SPRING FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS | STREET ART IN CQ | NEW RESIDENTS IN THE QUARTER | WHAT’S ON
QUARTER BEAT News & Listings for Belfast’s Cultural Quarter
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS Rachel Brown
My favourite time of year is just beginning. Snowdrops give way to daffodils, it’s possible to leave the house without multiple layers of wool, and two of the city’s finest festivals begin to take over the streets, squares, theatres and galleries of the Cathedral Quarter. This benign cultural invasion becomes a talking point weeks in advance of the actual events in the much-loved Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival and the irrepressible Festival of Fools. The takeover continues in the bars and the offices as details of the programmes emerge, people find their own personal ‘headliner’ and relive previous festival antics. Locals take ownership somehow and taxi drivers, those omniscient oracles of the city, boast of who they just picked up from the airport, and what exactly is happening in the belly of that sixty foot whale round the corner. This idea of cultural takeover and the coming of Spring isn’t some hokey metaphor for transition in the city, or the
role of the arts in that process, but simply a recognition that the year round labour involved in putting on these festivals has much more impact than the flurry of excitement of a fortnight in May. The long term power of animated streets shouldn’t be underestimated. In contrast to areas where vacancy and underused space intrude and exclude, these events make spaces feel public, whether they are in fact or not. Thankfully it isn’t simply about vibrancy but excellence in their field, and keeping hold of the ground they gain on a strategic level. As well as being the funniest free festival in Northern Ireland, the Festival of Fools makes a serious impact on business and audiences for example, with more than £700,000 coming into the local economy through audience spend. Now in it’s 11th year, the Festival of Fools 2014 programme is set to be as astonishing, bizarre and charming as ever. A long weekend of comedy heaven with more than 120 street shows and 50 walkabout performances across the Cathedral Quarter, and all free of charge as usual.
“We’re so confident the public wil love this year’s festival that we’re prepared to give people twice their ticket money back if they don’t have a good laugh with us” FESTIVAL OF FOOLS DIRECTOR, WILL CHAMBERLAIN It’s always gratifying to see the natural theatres of Cotton Court and Cornmarket functioning as they should, however one of the biggest triumphs for the Festival of Fools surely is how they transform spaces like Writers Square. An open empty space for much of the year, this May becomes a rather unique holiday destination with an urban beachscape playing host to more than 40 shows, a range of visual art activities, an outdoor cafe and obviously, a 60 foot inflatable theatre inside a whale. Some favourites return to the festival, which is known throughout the world of Continued on page 2. Quarter Beat Spring 2014, Issue 11 Published by Cathedral Quarter Trust 3-5 Commercial Court, Belfast BT1 2NB 028 9031 4011 | info@cqtrust.org Design by Rinky | rinky.org Illustration by David McMillan | davidjmcmillan.co.uk
Supported by:
thecathedralquarter.com
# 11 ISSUE
SPRING 2014
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street performance as the friendliest place to perform. Fraser Hooper and his much loved silent clown are back to engage in a boxing match, leaving you in stitches without laying a glove on you. Joe Dieffenbacher with his company Nakupelle presents Trap with immaculate split second comic timing and exquisite pratfalls. Local artists are out in force, demonstrating the incredible strength of street arts in this part of the world, including aerial high jinks from
Barren Carrousel and the absurdist comedy of Dansko Gida, alter ego of Paul Currie. Candy floss sculpture, a motorised singing nun, six foot seagulls strutting the streets and pensioners practising freerunning are just a few of the delights headed for our streets this May Bank holiday. Celebrating the folly of humanity and delighting in the surreal, surely applicable all year round? “This year we are looking forward to the biggest street theatre celebration ever seen in Northern Ireland. We have secured amazing support to present more performances than ever before and we aim to create more laughs on the streets of Belfast in one weekend than most cities experience in a whole year. We’re so confident the public will love this year’s festival that we’re prepared to give people twice their ticket money back if they don’t have a good laugh with us!” says Festival of Fools Director, Will Chamberlain The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, in the style that audiences have come to expect: with eclectic acts from the world of music, comedy, literature, spoken word and visual art. International stars perform alongside up-and-coming brilliance, and cult acts share a stage with household names. They have very much gone for the “more of the same, only much more”
