In this special show for Out to Lunch, All the Best will mark the 40^th Anniversary of John Prine’s celebrated ‘German Afternoons’ album – a landmark record for Prine containing classics such as ‘Paradise’, ‘Sailin’ Around’ and ‘Speed of the Sound of Loneliness’.

All the Best are a band put together by a bunch of hardcore Prine fans featuring Paddy Nash, Junior Johnson, Sean Doone (No Oil Paintings) and Donal Scullion (The Unholy Gospel Band), with special guest vocalists and an amazing band behind them.

The band’s first performance took place at Atlantic Sessions in 2024 to a great response. The band capture the beauty of Prine – never exact copies of John’s versions but loving homage to songs they all cherish.

‘The audience reaction was truly remarkable but then again, so were the songs and players performing them so I don’t know why I’m surprised. A night of old favourites and devastating deep cuts that I just know old JP himself would happily raise a glass to in appreciation. I certainly did.’ – Ralph McLean

Take a leisurely stroll on a Sunday afternoon to find out a little more about some of the historic pubs of the Cathedral Quarter and Belfast city centre.

Each pub, from Kelly’s Cellars to the Dirty Onion, The Duke of York to White’s Tavern, and The Morning Star to McHugh’s has fascinating tales and links to our city’s history that will be teased out. You’ll learn why several establishments claim the city’s ‘oldest pub’ title, which of them is in fact the oldest tavern, and what precisely the ‘oldest’ claims of some of the others relate to!

Exploring the oldest part of Belfast town before it became a city in 1888, you’ll hear about early merchants and importers, where secret societies met, the pick-up points for mail coaches, old jails, former whiskey warehouses, newspapers of long ago, and more.

The tour will start from outside Kelly’s Cellars at 2.00pm. The tour will end at 3.30pm outside McHugh’s, where you may choose to stay on to enjoy a drink or coffee and perhaps an afternoon traditional music session.

The tour will cover up to 1.5 miles and will take place whatever the weather, so please come prepared. No refreshments are included as part of the tour ticket.

The tour has been developed and was delivered by Dolores Vischer, a Green Badge qualified tour guide, through her company Creative Tours Belfast.

Hiraeth is a Welsh word with no English equivalent. It’s a sense of loss or separation from your home or the sense of your spiritual being. The yearning of the émigré.

Michael Smiley is a Northern Irish actor who has come a long way since his days as a stand-up comedian in Belfast. His extensive filmography includes performances in Alien: Earth, Rogue One, Censor, The Lobster, Bookworm with Elijah Wood. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer & The Other Boleyn Girl,

Michael is perhaps best known for his acclaimed performance as Roger in Sharon Horgan’s award winning Apple series, Bad Sisters and Gal in Ben Wheatley’s Kill List (for which he won Best Supporting Actor award at the 2011 British Independent Film Awards) and has previously appeared in three more of Ben Wheatley’s films; Down Terrace, A Field in England and Free Fire.

He came to prominence playing Tyres O’Flaherty in cult show Spaced and his television credits include Luther, Black Mirror, Ripper Street, Bloodlands, Utopia, Doctor Who and the latest series of Blue Lights

As well as acting, Michael has written and presented two series for BBC Northern Ireland ― Something To Ride Home About ― focusing on his love of cycling, and he has recently written, directed and produced his first short film, La Petite Mort, which premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh. He is currently completing his first screenplay.

Michael is married to Miranda Sawyer, the acclaimed, award-winning writer and journalist. Miranda is the author of Uncommon People: Britpop and Beyond in 20 Songs; Out of Time: Midlife if You Still Think You’re Young; and Park and Ride.

For this Out to Lunch special event Miranda will be interviewing Michael about his journey, the idea of ‘hiraeth’ and the notion of what and where is home.

Keith James presents a haunting and immaculately crafted concert celebrating the songs of Nick Drake.

Nick Drake is one of the UK’s most revered singer-songwriters. He has given us timeless songs that shed all the tears of life within their fragile yet perfect lines. He recorded three cherished albums between 1969 and 1972, but was almost entirely unknown in his day.

After his tragic death in 1974 aged only 26, his music almost disappeared into obscurity. Now, thanks to a massive resurgence of interest and a worldwide re-evaluation of his genius, Nick Drake has become a national treasure.

Several meticulously compiled biographies look at every aspect of Nick’s life and music, throwing light on many shadowy corners of mystery and supposition.

