Tribe’, the exciting new project by Irish songwriter Stephen Jones. Grounding classic melodic song writing in ambitious modern production, expect a show of unexpected and satisfying twists, spanning Indie-rock, Folk, Americana, and Soul.
- Chubby Cat & Lucy Bell – Sunflower Bar – 10th November 2023: Irish electro-pop rising star Chubby Cat plays her first Belfast headline at The American Bar, joined by indie-pop songwriter Lucy Bell. The electro pop artist is in high demand and critically acclaimed. She won’t be in this size of venue for long.
- Songwriters in the Round, Sunflower Bar – 11th November 2023: The Sunflower will be hosting four of NI’s best songwriters for an intimate evening of music. The event features Cormac Neeson, Kate Nicholson, Rory Nellis and Ciara O’Neill.
- 1 Day Workshop in Electronic Music Production – Oh Yeah Music Centre – 11th November 2023: Over the course of one full day, Belfast based electronic music producer Mount Palomar will walk participants through the creation of a brand new track, written from scratch within the workshop itself. Using both software and the analogue hardware that accompanies Mount Palomar on his live set outings, this class presents a rare opportunity to learn from one of Ireland’s most forward thinking and innovative electronic talents.
- Youth Open Mic – Oh Yeah Music Centre – 12th November 2023: Open Mic events usually take place in bars so it is wonderful for young artists to have an opportunity to play in front of a warm and supportive audience. Come and see some of Belfast’s young stars before they become a household name.
- Scratch my Progress Showcase: Oh Yeah Music Centre – 14th November 2023: The 2022/23 graduates of the incredible Scratch My Progress development programme are coming together to showcase what they’ve learned and play their newly recorded singles. Come and check out Balcony Sunrise, Fya Fox, Rachel Craig and Niall McDowell for one night only.
- NI Music Prize – Ulster Hall – 15th November 2023: It is the big one. Who will walk away with the prizes of Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Video of the Year and Live Performance of the Year? It will also feature performances from Paul Brady, The Florentinas, Chalk, Ferna, Problem Patterns, Winnie Ama and Conor Mallon.
- No Oil Paintings – Limelight – 17th November 2023: A big night for folk outfit No Oil Paintings are they celebrate ten years as a band. To commemorate this occasion, they have curated a stellar line-up of guest musicians and singers to feature throughout the night. This will be the band’s first Belfast gig since their sold-out show at The Black Box for the launch of their debut album Rain Season back in January.
- Cherym – Oh Yeah Music Centre – 18th November 2023: We very much in favour of more all ages shows so it is fantastic to see Old Crows Promotions put together this belter. Pop punk outfit Cherym are riding high after announcing their new album and they will be joined by Virgins and Sheela for an all ages gig to remember.
- Nirvana MTV Unplugged 30th Anniversary Show – Oh Yeah Music Centre – 18th November 2023: To mark the 30th Anniversary of the seminal Nirvana MTV Unplugged, a host of our local musicians are coming together to recreate the album live. All monies raised on the night (excluding Eventbrite booking fees) will be donated in support of PIPS Suicide Prevention Ireland. It will be an amazing night with the likes of Duke Special, Wynona Bleach, Beauty Sleep, Girl For Sale, Jackie Rainey, Burning Codes, PiNKSLiPS, Exhalers all contributing.
- Women’s Work Showcase – Oh Yeah Music Centre – 19th November 2023: The Women’s Work Festival is an important event in the NI music calendar. The festival are putting on their regular showcase and this year it features ELLAS, Alice La, Rews, Becky McNeice, Alicia Raye, Martha Greer & Hotgirl.
You can view the full programme of events and purchase tickets over on the Sound of Belfast 2023 website.