approach to the 2014 festival programme, with something to get everyone excited. Two-Tone greats The Selecter, hip hop stars De La Soul, 60s legend and founder member of Cream Ginger Baker with his stunning Jazz Confusion outfit and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas are amongst some of the legendary figures taking to the stage. The Words and Ideas programme features Booker Prize-winning author DBC Pierre, Ireland’s finest short story writer Bernard McLaverty, performance poet Holly McNish, rock journalist Mark Ellen, legendary news anchor Jon Snow and former NI secretary of State and Human Rights advocate Peter Hain. They join festival favourite, comedian Rob Newman with his new stand-up show, everybody’s second favourite neurotic Jewish comedian Simon Amstell. Not to mention whirlwind guitarist and former Dr Feelgood lynchpin Wilko Johnson, (famouslly touring in spite of his ongoing battle against cancer), comedy rap satirists Rubberbandits, dance pop stars F*** Buttons (hand-picked by director Danny Boyle to play at the Olympics Opening Ceremony), indie darlings Wild Beasts, Dum Dum Girls and the Handsome Family, and cult Japanese pop act Shonen Knife. Jimi Goodwin of rock giants The Doves makes his first solo outing to NI and Colin Reid’s musical adaptation of The Third
Policeman makes a welcome return to the Festival fold. CQAF Director Sean Kelly said “It’s always a great thrill to announce acts that you know will resonate with audiences and we hope the likes of Ginger Baker, De La Soul, The Selecter and my own personal favourite Wilko Johnson will whet people’s appetite for the 1-11 May!” In a small city such as our own, with a shrinking population and very few city centre residents, it becomes difficult to build sustainable cultural output. Half the work is in building an audience in the first place and it’s important for the plethora of festivals we have here to work well together, raising the bar of audience expectations. Of all the representatives we have sent out there, elected or otherwise, I’m really quite pleased to have these festivals as our ambassadors in the world. Champions of excellence and charming hosts who appreciate the value of building relationships over time, with acts and audiences. The 15th Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival runs from 1-11 May. For further information or to book tickets please go to www.cqaf.com The 11th Festival of Fools runs from 2-5 May For further information please go to www.foolsfestival.com/2014
L-R: Wilko Johnson, The Candies, Tinariwen, Festival of Fools Circus, Dum Dum Girls, The Seagulls.
ULSTER-SCOTS CQ UNCOVERED AGENCY RELOCATES TO CATHEDRAL QUARTER
PLACE MOVE TO LOWER GARFIELD STREET PLACE, the Northern Ireland Built Environment Centre, will be joining the Cathedral Quarter in May 2014. PLACE will open at 7 - 9 Lower Garfield Street and act as a positive catalyst in this part of the city. Lower Garfield Street was originally called Bells Lane, after a nearby brewery, and ran from North Street to Smithfield. It was redeveloped in 1892 and renamed after US President James A. Garfield. A curved three storey terrace built in 1896 by GraemeWatt and Tulloch contributes to the character of the street. The terrace is now derelict although it is afforded protection as a B1 listed building. Opposite this terrace sits a four storey building in brick and stucco - built 1883 by Young and Mackenzie. Historically this building was home to The Hammond Typewriter Company, a flour merchant and the Weekly Irish Times branch office. For many years it was also home to JC Mayrs & Company, cabinetmaker and house furnishers. It will now be home to PLACE and we have ambitious plans to activate the property and the surrounding public space through a programme of architecture and built environment projects and events. The street we will soon call home is an important pedestrian link between the commercial area of Royal Avenue and the vibrant cultural activities of the Cathedral Quarter. Lower Garfield Street is also adjacent to North
