Jam-packed with concerts, workshops, sessions, walks and talks Belfast TradFest’s 2nd annual Winter Weekend returns to venues across Belfast UNESCO City of Music from 24th – 26th February, supported by Belfast City Council, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Ulster University and Titanic Distillers. Featuring a programme filled with internationally renowned talent in traditional Irish and Ulster Scots music, song and dance.
Internationally recognised artists including Déanta, The Friel Sisters, Ríoghnach Connolly, Seamus O’Kane, Niall Hanna, Cúig, Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta, Tim Edey and Ryan Molloy will headline nine concerts. Founding member of Dé Dannan and fiddle maestro Frankie Gavin will play the festival closing concert in the Empire Music Hall on a double bill with Armagh native but now Manchester based singer and flautist Ríoghnach Connolly of the Afro Celt Sound System.
Belfast TradFest’s Winter Weekend is delighted to host its inaugural Highland Piping Solo Competition at The Deer’s Head, Sunday 26th February. A selection of Irelands’ top pipers will compete for a place in the renowned MacCrimmon Trophy Competition 2023 which takes place annually at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in Brittany. The new Ulster University building on York Street will host workshops covering all instruments from bodhrán to bouzouki and smallpipes to singing. Delivered by some of the best traditional musicians from Ireland, Scotland, and beyond. Beginners can also join in the fun with classes in Sean Nós Singing (unaccompanied singing in Irish), whistle and sing (Ages 5 plus), Sean Nós Dancing with American Irish dancer Siobhán Butler and set dancing with Ulster’s own Mary Fox.
Join the lively Titanic Distillers Session Trail which will take you across the city to some of Belfast’s oldest and best-loved pubs including Madden’s Bar, The Duke of York, The John Hewitt, The Sunflower, and The Garrick. Sessions are free, and times are staggered so that traditional music fans can fit in as much ‘ceol agus craic’ (music and fun) as possible.
The festival’s afternoon events will include album launches at Raidió Fáilte by legendary Fermanagh purveyor of song Gabriel McArdle and up-and-coming stars Martha Guiney and Piaras Ó Lorcáin, plus talks at Ulster University by renowned bodhrán player Mel Mercier & County Clare concertina maestro Mary MacNamara.
Walking tours include Belfast City of Song led by traditional folk-singers Maurice Leyden and Jane Cassidy on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February. The singing-walking tour draws on Maurice’s acclaimed song collection to tell the story of Belfast as it grew from a small town to an industrial city. Join professional musicians as guides on the Belfast Traditional Music Trail on Saturday 25th February. The trail winds its way through cobbled alleyways, past famous landmarks, and onto private bars in some of the city’s oldest buildings. The guides perform traditional tunes and songs and explain the instruments, language, customs, and history that make up Ireland’s vibrant musical tradition.
For the full program visit https://www.belfasttraditionalmusic.com , and follow Belfast TradFest on their socials: https://www.facebook.com/belfastTradFest1 ,Twitter https://twitter.com/BelfastTradF, and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/belfasttradfest.
