The Oh Yeah Music Centre recently announced details of its Sound of Belfast 2022 programme.
Now in its 9th year, this annual celebration, dedicated to the sounds of the city will be live and reverberating across Belfast 10th – 20th November.
It is powered through a blend of partnership, collaboration and independent shows with over 40 events across 12 venues incorporating multiple genres and styles of music.
Highlighting our great live music scene is key and living up to our new UNESCO City of Music status. Turning the spotlight up on the hard work and excellence that happens all year round is the mantra.
The festival starts with
- Get On It to mark the second birthday of Yeo Magazine.
- Oh Yeah is also hosting its own 15th birthday bash with DJs, cake and more.
- There’s the annual NI Music Prize, which will see a presentation to and performance from Barry Devlin and Horslips friends.
- Other festival highlights include Dana Masters, Winnie Ama and Siobhan Brown who will mark a very special event at the Mandela Hall highlighting the legacy and impact of Ottilie Patterson.
- Foodstock a local charity will run a very important night, also at the Mandela Hall with special guest John Power (Cast/The La’s) and Sound of Belfast overall is encouraging audiences to bring along food items to gigs at Oh Yeah for the duration of the festival.
- Following on from the recent Freedom of The City concert, there will be a very special event at Oh Yeah called ‘We’re all in this’ featuring performances from the six artists including Ferna, Robin Price, Anselm O’Donnell, Cheylene Murphy, Stephen Loughran & Brigid O’Neill who were partnered in a residency with Open Arts, ANAKA, ACSONI, Hosford Project, Victoria Park Primary School & Newington Day Centre.
- There’s an excellent hip-hop night lined up at the Empire presented by and including Leo Miyagee.
Other great and brilliant artists and events to look out for include:
- Gareth Dunlop,
- David Lyttle presents Jazzlife,
- Virgins EP launch,
- Villagers at The Mac,
- Modern Love at the Deer’s Head,
- Ciara O Neill at the Sunflower, with
- Family Tribe at The American Bar and
- Joel Harkin at the Duncairn.
- The list goes on.
The programme also will as always include Music Cities Day presented in partnership with Music Connections. You will hear from Serenade, Water & Music, Musicians Union, PRS Foundation and MOBO Unsung, with more speakers to be announced in the coming weeks. There will be a crucial discussion on the nighttime economy with Carly Heath of Bristol City Council and discussion on climate change with Music Declares Emergency.
Charlotte Dryden of Oh Yeah said “We are really proud of our UNESCO status, it proves beyond doubt that music plays a significant role in our community life, is woven into the fabric of our vibrant and welcoming nightlife and demonstrates the rich heritage, present strength and future potential of our music scene. The Sound of Belfast festival is about being proud of what we offer as well as taking the time to talk about the challenges. Thanks to all that have contributed to this year’s events, it’s a fantastic snapshot of a thriving music city.”
Sound of Belfast runs between 10th – 20 November and full details can be found at http://www.soundofbelfast.com