The Ulster-Scots Agency has moved premises to The Corn Exchange, 31 Gordon Street, Belfast, BT1 2LG. The UlsterScots Community Network and Ulster-Scots Language Society have also relocated to the Corn Exchange building. The Corn Exchange was built in 1851 by a company of the grain merchants of Belfast; this building originally comprised a ground floor with shops and a first floor containing an exchange. The architect was Thomas Jackson and it was reckoned that it cost around £3,000. Classical in design with a tall parapet, the building is faced with Glasgow stone. In 1859, a soiree was held here to mark the centenary of the birth of Scottish poet Robert Burns. Plans are currently underway for a new Ulster-Scots visitor centre on the ground floor of the Corn Exchange; creating an area for Ulster-Scots heritage and culture to be showcased and promoted within the cultural heart of Belfast. The Ulster-Scots visitor centre will also include lecture space for educational talks, internet and research facilities for visitors interested in researching their ancestry or Ulster-Scots history and exhibition space. It is hoped that in developing this facility, the overall visitor experience for community groups and tourists will be enhanced. The Ulster-Scots Agency anticipates that the new Ulster-Scots visitor centre will open in September 2014. For updates on the Ulster-Scots visitor centre visit www.ulsterscotsagency.com. Photo by Simon Mills, photosby.si
Street, one of Belfast’s original gateways and thoroughfares, which has, in recent years, suffered some of the worst examples of dereliction and urban decay in the city centre. We look forward to welcoming you for a visit to the building in the near future. PLACE is grateful to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for funding support to refurbish the premises and purchase new equipment. Follow our move at www.placeni.org.
STREET ART IN THE QUARTER Gary Hunter
“Art is not to be taught in Academies. It is what one looks at, not what one listens to, that makes the artist. The real school should be the streets.” Oscar Wilde “If you don’t like it, you can paint over it.” Banksy As with most creative endeavours, street art is, by its very nature, controversial and divisive. Many people view it as vandalism; for others it is visual art created in public places, a vital tool for expressing dissent and rebellion, addressing social and cultural issues in a colourful and innovative way. This transitory art form has its origins in the late 70s hip-hop culture of New York. The DIY, improvisational ethos of punk rock is also embedded in its DNA, however street art has developed a flourishing and vibrant sub-culture all its own. Love it or loathe it, street art is hard to ignore and certainly gets a dialogue going. Visitors to Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter can’t fail to notice that the area enjoys a lively and eclectic street art scene, as evidenced by the striking imagery adorning gables, shop shutters, doorways and walls. Hard to categorise, specific styles or media can include: wheat-pasted posters, selfadhesive stickers, spray-painted stencils and sculptural or three-dimensional works. Belfast has, of course, a long and controversial history of popular urban art in the form of wall murals, many of which glorify Loyalist and Republican paramilitary groups. In recent years, such divisive murals have vied for wall space with images from Celtic mythology and others celebrating popular sporting and cultural figures. The ill-fated Titanic’s last voyage, still looming large in the city’s folk memory, is honoured in mural form. And in this , the centenary of the beginning of the First World War, one can see more visual representations of the 36th Ulster Division walking across No-Man’s land towards death and glory at the Somme. In June 2013 the removal of the “Teenage dreams so hard to beat” mural, painted on an East Belfast flyover in memory of DJ John Peel, resulted in a community backlash in which city planners were accused of turning a blind eye to overtly sectarian murals just a few yards up the road. Belfast Punk legend Terry Hooley, expressed his bewilderment in the Belfast Telegraph: “I am surprised, shocked and very sad about it,” he said. “It just seems to have been an easy target - all the murals for paramilitaries and violence have been left up, I don’t understand why they took this one down. It was there for nine years and no one graffitied over it - that is unusual in Belfast.” Big names like Banksy and Shepard Fairey are glorified as legitimate and socially conscious artists. But underground graffiti group Appropriate Media accuses Banksy of “selling his lazy polemics to Hollywood movie stars for big bucks....graffiti artists are the performing spray-can monkeys for urban gentrification.” It is also welcomed as a form of aesthetic, anarchic resistance, challenging the visual culture and corporate imagery of the urban environment.
