News

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) has released a major new Policy Provocation Paper focused on NI, offering a set of actionable proposals for how culture – and particularly co-created, community-led creative work – can strengthen belonging, resilience and civic identity. As well as presenting versions for Scotland, England and Wales, the paper- based … Continued

Belfast TradFest has announced a new opportunity for emerging traditional musicians across the island. The newly launched All-Ireland Residential Bursary Scheme is now open to applicants aged 18–23 from both NI and the Republic of Ireland, offering fully funded places at this summer’s TradFest Summer School. Taking place from 28 July to 1 August 2025 … Continued

    NI artists: this is your call to take things international. Applications are now open to perform at ESNS 2026 (Eurosonic Noorderslag), one of the most prestigious music showcases in the world. Taking place every January in Groningen, the Netherlands, ESNS has helped launch the global careers of acts like Fontaines D.C., Hozier, AURORA, … Continued

Soft Gut Song Camp is back, and it remains, without question, the most exciting and impactful songwriting initiative on the island of Ireland. Running from 30 May to 1 June, the upcoming edition will once again take place in the award-winning Analogue Catalogue Recording Studios, bringing together an extraordinary mix of artists and producers for … Continued

The Independent Society of Musicians (ISM) is taking a proactive step in exploring the impact of generative AI on music, and they want to hear from you. They are running a short, completely anonymous online survey designed to gauge how AI is reshaping the landscape across the music industry. Musicians, educators, composers and other music … Continued

  There’s a certain shimmer to Beauty Sleep. Since emerging from Belfast’s DIY scene with a sound that swims somewhere between dream-pop, synth-laced indie and hook-heavy alt-rock, the duoo have carved out a niche that feels effortlessly warm, quietly subversive and unmistakably their own. Whether on record or in a packed-out room, they deal in … Continued

A recent UK-wide survey has revealed that the vast majority of music fans want greater clarity and consent when it comes to the role of AI in music creation. Commissioned by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in partnership with AudienceNet, the research forms part of All About the Music 2025, the annual snapshot of the … Continued

Backstage Presenter (x2)Youth Music is seeking two confident and engaging backstage presenters to conduct interviews with performers, nominees, winners, sponsors and special guests on the night of the Youth Music Awards. This footage will be edited for Youth Music’s digital platforms, contributing to the visibility and legacy of the event. Successful applicants will also receive … Continued

Belfast TradFest returns this summer with a packed week of concerts, sessions and events across Belfast UNESCO City of Music. Now in its seventh year, Belfast TradFest has established itself as a major fixture in Ireland’s traditional music calendar, combining world-class concerts, lively pub sessions and the country’s fastest-growing summer school of traditional music. From … Continued

From 9th-20th May, the Northern Ireland Mental Health Arts Festival returns for its 11th year with a vital and timely theme: Catharsis. Defined as the release of emotions through creative expression, catharsis lies at the heart of the festival’s mission: to create space for connection, understanding and healing through the arts. Nowhere is this more … Continued