Bored in Belfast

Thursday 12 November in Belfast

Belfast times. Last refreshed Fri 21:33.

Showing Music only.

Thursday 12 November 20 listings

Morning 1

11:00

Celebrating Our Showbands

Belmont Bowling Club · Music
This nostalgic talk will celebrate the showbands that dominated the Belfast music scene back in the 1950s and 60s. It will highlight the characteristics of showbands from this period -from the music to the snazzy suits – and explore how they evolved and adapted in later years. The talk will celebrate some of the key figures and groups that shaped the showband scene here. It will also highlight various venues across Belfast that would have hosted showband performances, from the large city centre halls like the Plaza to the smaller east Belfast venues. It will also reflect on the Strand’s days as a Variety Theatre, when showbands from across the country graced our stage. This richly illustrated presentation, by our Heritage Manager Rosie, will also draw upon fascinating archive footage alongside new interviews. Part of our ‘Heritage Talks’ programme: free talks about the heritage of the local area, followed by a cuppa and a chat. Hosted by the Strand at our ‘pop-up’ venue at Belmont Bowling Club. Made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Free Tickets 18+ Posted In: Talks Tagged: 18+
Tickets & info

Afternoon 2

13:00

Start Together Studio & Sound Of Belfast present "Breaking The Ice with Social Media" with Matt Bacon

Oh Yeah Music Centre · Music
A masterclass in social media presence for new artists by Matt Bacon of Dropout Media. You’ll know Matt as "Bacons.bits" from your feed, where he talks music and band advice, and shares social media & marketing skills. Often found conducting with his cigar, he’s been helping new and established artists from across the world to find and expand their audiences, one post at a time. Join us for a special talk on the insight into his approaches and outlook followed by a Q&A with Matt and Rocky O'Reilly from Start Together Studio. To buy tickets for this event please visit our events page: "Breaking The Ice with Social Media" with Matt Bacon tickets from Skiddle . Ticket sales powered by Skiddle Age 18+ Learn more Posted In: Talks Tagged: 18+
18+Tickets & info
13:00

Start Together Studio & Sound Of Belfast present "Breaking The Ice with Social Media" with Matt Bacon

Start Together Studio · Music
A masterclass in social media presence for new artists by Matt Bacon of Dropout Media. You’ll know Matt as "Bacons.bits" from your feed, where he talks music and band advice, and shares social media & marketing skills. Often found conducting with his cigar, he’s been helping new and established artists from across the world to find and expand their audiences, one post at a time. Join us for a special talk on the insight into his approaches and outlook followed by a Q&A with Matt and Rocky O'Reilly from Start Together Studio. Register (Free) 18+ Posted In: Workshops Tagged: 18+
Tickets & info

Tonight 17

19:00

Factory Sessions x VERA, Charlie Hanlon & The Davids

Banana Block · Music
The Factory Sessions are back - and this time, we're bringing, not one, not two but three brilliant artist to one of Belfast's most unique spaces. Featuring VERA, Charlie Hanlon and The Davids, this latest instalment of the Factory Sessions sees the The Banana Block being taken over for an all-ages celebration of great music, good energy and all the vibes. From intimate rooms to unexpected venues, The Factory Sessions are a series of unique gigs, allowing fans to experience their favourite artists in an intimate or reimagined way, capturing the honesty and vulnerability - an experience you won't want to miss out on. The Factory Sessions are presented by Factory 61, in association with SRC Music Dept. Factory 61 is a production company with a mission to incubate emerging freelance talent through providing industry-standard music and audio services, offering real responsibilities, real clients, and a real income. To keep up to date with everything Factory 61, follow them on Instagram: @wearefactory61 £15.00 All Ages Posted In: Live Music Tagged: All Ages
£15Tickets & info
19:00