Photo by Simon Mills, photosby.si
Work created during Seedhead Arts’ Hit The North event.
On a recent visit home, Northern Ireland born artist Rodney Dickson, based in New York City, was impressed and delighted with the prevalence of great street art in the Quarter. He reflected with sadness that the iconic 5 Pointz outdoor art exhibit space in New York City has, at the time of writing, been scheduled for demolition. The ‘Institute of Higher Burning’ , a 5-story warehouse complex in Queens, was a world mecca for street artists, musicians and tourists. Dickson is concerned that such a creative and artistic hub is being destroyed to make way for more condos and chain stores. During a walk around the Cathedral Quarter the artist suggested that “creating art work in the public domain, often by outsider artists with little or no formal training, is a wonderful platform for exploring socially relevant, contemporary issues, beyond the confines of the traditional art venue.” He is heartened to see a younger generation of urban artists working in, and
contributing to, the regeneration of Belfast. Cork-born artist Conor Harrington’s glorious monochrome masterpiece “Duel of Belfast, Dance by Candlelight” on the gable wall of the Black Box in Hill Street was created in 2012, in conjunction with the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival and can still be seen today. Conor won’t be drawn on interpretation; its been described as a critique of British colonialism and a comment on masculinity, but he says that the piece is “two people fighting, and another sitting down watching it and doing nothing.” Marian Noone, aka ‘Friz’, is a Belfastbased artist who works in both traditional and digital mediums. She is known for the strong, sensuous female characters which are a staple in her painting. Friz is part of the Spoom Collective, a group of artists who frequently collaborate on large murals. Upon moving to Belfast some years ago, Friz attended the Urban Arts Academy class in street art which she describes as a “gateway into transferring my paintings onto a larger scale than I’d previously worked in before and it meant my artwork reached a wider audience.” Friz will be sharing her skills and knowledge by facilitating an innovative 6 week course in street art at Blick Studios, Belfast. The programme begins on 14th May from 7-9pm and participants are assured of a thorough grounding in skills essential for the creation of high quality images, as well as the opportunity to create a large scale piece of work as part of a group. Kev Largey, aka KVLR, is another popular figure in Belfast’s alternative art scene. Kev has collaborated with some of Europe’s leading exponents of street art. His imaginative, sometimes unsettling work may be encountered on a stroll along North Street, where it graces the shutters and deep recesses of doorways. I caught up with Adam Turkington from Seedhead Arts and Programme Manager for Culture Night Belfast, who is passionate about street art. Adam describes
this form of public creativity as a vehicle for taking specific local issues, social tensions and architecture and placing them within the context of a global movement: “in other words, it is a political act that ‘has its roots in marking territory, ideological, geographic or artistic.” The new breed of artists are, he believes, playing their part in creating an urban landscape that we can all feel more comfortable in. Adam is currently organising a street art project through the Cathedral Quarter Trust, supported by Belfast City Council’s Dilapidations Programme. In addition to our local talent, artists will include Matt Sewell. Matt exemplifies the diversity and boundless creativity that is street art. Originally from County Durham, he describes himself as an artist, illustrator and mystic and has been called the Banksy of the Bird World. He works in a variety of media including posters, sculpture, walls and interiors and has illustrated/designed for the Guardian. A keen ornithologist, he has painted underpasses for the RSPB and is the author/illustrator of several bestselling books. He will shortly be releasing a limited edition vinyl recording of original songs and music. Matt was recently been commissioned, along with fellow artist Richt, to create a mural on the hoardings around the Dreamscape garden show garden in Manchester. The wildlifethemed mural features birds, foxes and other woodland denizens, juxtaposing a delightful woodland scene in a hard-edged urban environment. Sewell’s eye-catching and vibrant work could be a welcome addition to the existing pieces of public art adding colour and controversy to Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. The forthcoming Cathedral Quarter street art programme is certain to stimulate discussion, get us thinking about the urban environment, and inspire our local artists and visitors alike.