Two decades have now passed since singer/guitarist Keith James first performed his stunningly beautiful series of Nick Drake concerts.

He was the first artist to bring this intriguingly fragile music to venues across the UK in a live concert form. The result was six years of highly acclaimed tours featuring over 1000 concerts in venues across the UK and Europe, including Glastonbury Festival.

“Musicians brave enough to make the music they really believe in. Keith James is one of these.” ~ Bob Harris

“A fresh and powerful approach to these wonderful songs” ~ Patrick Humphries (Nick Drake biographer)

Written by Neil Titley
Starring Will Govan | Directed by Rebecca O’Connor

Set in Paris in 1898, this acclaimed one-man play sees Will Govan embody a brilliant but broken Oscar Wilde, exiled and reflecting on a life lived in the glare of fame and scandal. Drawing on Wilde’s letters, essays, and irrepressible wit, Work is the Curse of the Drinking Classes is a tragicomic monologue that moves between dazzling humour and poignant heartbreak.

Wilde, now alone and disgraced after imprisonment, revisits themes of love, beauty, art and injustice with unflinching honesty and defiant charm. Whether you’re a lifelong admirer or a newcomer to his world, this 60-minute performance offers a fresh and humanising portrait of one of literature’s most iconic figures.

Performed over 700 times across five continents, this revival breathes new life into Neil Titley’s celebrated script. It marks a return to the stage for Govan — artist, interviewer, and co-founder of The Moth — under the direction of novelist and theatre-maker Rebecca O’Connor.

Critical acclaim has followed the show across the globe:

“Charming and witty” – Irish Times 

“Funny and melancholic” – The Times 

“Fine and genuinely moving” – Festival Times, Edinburgh

Come see Wilde as you’ve never seen him: alone, reflective, and devastatingly funny.

The musical career of the legend that is Barbara Streisand has spanned over six decades.

The Broadway star went from dust to stardom in the blink of an eye. Most famous for her role in Funny Girl, she is a phenomenon – singer, actress, director, philanthropist and author. Few have garnered the accolades that she has. She has had a number one album in each decade since she first appeared on the scene in 1960.

Belfast born vocalist extraordinaire MARION JORDAN will take you on a magical musical journey through time as you sit back, relax, and enjoy the sounds of a fabulous production.

A show that will have you singing along, tapping your toes, and even laughing. But most of all you will be joining with Marion in a celebration of hit songs such as ‘As If We Never Said Goodbye’, ‘No More Tears’, ‘The Way We Were’, ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’, ‘Memory’ plus many more.

Northern Ireland singer Marion Jordan will be delivering an explosive show performing the hits that made Barbara Streisand a household name.

Brought to life on stage by Jim Roche & Liam Hourican and stunningly accompanied by live music, we follow a pair of Dublin characters portrayed in immaculately detailed scenes.

In Counterparts, a frustrated law clerk is determined to have a big night’s drinking, while in A Little Cloud, a sensitive soul is thrown by a meeting with an old university friend back from London. At once funny and tragic, the stories are populated with an array of colourful characters who, despite the bowler hats and Edwardian collars, remain entirely contemporary.

These two short stories from Joyce’s debut work are vivid ‘slices of life’ in early 20th century Dublin, revealing a society in paralysis, desperately awaiting change.

‘lighting up the genius of Joyce’s Dubliners’  – Sunday Independent

‘beautifully dramatised and served up as a lunchtime treat… a perfect hour’s entertainment’ –  Irish Independent

‘two superbly articulated performances’ – The Arts Review

 ‘a superb dramatised introduction to one of the greatest short-story collections in world literature’  – Frank McNally, The Irish Times

Duration: 60 minutes
Age Guidance: 12+
Adult themes, reference to domestic abuse.
​

Volta Theatre Company is a new company with the remit to bring classical theatre to a wide audience. Its’ founders are Liam Hourican and Jim Roche, who have collaborated for many years in theatre and TV. 

