The soaring arches and resonant acoustics of Carlisle Memorial Church create an atmosphere perfectly suited to unaccompanied song. It is an ideal setting to experience the powerful four-part singing of Landless.

Landless — Ruth Clinton, Meabh Meir, Sinéad Lynch and Lily Power — perform unaccompanied traditional songs from Irish, Scottish, English and American traditions. Singing in close harmony, their repertoire spans songs of love, death and lamentation, alongside work songs, shape-note hymns and contemporary folk compositions.

Deeply embedded in the traditional singing communities of Dublin and Belfast, Landless have performed widely in Ireland and internationally, earning a reputation for intense, immersive live performances.

Their second album, Lúireach (2024), produced once again by John ‘Spud’ Murphy (Lankum/Katie Kim), has received widespread critical acclaim. The record features their signature unaccompanied singing alongside subtle, carefully placed instrumentation. Their debut album, Bleaching Bones, was released in March 2018.

Press for Lúireach

“Four female singers whose voices seem to rise from the sacra of their spines… Long-term Celtic music fans should flock to them — they’re a deliciously doomier Clannad.” — The Guardian (Folk Album of the Month *****)

“Instrumentals are sparse… The focus is on the band’s extraordinary voices, placed front and centre, weaving together to create a shapeshifting whole.” — The Quietus

“On their second LP they come across like Macbeth’s Weird Sisters crashing a Sandy Denny séance… Unearthly.” — MOJO (****)

Alternative folk six-piece Madra Salach release debut EP, It’s a Hell of an Age (26.1.26) featuring recent singles “I Was Just A Boy” and “Blue & Gold” which have received high praise from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, So Young, The Independent and BBC Radio 6.

The group took the Irish circuit by storm in 2025 with rammed festival sets across the country, a sold-out debut London show at The George, supporting Gurriers in The Button Factory, and their standout set at Other Voices in Dingle, highlighting that word of mouth can still result in feverish crowds showing up both here and across the pond.

Snapped up by Erin Barker from T-Time for management and having recently impressed at Left of the Dial, the band are one of the must-see acts at Live At Leeds, The Great Escape: First 50 and Eurosonic.

Introducing the band: Paul Banks (vocals), Adam Cullen (guitar), Jack Martin (mandolin/tin whistle/synth), Maxime Arnold (harmonium), Dara Duffy (drums), and Jack Lawlor (bass).

Madra Salach is the culmination of various influences (Lankum, The Pogues, Lisa O’Neill). The band members are also part of multiple alternative acts who are currently extremely active on the Irish emerging circuit (Fizzy Orange, Ten Hail Mary’s, Sultan Leroy, Softdrink Millionaire).

This event takes place in a licensed venue; therefore, admission to the performance is limited to guests aged 18+.

Belle Chen is an Australian-Taiwanese pianist and composer whose unique approach in blurring the lines between classical and electronic music has earned her an Australian Music Prize nomination as well as Top 20 positions on both the UK and Australian classical charts.

Notes fall like raindrops, quickening pace as the clouds gather. The piano melody splish sploshes into the electronic soundscape. Belle Chen‘s album Ravel in the Forest, released on the Platoon label, leads the listener through the wonder of the natural world is imbued into this imaginary space.

With the unmistakable influences of Maurice Ravel, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Joe Hisaishi, Belle blends sonic synth explorations, classical virtuosity, and free flowing improvisations that feel equally at home on jazz or experimental stages. This unmissable solo performance will include tunes from her Ravel in the Forest album and new material.

As part of CQAF 26, join us as we celebrate 30 years of The Fugees’ iconic album The Score with Blackjack + Jai Sian offering their take on this classic.

From São Paulo to Belfast via Bangkok, Blackjack + Jai Sian serve up jazz, funk, soul, and serious groove with zero apologies. Led by award-winning Brazilian drummer/producer Henrique ‘Blackjack’ Franco and fronted by smoky-voiced powerhouse Jai Sian (yes, the one who had all four chairs spinning on The Voice UK), they will be joined by a collective of the most exciting performers in Hip Hop  and Soul that this island has to offer.

Ani Glass is Cardiff-based electronic-synth-pop musician, producer and artist who sings in her native languages, Welsh and Cornish. In March 2020 she released her self-produced debut album ‘Mirores’ which was awarded Welsh Album of the Year and shortlisted for the Welsh Music Prize. Citing influences such as Giorgio Moroder, Vengalis, and Arthur Russell, her much-anticipated ‘sumptuous synth-pop’ follow-up album ‘Phantasmagoria’ was released in September 2025.