WHAT’S ON APRIL - MAY EXHIBITIONS APRIL 24 Jan - 27 April Kara Walker MAC, 10 Exchange Street West themaclive.com 3 -27 April Eros/Thanatos Belfast Print Workshop Gallery, 30-42 Waring Street bpw.org.uk 3 Apr – 24 April this is authenticity* Golden Thread Gallery, 84-94 Great Patrick Street goldenthreadgallery.co.uk 3 Apr - 25 May How We Learn Belfast Exposed 23 Donegall Street belfastexposed.org 4 - 26 April Last Day At Seventeen University Gallery, University Rd. belfastphotofestival.com/ youthedition 15 - 19 April Birds Eye View Of The City PSSquared, 18 Donegall Street belfastphotofestival.com/ youthedition MAY 1 - 17 May Lesser Spotted Welch: newly discovered images from turn of the century collection of Noel Quinn Red Barn Gallery, Rosemary St. redbarngallery.blogspot.com 1 May – 1 June Bo Halbirk Studio Group Belfast Print Workshop Gallery, 30-42 Waring Street bpw.org.uk 1 – 24 May ‘Art and Breakfast Belfast’Midori Mitamura Golden Thread Gallery, 84-94 Great Patrick Street goldenthreadgallery.co.uk 1 May – 5 Jun CURE I US by Anne Quail ADF Gallery, Ground Floor, Cathedral Quarter Workspaces, 109-113 Royal Avenue, adf.ie 1-11 May Glass lantern slides of Belfast men in WWI, discovered after more than a century Northern Ireland War Memorial, 21 Talbot Street niwarmemorial.org Mon – Fri, 10am-4pm Arts Council collection and Makers resource Craft Northern Ireland, Cotton Court, 42 Waring Street craftni.org
WEEKLY EVENTS MONDAYS Live Jazz @ Bert’s Jazz Bar Free, 9pm, themerchanthotel.com Open Mic at The John Hewitt Free, 9.30pm, thejohnhewitt.com Monopollie @ Ollie’s Nightclub £3, 10pm, olliesclub.com TUESDAYS Brogue at The John Hewitt Free, 8pm, thejohnhewitt.com Live Jazz @ Bert’s Jazz Bar Free, 9pm, themerchanthotel.com WEDNESDAYS Traditional Session @ McHughs Free, 7pm, mchughsbar.com Live Jazz @ Bert’s Jazz Bar Free, 9pm, themerchanthotel.com THURSDAYS Ollie’s Rocks @ Ollie’s Nightclub £5, 9pm, olliesclub.com Live Jazz @ Bert’s Jazz Bar Free, 9pm, themerchanthotel.com Sweet Trev & The Blue Notes @ The John Hewitt Free, 9.30pm, thejohnhewitt.com Traditional Session @ The Duke of York Free, 9.30pm, thedukeofyorkbelfast.com FRIDAYS Das Vibic @ Black Box Free, 8pm, blackboxbelfast.com Feelgood Fridays @ 21 Social Free, 4pm, 21social.co.uk Traditional Session @ Whites Tavern Free, 7pm, whitestavern.co.uk Panama Jazz Band @ The John Hewitt Free, 8.30pm, thejohnhewitt.com Live Jazz @ Bert’s Jazz Bar Free, 9pm, themerchanthotel.com The Golden Years @ The Duke of York, £5, 9pm, thedukeofyorkbelfast.com Lipstick @ Ollie’s Nightclub £5, 10pm, olliesclub.com Famous Fridays Free/£5, 10pm, myntbelfast.com
SATURDAYS The BIG John Hewitt Early Session Free, 5.30pm, thejohnhewitt.com Dana Masters Jazz Sextet @ McHughs Free, 5.30 − 7.30pm, mchughsbar.com Trad Session @ Whites Tavern Free, 8pm, whitestavern.co.uk Bert’s After Hours @ Bert’s Jazz Bar Free, 9pm, themerchanthotel.com Secret Society @ Ollie’s Nightclub £10, 9pm, olliesclub.com Club Eclectic @ The Duke of York £5, 9pm Radio K @ McHughs £5, 10pm, mchughsbar.com Rewind Saturdays Free/£5, 10pm, myntbelfast.com SUNDAYS Social Sundays @ 21 Social Free, 5pm, 21social.co.uk Live Jazz @ Bert’s Jazz Bar Free, 12pm & 9pm themerchanthotel.com
