Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SOUNDS FANTASTIC
So you know all about the Northern Ireland Music Prize and how it celebrates the best new musicians from around these parts, and the Oh Yeah Award which celebrates the best old musicians from around these parts. But were you aware it was all a mere post-script to a 10 day-long festival that covers all bases – from live gigs and talks, awards, conferences and music industry days, community programming and special events.
Sound of Belfast runs from November 2 until November 11, the night of the NI Music Prize, and features 60 live performances in 30 events across nine venues. Much to get excited about, then, and that’s before the industry workshops and community events are taken into account. Now de rigeur for any self-respecting music festival, these are in fact what give it a soul and set it apart from being a mere money-making swizz. It shows the organisers are prepared to invest something in both artists and fans.
One event that struck us as particularly interesting on November 4 is the launch of Native, a “music mart for local artists” in which you can get your vinyl signed by some of the acts involved all set to live music from the awesome Jealous of the Birds and Duke Special. And, of course, there’s an obligatory Belfast Music Bus Tour on the same day taking in some of the places that inspired acts from Ruby Murray to Snow Patrol. It winds up at the Oh Yeah Centre in good time for Native.
Sound of Belfast also includes community event Urban Affinity, on November 8, which gives young people from disadvantaged backgrounds an opportunity to access and participate in several music tasters across the day.
The venues taking part are the usual that you’d associate with cool music in Belfast – including The Limelight, The Empire, The Sunflower Bar, Voodoo, The MAC and the Black Box – and the bands seem to be well matched to such venerable establishments with, deep breath, Ricky Warwick and Damon Johnson, The Bonnevilles, Sister Ghost, Strange New Places, Leah Mcfall, Callum Stewart, Rory Neillis, Civil Simian, Burning Codes, No Oil Paintings, ROE, Wood Burning Savages, Mongol Gentelmen’s Club, The Tragedy of Dr Hannigan and Empty Lungs just a selection of those lined up.
Charlotte Dryden, of Oh Yeah said: “Sound of Belfast is about turning the spotlight up on local music. Belfast has an abundance of talent and there are gigs throughout the year, we want to promote and celebrate that. Our homegrown talent includes bands fresh out of their first practice through to internationally celebrated names. It’s a great opportunity to fully focus and check out new music, whet the appetite and return for more once you’ve been introduced and even reintroduced”.
For more information check out soundofbelfast. com Belfast-based singer/songwriter Sonja Sleator marks the release of her second EP with a headline show this coming Sunday in the historic Empire Music Hall. Recorded with acclaimed producer Michael Mormecha at Millbank Studios, the EP is called Adams and is a departure from the acoustic style Sonja is best known for.
Capturing the passion and energy of her live shows, Adams takes Sonja’s music to a new level, setting the tone for an exciting end to 2017 for the Belfast 27-year-old.
The self-released six-track EP will be available online from 6 October 2017.
Support at The Empire will be from John Andrews Music and Ethan Hanna.
Tickets £7, available from Ticketmaster, The Empire Bar or on the door.