Sound of Belfast is on from the 7-17th of November, with an impressive lineup of 82 events spread across 43 venues in Belfast! Here’s everything you need to know.
The annual celebration is dedicated to showcasing Belfast’s musical talents and its status as a UNESCO City of Music. Spanning gospel to garage rock, electronic to rap, the festival celebrates world class music community through collaboration, partnerships and specially curated events across the city.
What’s On
On Friday 8 November, Oh Yeah hosts Breaking Into Music, an immersive one day experience aimed at 14-21 year olds which aims to empower Northern Ireland’s youth by unlocking the career potential of the arts. This event compliments Oh Yeah’s weekly “Volume Control” industry mentoring programme and “Elevate” after-school club which provide opportunities for young music enthusiasts to collaborate, make new friends and get advice from industry professionals. The work of the Volume Control team will be showcased that evening as they host the annual Clash of the New Breeds, a battle of the bands which is suitable for all ages to attend.
Sound of Belfast promotes the great work of other festivals and arts organisations in the city and beyond and they have two “firsts” for the festival in 2024 – the UK-wide PRS Foundation Talent Development conference will be coming to Belfast plus Sound of Belfast will partner with Output Festival. Output is Ireland’s biggest one-day music conference and is held on Tuesday 12 November, featuring the annual Oh Yeah “Scratch My Progress” talent development programme’s showcase.
The flagship event of Sound of Belfast, the NI Music Prize takes place on Wednesday 13 November at the Ulster Hall, with an Oh Yeah Legend Award presented by PRS For Music to Thin Lizzy’s founding member Eric Bell, followed by a special performance.
In a festival first, on Friday 15 November we are partnering with the University of Atypical to deliver Sounds Atypical, an intimate gig at the Ledger Studio which will shine a spotlight on Belfast’s d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent musicians. On the same day, Sound of Belfast will host a night dedicated to rising queer artists called Out Loud in the Show Some Love Greenhouse – an inclusive creative hub on Victoria Street.
The annual Women’s Work showcase returns on Saturday 16 November, with a refreshed and representative lineup curated by the Tutti Collective.
As Victoria Square’s charity partner for the year, Oh Yeah’s Centre Stage series will culminate on the 16th and 17th November with special performances by the Philharmonic Choir and Cairde Choir respectively. On Saturday 16 November they will be platforming one local musician to perform at the Belfast City Hall Christmas Light Switch On in front of 10,000+ people.
This is just a snapshot of what Sound of Belfast has to offer, with 10 days of special performances in unique venues across the city, such as Lilla Vargen in the historic Linenhall Library, a specially commissioned Grace and Glory gospel music event at St. Rosemary’s Church led by the creators of Soultrane, a Sacred Sounds event at Shankill Mission which combines yoga with a live ambient DJ set, and a Factory Sessions set by ROE at a top secret location yet to be revealed.
The 2024 festival has an even bigger and more exciting programme for the special 10th anniversary, highlighting the diversity and brilliance of the local music scene – for more information and to book tickets, visit the official festival website at soundofbelfast.com.
