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Sunshine on Leith - Grand Opera House

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 11:38:20 GMT

The words ‘Sunshine On Leith' conjure up a certain image for a football fan like myself; namely thousands of Hibees on the terraces of Hampden Park swaying fervidly to the sound of the Proclaimers' tear-jerker after a Scottish cup triumph.

Sunshine on Leith - Grand Opera House

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 11:38:20 GMT

GIG GUIDE - OCTOBER 1

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:00:42 GMT

ARCHITECTS

What's On - October 1

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:59:23 GMT

MUSIC

Paul Brady and the Ulster Orchestra, Waterfront Hall

Paul Brady first came to prominence with the Irish folk group The Johnstons in 1969 and later joined Planxty, the premier Irish folk band of the early 1970’s. In 1981 he changed direction with the release of “Hard Station” which is now accepted as a classic of Irish rock. Songs frommany of his hit albums, as well as the recently acclaimed “Hooba Doooba” (2010) will be specially orchestrated for this concert.

Paul takes to the stage at the Waterfront Hall on Saturday, October 16 Tickets cost £27.50-£32.50 and are available from the Waterfront Box Office, or online at www.belfastfestival.com

Therapy?/ LaFaro/ Axis Of

The distinctive sound of Therapy? was first forged 20 years ago: three young men in a dingy rehearsal room, heads down, eyes closed, lost in music, locked into a groove: a fractured dance beat, a prowling bass line, whirring, whining guitar, distorted vocals spitting alienation and desolation through an overloaded PA. And so began the history of a legendary band that has spawned over a dozen albums delivering monster guitar riffs, huge choruses, anthemic songs and high octane slabs of pure Rock, from Babyteeth (1991) to Crooked Timber (2009) and not forgetting the all-time classic Troublegum (1994).

“Old school post hardcore sounds with just drums, guitars and big chunky distorted bass and Jonny Black mangling his vocals like he’s got a mouth full of drill bits, believe me, it’s a good thing.” Alternative Ulster magazine on LeFaro?

Axis Of are an Alt/Punk band hailing from Portstewart/Belfast who have made quite an impact with their massive riffs, chaotic live shows and thoughtful lyrics. Debut single Brobdingnagian was released to a terrific reception in a sold out Auntie Annie’s.

The bands play Mandela Hall on Friday, October 15. Tickets cost £16.50 and are available from www.belfastfestival.com.

THEATRE

National Anthem by Colin Bateman, Baby Grand

The first ever stage play by the smash hit novelist Colin Bateman (Of Wee Sweetie Mice and Men, Murphy’s Law, I Predict a Riot, Divorcing Jack). National Anthem is a fast paced, whip smart attack on the platitudinous language of the ‘new’ Northern Ireland — a poet, a musician, a bomb and a gun

Directed by Rachel O’Riordan (The Gentlemen’s Tea Drinking Society, Hurricane) National Anthem is a modern farce with a spine of steel. With Bateman’s definitive black humour and ear for a cracking line, this promises to be a theatre event not to be missed.

Captioned and audio described performance Monday October 25.

The play will be performed in the Baby Grand from Monday, October 18 until Saturday, October 30. Tickets cost £15 and are available from www.belfastfestival.com.

Don’t Shoot the Clowns, Brian Friel Theatre

The Future Is Unwritten and Fuel present Don’t Shoot The Clowns by Paul Hodson, inspired by the book by Jo Wilding, How do we know what goes on in the world? Whose stories do we believe?

In 1999 J smacks Tony Blair in the back with a well aimed tangerine – she’s protesting about the horrors in Iraq caused by UN sanctions. ‘How do you really know what's going on?’ challenges a journalist. J journeys to Iraq to find out. Three years later she returns to Baghdad… with a circus.

Punchy, playful and sometimes very silly, Don’t Shoot the Clowns tells the stories of a troupe of ramshackle clowns in a war torn country. It’s feisty, funny, political theatre about friendship, suffering and how far an individual has to go to make a difference.

The play runs from Tuesday, October 19 until Saturday, October 23. Tickets cost £10, with concession rates available and can be purchased from www.belfastfestival.com.

The Freedom of the City, |Elmwood Hall.

Lyric Theatre presents a rehearsed reading of Friel’s essential play The Freedom of the City.

Fictional, but based on events on a fateful day in Derry in January 1972, which culminated in one of the bloodiest times in Ulster’s troubled past, The Freedom of the City is as poignant and powerful today as it was when first performed. The curtain rises on the corpses of the three main characters — Lily, Skinner, and Michael — lying on a darkened street. The clock in the Guildhall behind them chimes six as each corpse is visited by a photographer and then by a priest, who administers the last rites.