Liam has worked with Shakespeare’s Globe, the Old Vic and Second Age Theatre company and has written and performed sketch shows and comedy drama for Channel 4, RTE and the BBC. Jim has starred in Normal People (directed by Lenny Abramson (BBC), Harry Wild (Acorn TV) Blood 2 (Virgin Media) Vikings (History Channel), Damo and Ivor,Fair City, Killinaskully, The Mario Rosenstock Show, Dead Still (RTE), The Tudors (Showtime) and iCandy (Channel 4). Musicians Feilimidh Nunan and Conor Sheil regularly work with all the principal orchestras in Ireland (National Symphony Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, Wexford Festival Orchestra, Irish National Opera Orchestra). Their professional interests have led them to collaborate with many other groups in film and theatre but also in different musical genres ranging from jazz to traditional music.

CAST AND CREW
WRITTEN BY: James Joyce
ADAPTED & DIRECTED BY: Jim Roche & Liam Hourican
PERFORMED BY: Jim Roche & Liam Hourican
MUSICIANS: Feillimidh Nunan and Conor Sheil
LIGHTING DESIGN: Colm Maher​
PHOTOGRAPHY: Malcolm McGettigan
GRAPHIC DESIGN: Gavin Doyle

Spend an evening in the company of writer, actor, and broadcaster Michael Palin, in conversation with Kathy Clugston, as he shares stories from his extraordinary career – from his comedy beginnings to his life as a world traveller.

Palin will reflect on his latest adventure, Venezuela: A Travel Journal – an exploration through one of South America’s most fascinating and complex countries. With his trademark curiosity and wit, he’ll share stories of the people he met, the places he explored, and the reality of life in modern-day Venezuela.

From Monty Python, Ripping Yarns and The Death of Stalin to his bestselling books including Great-Uncle Harry, North Korea Journal, and his acclaimed diaries and fiction, Palin remains one of Britain’s most beloved storytellers.

Now, he brings his vivid and varied portrait journal to the stage in an evening of insight, warmth and fascinating tales from his travels to the North and South Poles, the Sahara Desert, the Himalayas, and beyond.

Hal is back with a brand-new tour for 2025/2026 with a show that promises to stick it to ‘The Man’, as long as ‘The Man’ doesn’t stick it back to him.

With his trademark hard-hitting ‘take no prisoners’ comedy (this is what Hal told me to write!!!) he will be hilariously pontificating on subjects like middle aged dating, social media, the insanity of modern politics and the fact that his daughters love him but don’t respect him. He believes that, after you’ve seen the show, you’ll feel exactly the same way.

His last tour was extended four times and he’s one of a select number of comics to have done Live At The Apollo three times and the Royal Variety twice, TV also includes Have I Got News For You, The Apprentice You’re Fired, Bake Off Extra Slice and Would I Lie To You.

‘Reminded me of how much I love stand up’ ★★★★The Times

‘Go and see Hal Cruttenden, he’s got something to say and he’ll make you laugh; a lot.’ ★★★★★Daily Mirror

‘Naturally funny…challenging and provocative’ ★★★★Daily Telegraph

Naima Bock’s debut solo album Giant Palm invites listeners into a world of gentle ambition and resonant beauty. Born in Glastonbury to a Brazilian father and Greek mother, Naima spent her early years in Brazil before returning to England.

Her musical roots draw from the family car-rides filled with Brazilian standards, the English folk tradition she discovered on her own and the rhythms of walking the world’s great trails.
After six years touring as bassist/vocalist with Goat Girl, Naima stepped into new terrain: gardening, archaeology and solitary itinerant song-writing. Backed by arranger-producer Joel Burton and an ensemble of over 30 musicians, Giant Palm draws on South American percussion, folk modalities and expansive orchestration to create something quietly singular.

Critics praised its crisp emotional range and inventive arrangements — “brimming with eclecticism and highlighting Bock’s emotional range,” according to Metacritic.

Whether it’s the reflective vulnerability of “Every Morning” or the shimmering title track’s dreamlike ascent, this is an album that slowly unfurls its charms. Described by Loud & Quiet as “a lovely, gently explorative album… a sort of open-minded, gently foraging inclusivity abounds.”

Céili Caller – Ronan Eastwood

We tried this out for the first time last year and everyone had such a fine time, we’re doing it all again. An afternoon of céilí dancing, set dancing and 2-hand dancing with one of Ireland’s top Céili Callers.

No previous experience needed as full instruction will be given throughout.

There’ll be dancing, sandwiches and a cup of tea in your hand.

Step back in time as you enter through the gates of Clifton Street Cemetery. Opened by the Belfast Charitable Society in 1797, the cemetery catered to all of the citizens of Belfast.