Is ealaíontóir, léiritheoir agus ceoltóir popcheol-sintéiseoir-leictreonach í Ani Glass atá lonnaithe i gCaerdydd agus a chanann ina teangacha dúchais féín, mar atá Breatnais agus Coirnis. D’eisigh sí a halbam féinléirithe Mirores i mí an Mhárta in 2020, albam a bronnadh Albam Breatnach na Bliana air agus a bhí ar ghearrliosta do Duais Cheoil na Breataine Bige. Agus tionchar leithéidí Giorgio Moroder, Vengalis, agus Arthur Russell ar a cuid ceoil, eisíodh ina dhiaidh sin a halbam ‘popcheol galánta sintéiseora’ a raibh súil mhór leis, ‘Phantasmagoria’ i mí Mheán an Fhómhair in 2025.

IMLÉ are a collective of musicians under stewardship of Dublin based musician and producer Cian MacCárthaigh. IMLÉ mix different musical styles and artforms together in a way that has never been seen or heard before in the Irish language musical sphere. So far they have released two albums and one EP. IMLÉ (2015), Fáilte Isteach (2022) and Taoille (2025), all of which were produced by Karl Odlum. Music from their albums has been used on popular Netflix series such as BODKIN and HOUSE OF GUINNESS.

Is buíon cheoltóirí faoi stiúir an cheoltóra agus léiritheora Cian MacCárthaigh IMLÉ agus bíonn ceoltóirí éagsúla ag casadh agus ag taifeadadh leo an t-am ar fad. Bíonn sé i gcónaí de rún acu stíleanna éagsúla ceoil a mheascadh lena chéile agus rudaí éagsúla nuálacha a léiriú trí Ghaeilge. Tá dhá albam agus EP eisithe acu, IMLÉ (2016), Fáilte Isteach (2022) agus Taoille (2025) ar fad déanta leis an léiritheoir Karl Odlum. Bhí ceol de chuid IMLÉ le cloisteáil ar chláracha ar Netflix ar nós BODKIN agus HOUSE OF GUINNESS.

Tá an halla ceolchoirmeacha suite ar an 2ú hurlár. Tabhair faoi deara nach bhfuil aon ardaitheoir ná beár ann. Beir buidéal leat.

Gig taking place in 2nd floor concert hall. *No lift access. No bar. Bring your own.

Phoebe Bridgers is known for exquisite lyrics that explore themes of heartbreak, loss, family relationships and coming-of-age.

Amhráin na Gealaí features her songs translated into Irish by poets Caitríona Ní Chléirchín and Dairena Ní Chinnéide, and performed by Belfast indie-pop artist Aoibha, of whom Hot Press has declared ‘her gripping vocals could halt anyone in their tracks’ – and by Jessie Dingle, who wowed audiences with her dynamic performance at IMRAM 2024’s Taylor Swift Project.

The lyrics will be projected on-screen with art selected by visual designer Margaret Lonergan.

English post-punk originals A Certain Ratio return to the Black Box, bringing their unmistakable collision of funk, dub, electronics and dance-floor grit. Still restless, still unclassifiable, ACR deliver groove-heavy industrial realness with a sharp, modern edge.

The show celebrates the release of ACR:BOX, marking 40 years since their debut — the Martin Hannett-produced All Night Party, which also happened to be Factory Records’ very first single. A landmark moment, then and now.

Emerging from the late-’70s post-punk explosion, A Certain Ratio never followed the rules — and never sounded like anyone else. Their forward-thinking punk-funk experiments helped shape the future, leaving fingerprints on artists from LCD Soundsystem and Happy Mondays to Franz Ferdinand, ESG and Factory Floor.

Across a genre-defying catalogue — spanning releases on Factory, A&M, and Robs Records — ACR fused avant-funk, jazz, tape loops, electronics and raw post-punk attitude into something entirely their own. Music that moved the body, challenged the mind, and looked impossibly cool doing it.

Four decades on, the sound still hits hard. The groove still cuts deep. And A Certain Ratio still refuse to stand still.

This event takes place in a licensed venue; therefore, admission to the performance is limited to guests aged 18+.

We’re delighted to welcome acclaimed Dublin music ensemble Glasshouse back to CQAF to reimagine the work of Icelandic giants Sigur Rós for their ensemble.

Arranger Robert Reid Allan crafts new textures and dynamic arcs that honour the band’s luminous sound and reveal unexpected detail and intimacy.

Drawing from across their catalogue, the programme traces whisper-soft incantations to sky-wide crescendos, inviting listeners into a landscape of shimmering harmony, pulsing rhythm and suspended time.