Hanna Tams (Palestine), Huartan + support

Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich · Music
A concert of artists representing international family roots and featuring a curated music dance collaboration between Palestinian dance, Hanna Tams and artists from the tradtronica collective Huartan. The concert will be followed by a Q&A discussion At a young age, Hanna Tams set himself apart as a leader in youth engagement when in 2012 he established the Douban Dance Company in Jerusalem. Through his dance company, Hanna serves Palestinian youth who are at significantly higher risk of destructive behaviors than their peers in Israel and the West Bank. Young Palestinians involved in Hanna’s dance company have transformed their lives by countering the predominant pressures of violence, drug use, and school dropout rates among at-risk Palestinian youth. Hanna is a leader in using art for social change. He takes his dance company into schools, after school clubs, and other educational institutes. Today, more than 600 young Palestinians participate in Hanna’s dance program. Through dance, he has opened the Palestinian public to the prospect of credible social alternatives to violence, and he also has changed the attitudes of parents towards the value of arts education for their children. Formed in 2023, Huartan have created an original blend of Irish traditional music and electronica, earning them accolades such as the BBC Introducing NI Artist of the Year (2025), the 2024 NI Music Prize Live Act of the Year, and the inaugural Amhrán na Laoch competition. Through bold reinterpretations of at-risk Irish language songs, Huartan’s self-titled debut album fulfils their mission to connect contemporary audiences with the oral singing tradition and native language of Ulster. Their theatrical live shows playfully channel collective imaginaries of a pre-Christian Ireland, featuring masked performers who embody the presence of the síogaí (fairies/shapeshifters). £10.00 18+ Posted In: Live Music Tagged: 18+
£10Tickets & info
19:00

The Budvar Music Trail: Cora Harkin

The Black Box · City centre · Music
Cora Harkin, is a dynamic singer-songwriter from Derry. Specializing in indie pop, Cora's impactful year includes headlining at Derry's Nerve Centre and releasing four resonant and spirited singles. Her live performances, have become synonymous with energy and authenticity, drawing fans locally and beyond. Her festival repertoire spans notable events like Stendhal, Dalfest, Lenafest, and the Gasyard Feile. Supporting acts such as Hothouse Flowers, Virgins at Oh Yeah Centre, Belfast, and Lavengro at Ebrington, Derry showcases her versatility. Cora, capable of delivering a captivating performance solo or with her band, impresses with powerful vocals and undeniable charisma. Notably, she clinched the Forestside Roots Young Singer-Songwriter title, emerged as the youngest finalist in Translink Q Radio Young Singer-Songwriters competition, and claimed the top solo spot in the 'Clash of the New Breeds.' Cora’s single ‘Record’s Over’ was Q Radio’s ‘One to watch’ single of the week. Her presence extends to radio airwaves, including features on BBC Radio Ulster's Mark Patterson Show and the Vinny Hurrell Show. Cora Harkin's musical journey is marked by achievements, promising an engaging and vibrant addition to the local music scene and beyond. Free Entry On The Door 18+ Posted In: Budvar Music Trail , Live Music
Venue listing
19:30

Martyn Joseph

The Crescent Arts Centre · South Belfast · Music
This November, Music Capital and The Crescent are pleased to welcome the Award-Winning Welsh Singer-Songwriter Martyn Joseph to Belfast. For over 40 years, Martyn Joseph has built a reputation as one of the most powerful and compelling live performers in contemporary folk and acoustic music. Armed with just a guitar and a remarkable voice, he delivers performances filled with energy, passion, humour, and emotional depth, captivating audiences in venues of every size around the world. Often compared to artists such as Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, Dave Matthews, and Bruce Cockburn, Martyn has carved out a sound and stage presence entirely his own. His distinctive percussive guitar style, paired with expressive and thought-provoking songwriting, has earned him the nickname “The Welsh Springsteen”. After signing with Sony Music in the early 1990s, where he released two albums and achieved Top 40 success, Martyn went on to become a pioneer of independent music, launching his own label in 1999 and embracing direct-to-fan platforms long before it became common practice. In November 2025, he released his 28th studio album, Troubled Horses, a haunting and intimate collection of stripped-back acoustic songs exploring vulnerability, humanity, and connection. Martyn’s songwriting continues to receive widespread recognition. In 2024, BBC Radio 2 invited him for a second time to contribute to their award-winning 21st Century Folk project, where he wrote and performed Chapel Porth Beach to mark the 200th anniversary of the RNLI . This followed the success of Albert’s Place in 2023, which led to appearances on BBC Breakfast , BBC Radio 2 , and BBC Radio 4 . His acclaimed 2021 album 1960 was named Folk Album of the Month by Mojo , received four stars from Uncut , and spent much of 2022 in the UK Official Folk Charts . He has also received multiple Wales Folk Award nominations, winning the award for Here Come the Young in 2019. Beyond music, Martyn is deeply committed to social causes. In 2015, he was commissioned by Parliament to write Nye (Song for the NHS) as part of the Sweet Liberties project, commemorating the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta . He performed the song in the Speaker’s Chamber at the Houses of Parliament. Alongside his wife Justine, Martyn also founded the Let Yourself Trust , a charitable initiative supporting grassroots organisations around the world. Over the past decade, the trust has distributed more than £1 million to community projects and charitable causes. With over half a million record sales, 28 studio albums, and thousands of live performances behind him, Martyn Joseph remains an artist driven by passion, humanity, and a belief in the power of song to connect people. His concerts are widely regarded as unforgettable experiences, leaving audiences moved long after the final note fades.
£23.72Venue listing
19:30

