Look North – the festival which celebrates the rich and diverse cultural heritage of North Belfast returns for its fourth year from 28 February – 2 March.
Dozens of live events, performances, talks, historical tours, readings, literature, comedy, exhibitions and more will be presented in some of the most iconic spaces and places over a long weekend in the north of the city!
Highlights in this year’s programme include the launch of award-winning author Paul McVeigh’s new short story collection, “I Hear You”. SLEEPERTOWN is a groundbreaking interactive geo-specific poetry experience, which utilises audio AR to encourage people to explore their local surroundings with a heightened sense of wonder, connectivity and excitement. Featuring 10 sonic experiences with ten artists at various locations in North Belfast.
Among the many walks and tours are an exploratoryExpedition up Cavehill with local historian Cormac Hamill, Guided Tours of Central Library, Belfast Orange Hall, Clifton House and a Stained Glass Tour of iconic north Belfast Churches and an historical Walking Tour of the old Sailortown quarter.
Veteran journalist Brian Rowan will be in conversation with Duncan Morrow at Clifton House. The multi award-winning reporter will be reading from some his recent work including “Impossible Peace” and “Living with Ghosts” (with special guest North Belfast singer Gerry Creen).
We welcome back the annual Look North Slugger O’Toole Political Debate, and Belfast Women’s Assembly invites us to “Look North” at Shankill Women’s Centre. The North Belfast Schools Poetry Anthologyreturns – now a popular fixture in the festival calendar.
There’s a variety of workshops including Printmaking at New Lodge Arts, a Stained Glass Workshop with artistKerrie Hanna, Short Story Writing with Paul McVeigh, Playwriting with Dominic Montague, Writing Fiction for Young people with author Shirley-Anne McMillan,Poetry with Micheal McCann, Writing for Speech with Malachi O’Doherty, and a Bilingual Poetry Workshopwith Nandi Jola.
Broadcasters and musicians Jane Cassidy and Maurice Leyden join writer Paul Clements for an enchanted musical evening celebrating north Belfast polymath Richard Hayward - “Romancing Ireland: Richard Hayward 1892-1964”.
The Beat Carnival invite you Crumlin Road Gaol, where“Belfast Meets Brazil” in their carnival extravaganza. Join the brilliant Sipho Sibanda as she shares the story of her 'Journey to Activism' - a deeply personal story of how she found her voice and purpose through her tireless social justice campaigning. There’s Trad Sessions at Seatons of Sailortown and a host of incredible live music from Duncairn Arts Centre.
North Belfast remembers the late, great Ciaran Carson in a special event featuring some of the finest local poets and writers, featuring Dawn Watson, Liam Carson and Scott McKendry.
Unseen: Writing in Plain Sight invites LGBTQIA+ writers or readers of Queer literature to share a piece of text, whether poetry/prose/a monologue/part of a play, that they feel audiences have not heard of or seen.
Look North Laughs is an evening hosted by Cavehill Comedy Club in the evocative surrounds of North Belfast Working Men’s Club, with some of the city’s top comics – featuring William Thompson, Ruairi Woods, James McKegney and Jack Magee.
The Duncairn Creative Collective make a welcome return with their 30-strong group of musicians from across the island, performing an evening of music that they have composed in collaboration with each other over the course of their residential weekends here in North Belfast. The Duncairn also plays host to Look North Super Sunday – the family friendly community arts extravaganza with live msic, arts and crafts workshops, DJ Paddy’s classic record club plus piping hot coffee & breakfast!
The inspirational Rev Harold Good - retired Church leader and one of the oldest surviving actors in the Irish peace process - will be in conversation about his wonderful new memoir In Good Time. Join us at the iconic St Malachy's College on the Antrim Road for a special talk on the beautiful stained-glass art that is housed within the college's Chapel – fashioned from the legendary Harry Clarke Studios in Dublin.
Look North Sings with the Cavehill Community Choir in a very special evening at Crumlin Road Gaol, and the festival finally unwinds with the Look North Big Community Pub Quiz!
Speaking at the programme launch at Duncairn Arts Centre this week, Festival Director David Price said:
“The jam-packed programme not only showcases and celebrates North Belfast’s rich cultural heritage but the creativity and quality of work from local artists, authors, musicians, poets and young people, though they are not all limited to the area. To this end our programme reflects a wide range of activities and interests with something for everyone. So please come join us as we ‘Look North’ in a month’s time!”
For the full programme and booking information, please go to northbelfastfstival.com
