News

Submissions for this year’s NI Music Prize have now closed, but keep your eyes peeled for the 2025 shortlists! The NI Music Prize returns to the Ulster Hall on Wednesday 12th November 2025, as part of the Sound of Belfast festival, organised by the Oh Yeah Music Centre. This year’s submissions window covered three key … Continued

For this month’s edition of Conversations, we sit down with Claire Hall, newly appointed Creative Producer at Belfast’s Oh Yeah Music Centre. A long-time champion of inclusive dancefloors, grassroots scenes and bold creative production, Claire brings years of experience across nightlife, placemaking and festivals into her new role helming the programming of this year’s Sound … Continued

Ireland Music Week has announced the 50 artists selected to showcase at its 2025 edition, taking place from October 1st-3rd across Dublin city centre. Organised by First Music Contact, the event has become a key industry-facing platform for emerging Irish artists who are ready to take the next step in their careers. More than just … Continued

Applications are now open for a wide range of individual artist funding schemes from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI). Whether you’re emerging, mid-career or long-established, these grants are designed to support your development, creative output and international reach across all artforms. Part of the Support for Individual Artists Programme (SIAP), the schemes offer … Continued

A major new partnership between Music Minds Matter and Spotify promises to bring vital mental health support to more artists, songwriters and music professionals across Ireland, the UK and beyond. Announced earlier this month, the collaboration forms part of Spotify’s Heart & Soul: Mental Health for Creators initiative, a global campaign designed to address the … Continued

A significant boost has just landed for musicians, bands and community ensembles across NI. On 19th June, the Department for Communities announced a major new round of investment into the Musical Instruments Scheme, with a total fund of £750,000 available. Delivered by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the scheme is designed to support the … Continued

Fast-rising Belfast alt-pop powerhouse Susi Pagel has been selected for the prestigious Frequencies New Music Residency 2025, becoming one of just a handful of emerging artists across the UK to take part in the sought-after programme. Originally from Carrickfergus and now based in Belfast, Susi has steadily carved out a bold sonic identity that blends … Continued

Féile an Phobail has unveiled the programme for its 2025 edition, and it’s the most ambitious yet. Running from 26 July to 10 August, this year’s Féile will deliver more than 600 events across 50 venues in West Belfast and beyond, making it not only the largest community arts festival in Ireland but one of … Continued

Belfast’s summer soundtrack is about to get a whole lot louder. From Sunday 27 July to Sunday 3 August the seventh Belfast TradFest will flood 30 venues with more than 500 musicians and 450 events, reaffirming the city’s hard-won status as a UNESCO City of Music. Expect everything from stadium-sized opening concerts to the kind … Continued

Your Roots Are Showing, Ireland’s Folk Conference is heading north for a three-year Belfast residency, with the 2026 edition set for 13-18th January. It is the island’s largest annual gathering of folk, roots and trad professionals, and bringing it to NI puts an international shop window right on our doorstep. For NI artists the immediate … Continued