News

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

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) is inviting applications from musicians, managers and agents to apply for delegate bursaries to WOMEX World Music Expo 2025 in Tampere, Finland. The event will run from 22 to 26 October and brings together more than two thousand industry professionals from over ninety countries. Successful applicants will receive … Continued

Applications are now open for the 2025 Gerry Anderson Music Bursary, a £5,000 award created to support emerging musicians from Ulster as they take the next vital step in their careers. Presented in memory of the beloved broadcaster and musician Gerry Anderson, the bursary honours his lifelong dedication to originality, creativity and championing local talent. … Continued

NI’s flagship music conference is back. Output Belfast returns on Thursday 25th September 2025 for its 8th edition. Now firmly established as a key date in the music sector calendar, Output brings together artists, managers, promoters, labels, publishers, funders and more for a packed day of panels, workshops, talks and live showcases across the Cathedral … Continued

NI-based arts and cultural organisations working in social arts practice will soon have another opportunity to build international connections through the Cultural Bridge programme, which officially reopens for applications this October. Running since 2021, Cultural Bridge supports partnerships between organisations in the UK and Germany that use the arts to foster community, inclusion and social … Continued

On 13 May, Wolf Alice co-founder and FAC (Featured Artists Coalition) Director Joff Oddie joined FAC CEO David Martin in Parliament to highlight the urgent challenges facing grassroots touring artists across the UK – a conversation with real implications for artists and communities in NI. Appearing before the Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee, the … Continued