During the tour, you will visit the graves of radicals and reformers from a time when Belfast was the ‘Athens of the North’, as well as the final resting places of the industrial giants who helped to shape Belfast into a global powerhouse.

Your tour guide will tell you tales of bodysnatching and the thousands of souls who lie in unmarked graves. Some lived out their final days in the Poor House; others died without friends to bury them. Those who tragically lost their lives in the 1832 cholera epidemic and the Irish Potato Famine also lie within its walls

All human life rests in Clifton Street Cemetery. Come and discover the stories for yourself!

Planning your visit:

• Meet at Clifton House, and our guide will lead you to the cemetery
• Please arrive 10 minutes before the start of your tour
• Guided tours last approx. 90mins, which includes the journey time to and from the Cemetery from Clifton House.
• Free car parking onsite at Clifton House
• Booking in advance essential due to limited spaces
• Please advise in advance of any accessibility requirements as the ground of the Cemetery is uneven.

Tickets £12.50/£11.50 (Concession – unwaged)

Live Concert with Six-Piece Ensemble from the sell-out creators of The Ennio Morricone Experience.

Experience the magic of cinema brought to life through a mesmerizing concert featuring the iconic movie music of Hans Zimmer – the Oscar-winning composer of Dune, Interstellar, The Last Samurai, The Lion King, Gladiator, Inception, The Dark Knight and many, many more.

Immerse yourself in the unforgettable melodies that have defined blockbuster films, as our group takes you on a cinematic journey like never before. Join us for an evening of transcendent music, where the silver screen comes alive on the stage.

Manchester DJ and producer Greg Wilson is an innovator in dance music. A pioneer of ’70s and ’80s electro-funk, he was the first DJ to mix live on UK television, and one of the first DJs at The Hacienda. He founded multimedia label Super Weird Substance in 2014, and continues to play his soulful electronic sets internationally.

Greg Wilson is one of the UK’s most important and influential DJs and producers, with a career spanning over five decades. A genuine pioneer of the electro-funk sound and the practice of mixing and editing in the UK, he has consistently been at the forefront of dance music culture.

Born and raised on Merseyside, Wilson began his DJ career in 1975 at the age of 15, building a reputation as a specialist in soul, funk, disco, and jazz-funk. His musical foundation was built on the Motown, Stax, and Atlantic records he inherited from his elder siblings.

By the early 1980s, he held highly influential residencies at the Wigan Pier and Manchester’s Legend club, venues renowned for their state-of-the-art sound systems and passionate crowds.

During this period, Wilson became instrumental in breaking new, imported electronic, post-disco records from New York, a sound he dubbed “electro-funk”.

He was an early adopter of advanced DJ techniques, using a Revox reel-to-reel tape machine to create unique edits and mastering the art of mixing, cutting, and scratching. In 1983, he achieved a significant “first” in UK club culture by becoming the first DJ to mix live on British television on Channel 4’s The Tube.

The same year, he became the first regular dance music specialist DJ at the newly opened, now legendary, The Hacienda club in Manchester, laying the groundwork for its future iconic status.

Film    Art     Poetry       Music  Sculpture    Street Art   Literature    Theatre.  

Get to see more of Belfast and find out about its talented creative people!

Hop on board this Festival half-day bus tour developed by Creative Tours Belfast for a fun exploration of the best of Belfast’s vibrant arts and cultural scene! Journey across the city with your entertaining and knowledgeable tour guide to become acquainted with a plethora of talented and creative people connected with the streets and different districts of the city that you’ll pass through.

Discover many of the city’s arts centres, theatres, art galleries and music venues, see cool street artwork and public sculptures and listen to music and stories as we go.

See and hear about many great visual artists, writers, actors, directors and musicians who were born or spent time in different parts of Belfast:

– Successful visual artists- for example, The Array Collective, Colin Davidson and Rita Duffy

– Award-winning novelists, playwrights/scriptwriters and poets – includingAnna Burns, Seamus Heaney, C S Lewis, Marie Jones, Lisa McKee, and Owen McCafferty

– Famous film directors and actors – including Kenneth Brannagh, Liam Neeson, Jamie Dornan, Tara Lynne O’Neill and Frances Tomelty

– Musicians of our UNESCO City of Music from Van Morrison, James Galway and Ruby Murray to today’s rising stars!

