Sound of Belfast announces eclectic 2020 online festival programme

The renowned Belfast festival dedicated to celebrating the music of the city has been forced to move online in its seventh year as a result of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

Between November 6 to November 12, the Oh Yeah Music Centre YouTube channel will air the Sound of Belfast 2020 - a rich and diverse snapshot of Belfast's talent that will be showcased internationally.

The annual celebration dedicated to the sounds of the city is normally dominated by live shows in venues across Belfast, but this year it has sadly abandoned live participation and associated collaboration.

Live music has always been at the heart of the festival, celebrating local talent in local venues in front of live audiences.

However with venues closed and live music banned, The Sound of Belfast has instead curated and pre-recorded a series of live performances in empty venues across Belfast.

The series will kick off with a stunning, nostalgic performance from Ryan McMullan with his song ‘Belfast City’ on the roof of Oh Yeah, with a lively reminder of what we are missing live from Brand New Friend.

Some of the other acts taking part include a gorgeous performance from Neil Martin at the Strand Arts Centre, a soulful Manukahunney at The Black Box, Dani Larkin at Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, from New Pagans at Voodoo, a superb piece from Ruth McGinley in Start Together Studio, the familiar music of Duke Special at The Belfast Empire and the Scott Flanigan Trio featuring Linley Hamilton at the Ballyhackamore Social Club.

“It’s been a devastating year for music and there’s no disguising how badly the live scene has been impacted," said Charlotte Dryden of Oh Yeah.

"It’s been grim for artists, venues, promoters and pretty much anyone involved in making events happen. We have collectively appealed to the Government for help and will continue to do so while finding ways to adapt and carry on.

"But for now, and especially during this most recent lockdown, we felt it was important to get something positive and helpful out there and into the homes of musicians and audiences," Charlotte continues.

"And so, while these events and performances are tinged with the sadness of the last six months, the programme is a brilliant reminder of the great wealth of talent that exists and how despite all the odds everyone wanted to get involved. The resulting programme is as good as it can be without being live. We hope people embrace it in the spirit it is intended.”

The programme also will still include workshops, talks, panels and one to one meetings.

Guest speakers and industry professionals will guide musicians and artists through funding, maximising and utilising online promotion, navigating streaming and playlist opportunities, music licensing, as well as managing your finances and artist manager advice.

Presenters from YouTube Music, PRS for Music,PPL, Help Musicians, DITTO and AIM (Association of Independent Music) will host events on video platforms and registration is necessary.

For full details, visit Sound of Belfast's website here and the Oh Yeah Music Centre YouTube channel.