News
Longlists Announced for NI Music Prize 2025
The longlists for this yearโs Northern Ireland Music Prize are now live. Recognised as the biggest night in the NI music calendar, the Prize returns once again to the iconic Ulster Hall on Wednesday, 12th November as part of the Sound of Belfast festival. As ever, the big prize is the Best Album award. Among … Continued
Read moreStarr Records Launches Radio Starr, Makes Call For Contributors
Starr Records, one of Belfastโs most iconic record shops, has announced the launch of its own station, Radio Starr, set to go live this November as part of the Sound of Belfast programme. The new platform will celebrate and amplify Belfastโs creativity in the run-up to the Northern Ireland Music Prize. Radio Starr will feature … Continued
Read moreSoft Gut Song Camp Set to Return
The penultimate Soft Gut Song Camp of 2025 is fast approaching, and with only a few spaces left, nowโs the time to apply. Sponsored by IMRO, the camp takes place at the renowned Analogue Catalogue Residential Recording Studios in Rathfriland, a space that has welcomed artists including Lankum, King Creosote and Duke Special. Over several … Continued
Read moreConversations: Charlene Hegarty
Few people have shaped – and safeguarded – Northern Irelandโs music community quite like Charlene Hegarty. From her years at the Oh Yeah Centre, where she helped establish Scratch My Progress, Womenโs Work and Sound of Belfast, to her work as a manager, label boss and festival co-ordinator, she has long been a force for … Continued
Read moreOutput Belfast Announce Evening Showcases
On Thursday, 25th September, venues across the Cathedral Quarter will host the evening showcase element of Output Belfast 2025. Organised in partnership with The Thin Air, IMRO, Faction, Girls With Guts, Soultrane, Under The Drum, PRS and others, the showcases will – as with previous years – present a broad cross-section of new and emerging … Continued
Read moreChris McCreery Appointed Artistic Director and CEO of Belfast International Arts Festival
Belfast International Arts Festival has entered a new era with the appointment of Chris McCreery as Artistic Director and Chief Executive. Taking up the reins later this year, McCreery succeeds Richard Wakely, whose tenure firmly established the festival as a cornerstone of international arts and culture. Few figures in the cityโs cultural life have left … Continued
Read moreOutput 2025 Artist Call Out: Emerging Talent Applications Now Open
Output Belfast, Irelandโs biggest one-day music conference, returns to the Cathedral Quarter on Thursday 25 September – and applications are now open for its annual Emerging Talent Showcase. One artist or band will be selected to perform on the bill, joining a citywide celebration of the best in new Irish music. To be eligible, applicants … Continued
Read moreNew Alliance Formed Between NI, Scottish and Welsh Music Prizes
The Northern Ireland Music Prize, alongside the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award and the Welsh Music Prize, has come together to launch the National Music Prize Network (NMPN), a new collaborative initiative that will support artists, promote cultural exchange and amplify the impact of each individual prize. Established in partnership by the Oh … Continued
Read moreOutput Belfast Returns with Its Most Ambitious Edition Yet
On Thursday 25th September, Belfastโs Cathedral Quarter will once again be transformed into the beating heart of Irelandโs music industry. Output Belfast, the countryโs largest one-day music conference, is set to return for 2025 with its boldest, most wide-reaching programme to date. As ever, it remains entirely free to attend. Now a firm fixture on … Continued
Read moreThe Ivors Academy Launches Free Discovery Membership for Songwriters and Composers
Songwriters and composers across the UK, including NI, now have the chance to connect with one of the UKโs leading music creator organisations – completely free of charge. The Ivors Academy, the independent professional association for music creators, has introduced a new Discovery membership tier aimed at empowering emerging and early-career songwriters and composers. Open … Continued
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