The Snow Patrol man is a board member of the centre, which provides facilities and resources for Belfast musicians.
As well as giving good pose, Gary shot the breeze with Stormont Minister For Culture Edwin Poots (pictured), Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers and the other MLAs and local bigwigs in attendance.
The musical entertainment was provided by Fools, Oonagh Clarke, Robert Holmes, Foy Vance and Tim Wheeler who, given the day that was in it, belted out acoustic versions of both ‘Oh Yeah’ and ‘Teenage Kicks’.
While the Oh Yeah! team were delighted with Minister Poots’ attendance, it brought strongly-worded condemnation from his fellow Free Presbyterian the Rev. Ivan Foster.
Known for his extreme views – the DUP and Sinn Fein power sharing is a no-no in his book – the Rev decries Mr. Poots’ support of the local rock scene as “unchristian and contrary to the standards set forth in the Holy Scripture.”
He goes on to describe the Oh! Yeah centre as “an abomination and blasphemous enterprise” and rock music as “filthy with immoral titles, themes and lyrics employed by these ‘musicians.’”