WED 9 APRIL
THU 17 APR
THU 1 MAY
WED 7 MAY
WED 14 MAY
ART Curator Tour: Kara Walker exhibition MAC, 10 Exchange Street West 6pm, £3, themaclive.com
TALK / CQAF Illustrated Talk: Photography at home and on the front during WWI Northern Ireland War Memorial, 21 Talbot Street, 7.30pm, FREE niwarmemorial.org
MUSIC / CQAF Ginger Baker Jazz Confusion Festival Marquee, Custom House Square, 8pm, £15, cqaf.com
MAGIC Midweek Magic Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 7:30pm – 11pm, £4 blackboxbelfast.com
COMEDY Robin Ince - ‘In And Out Of His Mind’ Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 8pm – 11pm, £12 blackboxbelfast.com
FRI 18 APR MUSIC Phased Collective Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 9pm – 11pm, FREE blackboxbelfast.com Cocos Lover + Scorpion Jack & Pete McVeigh Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 8pm – 11pm, £6 advance/£8 on door, blackboxbelfast.com
PERFORMANCE / ART may cause shortening by Jayne Cherry ADF Gallery, Ground Floor, Cathedral Quarter Workspaces, 109-113 Royal Avenue 2pm – 4pm, FREE, adf.ie
SAT 19 APR
THURS 10 APRIL
SUN 20 APR
MUSIC Chicks With Picks Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 8pm – 11pm, FREE themaclive.com COMEDY What Would Beyoncé Do MAC, 10 Exchange Street West 7.45pm, £12-£22, themaclive.com
FRI 11 APRIL MUSIC Distillation 09: Live Bands Oh Yeah Music Centre,15-21 Gordon Street, 8.30pm, £5 ohyeahbelfast.com COMEDY What Would Beyoncé Do MAC, 10 Exchange Street West 7.45pm, £12-£22, themaclive.com
SAT 12 APRIL MUSIC Breaking Bands: New Live Talent Oh Yeah Music Centre,15-21 Gordon Street, 8.30pm, £3 ohyeahbelfast.com COMEDY What Would Beyoncé Do MAC, 10 Exchange Street West 7.45pm, £12-£22, themaclive.com
THU 10 – SAT 12 APRIL SAT 12 APR CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP Family Fun: Living Silhouettes MAC, 10 Exchange Street West 11am, £5, themaclive.com
SAT 12 APR MUSIC Men On The Hill Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 8pm – 11pm, £7 blackboxbelfast.com
SUN 13TH APR WORKSHOP / BELFAST PHOTO FESTIVAL Birds Eye View Of The City PSSquared, 18 Donegall Street 11am – 2pm and 3pm – 6pm, FREE, belfastphotofestival.com/ youthedition
TUE 15 APR ART / TALK Conversation series: Jayne Cherry ADF Gallery, Ground Floor, Cathedral Quarter Workspaces, 109-113 Royal Avenue 2pm, FREE, adf.ie TALK / LITERATURE History of the Belfast Blitz: commemoration event with historian Brian Barton Northern Ireland War Memorial, 21 Talbot Street, 11am, FREE niwarmemorial.org
MUSIC Moxie with DJ Karlos from Spree MAC, 10 Exchange Street West 8pm, £12-£17, themaclive.com
MUSIC Strange Victory Presents King Khan + The Shrines Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 8pm – 11pm, £8 blackboxbelfast.com
WED 23 – SAT 26 APR THEATRE The Events MAC, 10 Exchange Street West 7.45pm, £12-£22, themaclive.com
FRI 25 APR MUSIC Volume Control- All Ages live gig Oh Yeah Music Centre,15-21 Gordon Street, 7pm, £5 ohyeahbelfast.com