The Budvar Music Trail: Conor Mallon & Dara Dubh

Oh Yeah Music Centre · Music
Conor Mallon from Keady, Co. Armagh started his musical career with the Armagh Pipers Club where he attended Uilleann Pipe lessons. He progressed through ranks to become one of the senior teachers at the club before touring in a full time capacity. Conor has been categorised as “Leading the next generation of Uilleann pipe players.” by folking.com . Conor was the first recipient of the ACNI/BBC NI Young Traditional Musicians Platform award and subsequently was a guest musician with the Ulster Orchestra and with the award winning Foden’s Brass Band. Conor is a Senior County, Ulster and All-Ireland Champion on Uilleann Pipes in the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and has won many other awards including the Uilleann Piping Scholarship by the Na Píobairí Uilleann Dublin in 2008 and was the first recipient of the Mark Donnelly Bursary for Uilleann Piping Award in 2010. Conor has performed at many festivals in Ireland, Europe and the USA including the William Kennedy Piping festival, Piping Live in Glasgow, the Milwaukee Irish Fest and has toured extensively on his own, with his own band “Conor Mallon Band”, with band “Connla”, Comhaltas and with the prestigious worldwide show, “Irish Celtic”. He has performed on a number of Radio shows, TV programmes for RTE, TG4 and the BBC individually and with various other groups. Mallon’s debut solo album ‘Unearthed’ exploded on to the folk/traditional scene, featuring mostly his own compositions. Obtaining nominations for ‘Album of the Year’ at ‘The NI Music Prize Awards’, in Germany at the ‘Music Critics Awards’ and winning the prestigious ‘Ireland Tonight Radio Awards. Dara Dubh is an Irish indie–folk–rock artist whose songs sit somewhere between heartfelt confession and a good kick up the road. A singer-songwriter and harpist with a habit of blending the delicate with the downright fierce, she brings a sharp emotional edge to a sound shaped by folk roots, alternative influences, and whatever else has been rattling around her head that week. With the harp as her trusted companion, Dubh challenges the idea of an instrument often associated with traditional music. The harp has found new life in Dara’s hands as she pushes the boundaries of its capabilities, and a voice that can shift from whisper-soft to unapologetically powerful without warning. A SAMA Best Newcomer nominee, JBL & Martin Garrix Music Academy top 10 UK artists and one of The List’s Hot 100 (No. 57), Dara has taken her live show across the UK and Italy, collecting a run of sold-out nights in Scotland, Ireland, and Italy along the way. Her 2024 EP opened the door to a wider audience, followed by a collaborative EP in 2025 that pushed her sound into new territory. She’s currently working away—quietly but determinedly—on her debut album, set for 2026. With a sound that refuses to sit neatly in any one box, Dara Dubh continues to carve out her own corner of a genre dyfing landscape, one unhurried but unforgettable song at a time. To buy tickets for this event please visit our events page: The Budvar Music Trail: Conor Mallon & Dara Dubh tickets from Skiddle . Ticket sales powered by Skiddle Age Under-18s Welcome (with Parent or Guardian) Learn more Posted In: Live Music Tagged: Under-18s Welcome (with Parent or Guardian)
£15Tickets & info
20:00

McKowski Café

The Harrison · Music
McKowski Café at The Harrison presents Ed Cosens. Singer-songwriter and former guitarist and songwriter with Reverend and the Makers. A key figure in Sheffield’s 00s music scene, he has also worked with artists including Damon Albarn, Richard Hawley, Beth Nielsen Chapman and the Wandering Hearts. With two albums released and a third in progress, Ed is a multi-platinum and gold-selling songwriter and artist whose career spans two decades. £19.00 18+ Posted In: Live Music Tagged: 18+
£19Tickets & info