This enthralling drama is regarded as one of the few credible and popular plays in Ireland to be based on The Troubles.

The play is on Sunday, October 17. Tickets cost £6.00

TALKS

An Audience with Jenni Murray, Elmwood Hall.

Jenni Murray discusses her long career in Broadcasting, particularly her 22 years at the helm of BBC Woman's Hour, the programme's 64 year history and her most engaging and most terrifying interviewees from Barbara Castle to Kaffe Fasset, Monica Lewinsky to Tom Hanks and Jack Nicholson, Margaret Thatcher through Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

An audience with Jenni Murray takes place on Monday, October 18. Tickets cost £10, with concessions available and can be purchased from www.belfastfestival.com.

An Audience with Paddy |Ashdown, Elmwood Hall.

As a Royal Marine Commando, a member of the Special Boat Service, a diplomat, a Member of Parliament and leader of his party and, most recently, the international community’s High Representative in war-torn Bosnia and Herzegovina, Paddy Ashdown has led a life packed with drama and adventure. Now he has told the full story in his autobiography, A Fortunate Life. Join him for a fascinating evening about his life and times, taking questions and signing his book.

An Audience with Paddy Ashdown takes place on Wednesday, October 20. Tickets cost £10, with concessions available, and are available from www.belfastfestival.com.

FAMILY FUN

Leon’s Enchanted Garden, |Botanic Gardens.

What better way to spend a beautiful October evening in Belfast than to take a wander around Leon’s Enchanted Garden.

Make your way through Botanic Gardens following the illuminated pathway that leads you through a wonderful world filled with all manner of delights and distractions. Imagine a forest of twinkling trees where you will encounter a variety of creatures and beasties, fairies and pixies, all living in a place where music is in the air and magic is everywhere. A topsy-turvy world where the unexpected can happen at any moment. . . . .

Cahoots NI brings to life the leafy glades and quiet corners of the Botanic Gardens in their latest ‘walk-about’ adventure Leon’s Enchanted Garden.

The Enchanted Gardens run from Thursday, October 14 until Saturday, October 23. Gardens are open from 7.00pm until 9.30pm, admission is £3.

All events above are part of the Belfast Festival, for more information see www.belfastfestival.com. To book tickets over the phone call 02890 97 11 97

What's on - August 19

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:34:30 GMT

MUSIC

Gig Guide - August 19

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 07:55:46 GMT

GIG OF THE WEEK

Review - Dancing Shoes

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:35:25 GMT

Alex Higgins' body had no sooner passed through Great Victoria Street last Monday than the people of Belfast once again descended en masse to celebrate the life of another of the city's famous sporting sons — George Best.

Open house of music

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:59:57 GMT

More than 20,000 music lovers from all over the world will descend on Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter in September, when one of Northern Ireland’s best loved music festivals returns – bigger than ever before.

Gig guide - August 11

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:58:21 GMT

ELLIOT MINOR

What's on - August 11

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:52:17 GMT

EXHIBITIONS

Gig Guide - August 5

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:44:24 GMT

Gig of the week undoubtedly has to be RAMS POCKET RADIO at Stiff Kitten, August 15 at 8pm

What's On - August 5

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:14:29 GMT

MUSIC

Gig guide - July 29

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:18:06 GMT

AXIS OF - NI Chart Gig of the Week

What's on - July 28

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:42:32 GMT

MUSIC

Belsonic Rocks

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:43:46 GMT

Due to the overwhelming response to the 2010 line-up and unprecedented sales, Belsonic in association with Absolut is set to expand and have announced four additional shows, to comprise a total of eight nights at Belfast's Custom House Square this August.

Your guide to what's on around the city.

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:40:50 GMT

VINTAGE FAIRS

The Alice Kona Band live up to the hype

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:20:05 GMT

Gig of the week and causing a stir is THE ALICE KONA BAND Lavery’s Bunker, July 31

What's On - July 8

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:00:42 GMT

MUSIC

What's On - July 8

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:00:42 GMT

MUSIC

Gig Guide - July 8

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:57:25 GMT

PANAMA KINGS

Gig Guide - July 8

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:57:25 GMT

PANAMA KINGS

Calling brides to be

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:47:02 GMT

After two hugely successful campaigns to find the Face of Blush 2009 and 2010, luxury bridal boutique Blush, situated on the stylish Lisburn Road , has once again launched its search to find a new face for its 2011 advertising campaign.

What's On - June 17

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:19:25 GMT

DRAMA & DANCE

Brilliant Brian Belfast-bound

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:14:08 GMT

BRIAN KENNEDY

Gig Guide June 10

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:33:27 GMT

DUKE SPECIAL Waterfront Hall, June 9-10