OTL2021 Earlybird Archives

Joshua Burnside

Posted on 5th November 202020th November 2020 by site_admin

Experimental folk artist Joshua Burnside is something of an anomaly. With a brooding, powerful sound echoing artists of places afar and time long gone, his enthralling craft strives towards an aesthetic as much as visual as it is sonic.

Balanced with a diverse palette of sounds, Burnside deftly blends alt-folk and elements of the Irish folk song tradition with South American rhythms and Eastern European influences, whilst introducing synthetic and found-sounds, synths loops and crunching beats to create a stormy world that shifts and swirls perspective like a lingering lucid dream.

This will be a live streamed performance that you will be able to view online for free, with a capped number of tickets, and the option to make a donation.

Should official public health regulations change prior to the date to allow us to offer a live performance for a limited, socially distanced audience, we will offer a strictly limited number of tickets for sale closer to the time.

Edward Carson’s Last Stand

Posted on 29th October 202019th November 2020 by site_admin

In his acclaimed one-man show Edward Carson’s Last Stand, Paddy Scully depicts Carson in the London studio of the Belfast-born painter Sir John Lavery, waiting to sit for his portrait.

The show provides a valuable insight into the life and times of one of the most controversial Irishman before, during and after the turmoil of changing events of 1912.

Edward Carson’s was the first signature on the Ulster Covenant and it would have profound effects on the life of the island of Ireland.

Paddy Scully is a founding member of Belfast Theatre Company and an award-winning actor and director.

‘Edward Carson’s Last Stand is engaging, amusing and moving and puts some real flesh on the bones of this most misunderstood of Irishmen. Paddy Scully brings to bear in some of Carson’s quieter moments here, a sadness at his own lot, an almost unwilling agent of history, driven as much by what he couldn’t stand, Irish Home Rule, as what he could.’
Culture Northern IrelandDoors 12.45pm | Unreserved Seating

Alison Spittle

Posted on 22nd October 202019th November 2020 by site_admin

Alison Spittle is an award-winning writer and comedian who can regularly be heard on The Guilty Feminist and BBC Radio 4’s Grownup Land. She is the creator and star of the television series Nowhere Fast, which aired on RTÉ2 to great critical acclaim. She can currently be seen on screen in the film Extra Ordinary, in cinemas now. She also featured in RTÉ’s Celebrity Globetrotters.

Alison was a regular contributor to the RTÉ series Republic of Telly where she wrote and performed her own segment, A Guide to Mullingar. She was team captain on the panel show Choose or Lose for RTÉ 2 and also presented their coverage of Electric Picnic. She wrote and starred in Alison Spittle in Ireland, a short film produced by Baby Cow Productions for Sky Arts.

Alison’s chat show style podcast, The Alison Spittle Show has amassed a huge following with guests such as Sharon Horgan, Adam Hills and Kevin McGahern. She performs at podcast festivals across Ireland and the UK.

Alison’s stand up shows have enjoyed several sold out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Dublin Fringe Festival and First Fortnight, among others. Her first play Starlet premiered to great acclaim, garnering five stars from The Sunday Times.

She has performed at numerous festivals including the Vodafone Comedy Festival at the Iveagh Gardens, Body & Soul, Electric Picnic and Kilkenny Cat Laughs as well as headlining her own show at Vicar Street.

“Whether character or citizen, Spittle comes across as a kind of genius” **** IRISH TIMES

“A real alchemist turning the mundane and absurd alike into comedy gold with her phrasing” **** ONE4REVIEW

“Spectacular in a beautifully surreal way” IRISH INDEPENDENT

Doors 7.30pm | Seated, socially distanced show

Malojian

Posted on 19th November 202020th November 2020 by site_admin

Over the last few years Malojian has released four critically acclaimed albums (the last three of which have been nominated for the Northern Ireland Music Prize) and has collaborated with the likes of Steve Albini (Shellac, Nirvana, Low, Pixies), Joey Waronker (R.E.M., Beck, Roger Waters, Thom Yorke/Atoms for Peace) and Gerry Love (Teenage Fanclub, Lightships).

Having recently released album No. 5 Humm, a collaboration with Jason Lytle of Californian-indie- heroes Grandaddy, the world is finally waking up to one of Ireland’s most prolific and interesting artists.

“evokes such rich emotions”8/10 MOJO Magazine

“Absolutely love that…a masterpiece with a strong element of Beatles ’67…that kind of slightly woozy psychedelia…beautiful…” Ralph McLean, BBC Radio Ulster

“I love your music” Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2

“I’m completely obsessed” Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol)

“achingly beautiful” Q Magazine“beautiful stuff” Stuart Bailie, NME, BBC Radio Ulster

“the North’s best songwriter over the last half decade” Hot Press Magazine

“beautiful” Cerys Matthews, BBC 6 Music, The Guardian

“I really and truly believe we’ve unearthed a star here and I can’t urge you strongly enough to seek out this wonderful album.” Maverick Magazine

This will be a live streamed performance that you will be able to view online for free, with a capped number of tickets, and the option to make a donation.

Should official public health regulations change prior to the date to allow us to offer a live peformance for a limited, socially distanced audience, we will offer a strictly limited number of tickets for sale closer to the time.

Matt McGinn & Guests – Lessons of War

Posted on 30th January 202021st December 2020 by site_admin

Matt McGinn is an Irish songwriter like no other. It’s obvious by now that with the release of his 4th album Lessons of War, Matt does not follow any blueprint in any genre. Although the sentiment of his lyrics are forged in folk music, the sonic landscape he creates can really transcend most genres.

His 2018 album The End of the Common Man won praise far and wide – AMERICANA UK called it ‘an outstanding blend of soulful passion and melody that will haunt and inspire.’

Early critical acclaim is already coming in for Lessons of War with Line of Best Fit declaring it ‘a plaintive and devastating reassessment of the futilities of war, its horrors, effects and after-effects’. The lead single Bubblegum featuring Ciara O’Neill has been labelled as “one of the best singles you will hear this year” by HOT PRESS magazine.

Matt’s work is filled with tension and emotion, adding some ointment to the disparaging current affairs of today. This album was Matt’s own way of coming to terms with the world’s mistreatment of decent people over this last few years.

Teaming up with leading Irish songwriters like Mick Flannery, Ciaran Lavery and Ben Glover, the album tackles the huge subject of war and its affects. At the same time he sought out musicians from areas of conflict across the world to play their part on this important work.

In this unique festival event, Matt will be joined by his very special guests Ciara O’Neill and Ria Maguire, who both feature heavily on Lessons of War. Also on stage will be Matt’s incredible touring band that includes Nicky Scott and piano virtuoso, John McCullough.

‘Well isn’t that just extraordinary?…A tune that jumps out of the speakers and shakes hands with your ears’ – TOM ROBINSON, 6MUSIC

‘A track that puts goosebumps on your goosebumps’ – HOT PRESS

‘Fantastic…stops you in your tracks.’ – LYNETTE FAY, BBC RADIO ULSTER

‘It just keeps getting better and better with every listen.’ – RALPH MCLEAN, BBC RADIO ULSTER

Doors 1:30pm | Unreserved Seating