Over the past few years, we’ve been right in the thick of Output Belfast, Ireland’s largest one-day music conference and showcase. Hosting and featuring on various panels has been fun – and often revelatory – but it’s felt especially meaningful to co-host some truly memorable evening showcases since 2015.
Zig-zagging across the Cathedral Quarter, hyper-caffeinated from the afternoon conference scramble, to catch some of the island’s very best acts in rooms where you can be sure sounders abound? Year in, year out, that’s what it’s all about. But being able to host some of our favourite artists as part of that, all for free – it doesn’t get much better.
It’s a tradition we’re delighted to continue at Output 2024 tomorrow, Tuesday 12th November. Make your way to the city’s best venue, the Black Box, where you’ll catch not just two of Fermanagh’s finest artists, but two of Ireland’s best: RÓIS and Clara Tracey. Naturally, their sets alongside Bucket and the drive., both selected by our co-hosts A Baker’s Dozen, are right at the top of our must-see acts for this year’s multi-venue showcase – but, as ever, there’s so much more to discover.
Here’s our pick of ten artists we think you’ll want to catch on one of the most reliably exciting nights in the Northern Irish music calendar.
Go here to check out the Output Belfast showcases in full
RÓIS
21.00 – The Black Box (Main Room)
As we all learned at her recent, very-sold-out shows at Accidental Theatre in Belfast, no Irish musician is casting spellwork more special than RÓIS. Her beatific keening meets conjuring beats via some truly sublime composition. Pass up one of the island’s most sorcerous artists at your peril.
Clara Tracey
22.00 – The Black Box (Main Room)
Speaking of sublime composition – it’s kind of difficult not to assume there’s something in the water in Co. Fermanagh flipping between RÓIS‘ recently-released MO LÉAN and Clara Tracey’s 2022 LP Black Forest. The latter – easily one of the most inspired Irish albums in recent memory – is a prismatic masterclass from an alt-pop auteur with vision and finesse to spare.