SAT 26 APR MUSIC / MONTHLY EVENT Belfast American Folk And Roots Club Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 8pm – 11pm, FREE blackboxbelfast.com
SUN 27 APR CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP Family Fun: Moving Silhouettes MAC, 10 Exchange Street West 2pm, £5, themaclive.com
MON 28 APR – THU 1 MAY WORKSHOP SERIES Print techniques including: Intaglio, Screen-print, Copperplate Etching, Lino & Drypoint Belfast Print Workshop 6-9pm, £145, bpw.org.uk
TUE 29 APR MUSIC Ulster Youth Jazz Orchestra Class Of 2014 Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 7:30pm – 11pm, £5 blackboxbelfast.com
SAT 26 APR TOUR / BELFAST PHOTO FESTIVAL Architecture Design & Photography Tour PLACE, 7 Lower Garfield Street 11am, £5, belfastphotofestival. com/youthedition WORKSHOP / BEFAST PHOTO FESTIVAL Photogram Belfast Exposed, 23 Donegall Street 2pm – 5pm, £5 belfastexposed.org
SUN 27 APR WORKSHOP Focus On: Pinhole Photography Belfast Exposed, 23 Donegall Street 11am – 4pm, £110 belfastexposed.org
MUSIC / CQAF Fuck Buttons plus full support Festival Marquee, Custom House Square, 8pm, £10 advance/ £12 on door, cqaf.com Hamell on Trial support by Jinx Lennon McHughs Bar, 8pm, £8, cqaf.com THEATRE The Dubliners Dilemma MAC, 10 Exchange Street West 8pm, £12-£17, themaclive.com
FRI 2 MAY FAMILY / STREET PERFORMANCE Festival Of Fools Various - Cotton Court, St Anne’s Square, Writers Square, Cornmarket, Rosemary Street 12noon – 7pm, FREE foolsfestival.com MUSIC / CQAF Mark Mulcahy McHughs Bar, 8pm, £8 advance/ £10 on door, cqaf.com LITERATURE / CQAF DBC Pierre The Dark Horse, Commercial Court, 7pm, £5, cqaf.com
SAT 3 MAY FAMILY / STREET PERFORMANCE Festival Of Fools Various - Cotton Court, St Anne’s Square, Writers Square, Cornmarket, Rosemary Street 12noon – 7pm, FREE foolsfestival.com MUSIC / CQAF Wilko Johnson Festival Marquee, Custom House Square, 8pm, £12, cqaf.com Webb Sisters St Georges Church, High Street 7.30pm, £12.50, cqaf.com MUSIC Shine Presents: Hands Like Houses 14+ Show Oh Yeah Music Centre, 15 – 21 Gordon Street, 7pm, £5, shine.net
SUN 4 MAY FAMILY / STREET PERFORMANCE Festival Of Fools Various - Cotton Court, St Anne’s Square, Writers Square, Cornmarket, Rosemary Street 12noon – 7pm, FREE foolsfestival.com MUSIC / CQAF Tinariwen Festival Marquee, Custom House Square, 8pm, £14, cqaf.com Rubberbandits Continental Fist Fight Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 7pm, £10, cqaf.com Birds of Chicago Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 2pm, £8 advance/ £10 on door cqaf.com FAMILY/LITERATURE Storytime Sundays MAC, 10 Exchange Street West Noon, FREE, themaclive.com
COMEDY / CQAF Rob Newman’s New Theory Of Evolution Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 8pm – 11pm, £10, cqaf.com
THU 8 MAY TALK / CQAF Illustrated Talk: Photography at home and on the front during WWI Northern Ireland War Memorial, 21 Talbot Street, 12.30pm, FREE niwarmemorial.org MUSIC / CQAF Dum Dum Girls + Crocodiles Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 8pm, £10, cqaf.com Wild Beasts plus support Festival Marquee, Custom House Square, 8pm, £14/ £12 conc cqaf.com MUSIC Getting to Know: Duke Special Oh Yeah Music Centre, 15 – 21 Gordon Street, 8pm, FREE ohyeahbelfast.com
