Music
09 Nov 23

The Sound of Belfast kicks off today showcasing the city's musical talents

Paul Brady @Forest Fest 2023

The 2023 Sound of Belfast Festival showcasing the sounds of the UNESCO City of Music -will take place from 9th-19th November.

Music lovers in Belfast are in for a treat for the next 10 days with over 60 events taking place across the city as part of the Sounds of Belfast festival organised by Oh Yeah Music Centre.

The festival will include an array of events, not least the annual NI Music Prize at Ulster Hall, which will see an Oh Yeah Legend Award presented by IMRO to Paul Brady, followed by a special performance.

An Alternative Ulster anniversary party will be held to celebrate the 20 year inception of the magazine with Jonny Tiernan at the helm - expect a night of early 00’s nostalgia and surprise performances.

Other festival highlights include a very special 30th Anniversary Show of Nirvana MTV Unplugged, in aid of PiPS Suicide Prevention Ireland. The album will be recreated in its entirety with music from The Peat Muppets alongside a range of other local artists.

Beyond Skin will present a show titled 'Safe Harbour, Concert of the Diaspora'. It's not only live music that will be celebrated in this festival with an exhibition called ‘Roots and Visions’, a display of artwork of people of colour of Belfast.

Elsewhere in non concert events, Emily White will present her Amazon Global No 1 Best Selling podcast on how to build a sustainable music career.

Indie-pop artist Ferna will be teaming up with some of Belfast’s finest traditional musicians in The Duncairn to reimagine a selection of songs from her critically acclaimed debut album ‘Understudy’ with a new sonic palette. There will also be an exclusive curated event in Voodoo by Robyn G Shiels, 2013 winner of the NI Music Prize Album of the Year Award.

Charlotte Dryden, CEO of Oh Yeah said of the 2023 line-up: “Sound of Belfast is about showcasing the best and the most exciting music that we have right here on our own doorstep. From world class musicians and inspiring celebrated names to an emerging exciting scene full of diversity. This year’s programme is the greatest example of this to date with 62 events in 25 venues".

A full list of events and tickets can be found here.

The Sound of Belfast will run from November 9-19th 2023.