• In Conversation with Le Boom, CHERYM, Dea Matrona & TRAMP Ahead of BBC Introducing Live

    October 21, 2024 - By 

    This Friday, 25th October, BBC Introducing Live returns to Mandela Hall as part of this year’s Belfast International Arts Festival, showcasing four of the very best acts from across the island. With performances from Le Boom, CHERYM, Dea Matrona and TRAMP, it’s set to underscore the health of our world-beating music community. For the artists involved, this show is more than just a gig. Sharing the stage with fellow talents is a chance to celebrate the diversity and collaborative spirit that’s at the heart of the scene. From CHERYM reflecting on the growing representation of female and non-male artists to Le…

  • 100 Keybaords: An Interview With ASUNA

    September 30, 2019 - By 

    Asuna is a pioneering Japanese sound artist set for this year’s Belfast International Arts Festival to perform his latest mind-bending live creation, 100 Keyboards. The project involves playing the same key on 100 battery-operated keyboards at once, building a sonic moiré effect which must be heard to be believed. Ahead of the shows, we caught up with Asuna to discuss the birth and genesis of project. 100 Keyboards takes place at The MAC across October 17-19. Go here to buy tickets. __ Take us back to before you devised the idea of 100 Keyboards. What creative activity led you to the…

  • Stealing Memories: An Interview With Joshua Burnside

    September 9, 2019 - By 

    From September 14th, Joshua Burnside will set off on his biggest tour to date. Including an unmissable show alongside Junior Brother at Empire Music Hall on November 1st as part of this year’s Belfast International Arts Festival, the Belfast folk maestro will play shows in cities including New York, Los Angeles, London and Berlin. Ahead of that, we talk to Burnside about travel, success, his forthcoming second album and more. Go here to buy tickets to Joshua Burnside at Empire Music Hall Hi Joshua. You’re about to head off on a world tour, which includes dates in New York, Los Angeles, London and…

  • Sharon Shannon @ Empire Music Hall, Belfast

    October 19, 2015 - By 

    It’s a full house in Belfast’s The Empire Music Hall for button accordionist Sharon Shannon – one of the standout concerts of this year’s Ulster Bank Belfast International Arts Festival. Only the week before in Chicago the Clare musician received the iBAM! (Irish Books Arts & Music) award for her outstanding contribution to music – a merited accolade for a musician who has carved out a highly successful international career on an instrument whose usual habitat is the pub session. Shannon follows a long line of notable Irish accordionists from Joe Burke and Joe Cooley to Tony MacMahon and Seamus…