Afro Celt Sound System to headline Belfast’s Mandela Hall for St Patrick’s Music Festival 2025

Afro Celt Sound System will take centre stage at Mandela Hall on Saturday, March 15, 2025, as part of the Belfast St Patrick’s Music Festival, a concert curated by Belfast TradFest.

Formed in 1995, Afro Celt Sound System are known for their fusion of Irish and West African musical traditions infused with modern electronic beats.

With over a million albums sold worldwide and multiple Grammy nominations, the band made their mark with classics such as ‘Release’, ‘Whirl-Y-Reel’, and ‘When You're Falling’, which featured legendary singer Peter Gabriel.

The Belfast concert will feature a lineup that includes original members such as N'Faly Kouyaté, alongside new Irish members like MÚLÚ, the Castlewellan singer and flute player celebrated for her blend of Irish and world influences, also a member of Huartán and BIIRD ; Enda Gallery, a multi-talented artist based in County Clare and Robbie Harris, a globally renowned percussionist and bodhrán player.

 

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“Belfast TradFest has always been about celebrating the heart of traditional music and culture while also embracing innovation,” said Patricia Murray, Producer of Belfast TradFest.

“We are thrilled to partner with Belfast City Council to create a festival that will not only celebrate St Patrick’s Day but also elevate Belfast as a cultural capital on the world stage. Afro Celt Sound System, with their spirit of collaboration and boundary-pushing creativity, is the perfect headline act to kick off this new era.”

The full St Patrick’s Music festival programme will be released in the coming weeks here.

Tickets for Afro Celt Sound System at Mandela Hall are available now.