News

One of the most practical pots of support in the NI music calendar is back. The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival has reopened its Music Bursaries for 2026-27, with twenty awards of £1,000 each available to musicians and bands based here: £20,000 in total, aimed squarely at getting new music made. Hosted in partnership with Belfast … Continued

NI artists have a fresh shot at touring support, with the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) confirming that Phase Two of the UK Artist Touring (UKAT) fund opens for applications on Wednesday, 26th August. The scheme, backed by the LIVE Trust – which redistributes £1 donations collected from tickets sold at shows of 5,000 capacity and … Continued

As part of this year’s Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, Daegu four-piece Inaekkum come to Ulster Sports Club on Thursday 30th April for a Belfast City of Music-presented show rooted in the ongoing UNESCO City of Music exchange between Belfast and Daegu. Ahead of their first ever UK visit, the band spoke to Music Connections about … Continued

A new global support platform for artists has just launched, and for NI’s ever-resourceful music community, it lands at a moment that feels both timely and necessary. Artist Ally, created by Music Ally, is designed to help artists and producers build sustainable careers in an industry that increasingly demands they be everything, everywhere, all at … Continued

Applications are now open for the first phase of the new UK Artist Touring Fund (UKAT), a scheme designed to help UK-based artists manage the rising costs of touring and keep more live shows on the road. The fund has been launched by the Featured Artists Coalition in partnership with the Music Managers Forum and … Continued

Music Venue Trust has published its 2025 Annual Report, and this year’s data includes a genuinely important development for Northern Ireland: for the first time, there is sufficient, NI-specific evidence to properly represent grassroots music venues here within the UK-wide statistics. With financial support from Belfast City Council, Music Venue Trust invested resources in a … Continued

A major new mental health survey has launched for everyone working across the UK music industry – and it’s open now. Led by Music Minds Matter in collaboration with Point One Project and Habit Partners, this is described as the most comprehensive study of its kind into mental health across the music ecosystem. Crucially, it’s … Continued

Beyond Skin has announced its first wave of special guests for International Women’s Day 2026, centering on a powerful program of music, dance, and advocacy. Running from the 6th to the 9th of March, the schedule is anchored by an event at Queen’s University Belfast on March 8th. The lineup is part of the ACCEPT … Continued

The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) has significantly expanded its influence by welcoming 19 new artists to its official Ambassador community. The latest cohort includes high-profile names such as Dan Smith (Bastille), Orla Gartland, Alfie Templeman, Aziya, and Jalen Ngonda, alongside established industry figures like Imogen Heap and Katie Melua. These individuals join a powerful network … Continued

The UK Artist Touring Fund (UKAT) is set to launch in the first quarter of 2026, delivering critical financial support designed to make domestic touring more sustainable and accessible for emerging and mid-tier talent. This initiative arrives at a vital time for the industry, as rising operational costs and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis have made … Continued