Join us to celebrate the enduring influence of Sigur Rós and experience these songs anew . A rare chance to hear iconic tracks lovingly reimagined in concert, in a setting built for deep listening.

Legendary drum master Steve White of The Style Council, Paul Weller and more announces live shows with his new band launching his new album ‘Soul Drums’ on Acid Jazz Records

Steve White came to fame as drummer with The Style Council appearing on the majority of the band’s recordings throughout the 1980’s and touring around the world including appearing at ‘Live Aid’ in 1985.

When the Style Council broke up Steve White co-founded his own group with saxophonist Alan Barnes – The Jazz Renegades – who were one of the first bands from the ‘Acid Jazz’ movement. Steve went on to perform with Galliano, The Young Disciples, JTQ and more around that time.

Steve White joined the Paul Weller Movement in 1991 and continued to record and perform with Paul Weller throughout the first few decades of his solo career.

Steve White has recorded albums with Mick Talbot from the Style Council as Talbot/White and the Players group with Mick Talbot and Damon Minchella. 2008 saw Steve form the highly acclaimed Trio Valore with Damon Minchella and in 2015 Damon & Steve formed The Family Silver with ex-Mother Earth vocalist Matt Deighton.

Steve White has also appeared live with Oasis, The Who, Ocean Colour Scene, Jon Lord, Ginger Baker, La Roux, Ian Dury and many more.

da Googie is the solo project of Deb Googe, the bass player in My Bloody Valentine and Thurston Moore Group. da Googie blends traditional basslines with more abstract noises and field recordings to create songs based around intricate, layered soundscapes.

Cara Tivey is a pianist and composer. During the 80s and 90s, Cara worked as a session keyboardist, touring and recording with various bands, including Everything But The Girl, Billy Bragg, and Blur during their Parklife era. She later taught music and Performing Arts at the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford.

Despite decades of stellar work, neither Deb nor Cara have ever released an album under their own names until now, with The Golden Thread, their full-length debut made under the name da Googie + Cara Tivey.

Immersive Visuals designed by Deb Googe and operated and installed by The Fully Automatic Model

(This is the second event in the Oh Yeah Presents immersive series, following the commission of VANTA during Sound of Belfast 2025. Each one is unique.)

About the Artists

Deb Googe joined My Bloody Valentine during its ascent to legend, Deb joined My Bloody Valentine, and then filled a temporary void in Primal Scream. She also aided in Thurston Moore’s late-period artistic high, formed Snowpony with Stereolab’s Katharine Gifford, and played bass in ex-Fall guitarist Brix Smith’s all-female band.

Cara Tivey may be best known as a long-time collaborator of Billy Bragg, but she has also played with a remarkable array of artists, including Everything But The Girl, Blur, Lilac Time, Au Pairs, and the greatest living genius of the West Midlands, Robert Lloyd of Nightingales fame.

The Fully Automatic Model is a multidisciplinary artist from Derry working with digital projection, generative art and light as a sculptural medium.

PRESS FOR THE GOLDEN THREAD

The Golden Thread is an overdue declaration of artistry from two musicians whose work has long underpinned the music of others. The past lingers, but here, it twists, tightens, and trembles into something altogether different. — Post-punk.com

This is no mere side project, but very much music in its own zone. The songs vary from mesmerizing drone pieces to a captivating cascade of arpeggios hooking around the neo-industrial drum patterns. — Louder Than War

An atmospheric, cutting-edge, experimental tapestry of dark, magical musical textures and songs by an English duo of seasoned, innovative collaborators in a superb debut LP together. The album is also decorated with clever, entrancing videos created by Googe, making it a fabulously original release, truly unlike anything else out there. — The Song Bar

“Dumb”is available on YouTube as a fantastic video created by Deb herself, featuring absurdities captured in animated (and public domain) footage—such as a rodent army, ape-like men alongside man-like apes, and brainless birds—along with their even sadder human equivalents, captured on film. By the time you read this, a second video,”Bad Habits,” will likely have already appeared.

‘I have adored and collected disco records all my life.

I am a child of the 70s and have deep admiration for the extraordinary productions from Quincy Jones to The Bee Gees, from Nile Rogers and Allen Toussaint to Winston Monseque and Motown to name but a few. They have created some of the most loved and celebrated productions of the 20th century.

The dance floor is a place of union and love of people, the celebration of dance and the human body, and the unification of people with no judgement, borders, racism or homophobia.

So here is my humble offering to the dancefloor.’