THU 8 – SAT 10 MAY DANCE Ponies Don’t Play Football MAC, 10 Exchange Street West 9pm, £12 - £17, themaclive.com
FRI 9 MAY MUSIC The Upload Tour 3: Emma Blackery. Bribry and Dave Giles 14+ Show Oh Yeah Music Centre, 15 – 21 Gordon Street, 7pm, £8 ohyeahbelfast.com MUSIC / CQAF Shonen Knife Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 9pm – 11pm, £9, cqaf.com
SAT 10 MAY MUSIC Distillation 10: Live bands Oh Yeah Music Centre, 15 – 21 Gordon Street, 8.30pm, £5 ohyeahbelfast.com MUSIC / CQAF Madison violet Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 2pm, £8, cqaf.com The Selecter - Too Much Pressure 35th anniversary tour Festival Marquee, Custom House Square, 8pm, £10, cqaf.com CHILDREN’S WORKSHOPS Family Fun: Arty Abstracts MAC, 10 Exchange Street West 2pm, £5, themaclive.com
SUN 11 MAY MUSIC / CQAF De la Soul - 25 years of hip hop Festival Marquee, Custom House Square, 8pm, £15, cqaf.com Jimi Goodwin (Doves) Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 8pm – 11pm, £12, cqaf.com
MON 5 MAY
TUES 13 MAY
FAMILY / STREET PERFORMANCE Festival Of Fools Various - Cotton Court, St Anne’s Square, Writers Square, Cornmarket, Rosemary Street 12noon – 7pm, FREE foolsfestival.com
MUSIC Strange Victory Presents John Spencer Blues Explosion Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 8pm – 11pm, £20 blackboxbelfast.com
MON 5 MAY MUSIC / CQAF Son of Dave McHughs Bar, 8pm, £6, cqaf.com The Handsome Family Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 7:30pm – 11pm, £12.50 cqaf.com
TUES 6 MAY MUSIC / CQAF Matthew and the Atlas McHughs Bar, 8pm, £6, cqaf.com
THU 15 MAY Comedy/Poetry John Cooper Clarke MAC, 10 Exchange Street West 7.45pm, £12-£23 themaclive.com
SAT 17 MAY WORKSHOP Drawing Day 2014: in association with National Gallery of Ireland Northern Ireland War Memorial, 21 Talbot Street, 10.30am – 4pm, FREE, niwarmemorial.org MUSIC Shine Presents: Bury Tomorrow 14+ Show Oh Yeah Music Centre, 15 – 21 Gordon Street, 6.30pm, £12.50 shine.net
MON 19 MAY THEATRE The Unremarkable Death of Marilyn Monroe MAC, 10 Exchange Street West 7.45pm, £12-£22 themaclive.com
WED 21 MAY COMEDY Wonderfrog Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 8pm – 11pm, £5 blackboxbelfast.com
WED 21 MAY MUSIC Keith James Performs The Songs Of Leonard Cohen Black Box, 18 - 22 Hill Street 8pm – 11pm, £12 blackboxbelfast.com
WED 21 – THU 22 MAY Dance Dylan Quinn Dance Theatre Fulcrum MAC, 10 Exchange Street West 8pm, £12 - £17 themaclive.com
FRI 23 – SAT 24 MAY DANCE Russell Maliphant - Still Current MAC, 10 Exchange Street West 7.45pm, £12 - £22 themaclive.com
SAT 24 MAY CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP Family Fun: Jigsaw collages MAC, 10 Exchange Street West 11am, £5, themaclive.com
TUE 27 MAY - 14 JUNE THEATRE Villa & Discurso MAC, 10 Exchange Street West 8pm, £12 - £17 themaclive.com