The tour will start from the Cathedral Quarter and stop for four short visits in each of north, south, east and west Belfast, giving you a chance to see what’s on and to explore a bit. There’ll be additional opportunities for photos along the way.

A special performance will be arranged for tour guests at one of the four venues visited, and a light lunch will also be provided at Eastside Visitor Centre, beside C S Lewis Square.

Meet for 10.25am at the Black Box and we will join our bus by St Anne’s Cathedral after exploring Writer’s Square.The tour will last for three and a half hours, and we will return back to the Cathedral Quarter for 2pm.

DATE: Sunday 18^th January 2026

START: 10.25am – the Black Box foyer

END: 2pm: By St Anne’s Cathedral, Donegall St, Cathedral Quarter

This tour has received part funding from Belfast City Council under its Neighbourhood Tourism Investment Programme

Namaste Motherf*ckers is the new show from Cally Beaton (QI, Live at the Apollo) – a quick-witted, unexpected and unapologetic insight into life in midlife.

Combining Cally’s comedic and storytelling prowess with extracts from her provocative, stereotype-busting book of the same name, the show has at its heart her own story of radical reinvention – taking her from meetings in boardrooms to treading the boards, thanks to a chance conversation with the late, great Joan Rivers.

A funny show about a deadly serious subject, Namaste Motherf*ckers is a celebration of and for the female of the species. Invisible no more.

★★★★“SPRIGHTLY WIT AND CONSIDERABLE STORYTELLING PROWESS” The Scotsman

★★★★“ORIGINAL AND CLEVER” The Arts Desk – pick of the Edinburgh Fringe

“GRIPPING, PERCEPTIVE AND UPLIFTING” Chortle

“EXCITING AND HILARIOUS TALENT…SHE’S GOT IT” Time Out

Award-winning comedian Rosie Wilby shares funny, bizarre and poignant tales of heartbreak and recovery with special guests in a live recording of her acclaimed podcast.

Rosie has been obsessively researching the psychology of love for a decade for a trilogy of internationally-acclaimed solo shows and has even been dubbed ‘the queen of breakups’ by BBC Radio 4.

The Breakup Monologues is now also available as a book combining humour, heartache and science to investigate how on earth to actually stay in a relationship in the modern age of ghosting, breadcrumbing and Tinder. It has been described by Red Magazine as a ‘gem of a book’ and by Viv Groskop as ‘balm for the soul for anyone who has ever been in love’.

‘My favourite way to learn is when a funny, clever, honest person is teaching me – that’s why I love Rosie Wilby!’ – Sara Pascoe

Join players from the Ulster Orchestra, with leader Ioana Petcu-Colan for an hour of wonderful music – perfect to dispel the January cold!

Included in this programme is Mendelssohn’s Octet for Strings, one of his earliest compositions and full of the sunny optimism and cheerful exuberance of youth. The Octet has remained a favourite of string players and audiences alike and Mendelssohn himself declared it to be ‘my favourite of all my compositions’.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to hear top classical musicians live and up close, this concert makes the perfect introduction, while regular orchestra attenders won’t want to miss the opportunity to hear your favourite musicians in a more relaxed and intimate setting.

This year, Grant-Lee Phillips will release his 12^th solo album, the self-produced In the Hour of Dust.

It’s a work that doesn’t shy away from the big themes of contemporary life. “The mood on this album is contemplative,” says Phillips, “trying to find meaning in an age of confusion, feeling your way through the blinding dust of unreality.”

In the Hour of Dust is also a highly intimate affair; both in its musical presentation and the highly personal – often autobiographical – lyrics in the songs, all set, the songwriter admits, “against this larger discordant backdrop.”

Audiences first discovered Phillips’ thoughtful, literate songwriting in context of the rock band Grant Lee Buffalo, a trio which found success with the 1993 debut Fuzzy. The title track catapulted the group to international recognition. Grant Lee Buffalo followed up Fuzzy with 1994’s Mighty Joe Moon (an album featuring the modern rock hit “Mockingbirds”) etching a distinct mark, while transcending the era.

Beginning with his 2000 solo debut Ladies’ Love Oracle, Phillips opened another chapter in his career, as a folk- and Americana-focused artist crafting songs and stories rich with details and humanity. Phillips was then invited to join the cast of a burgeoning television series. The Gilmore Girls would enjoy lasting syndication and multi-generational embrace, introducing Phillips, “the Town Troubadour” to a new audience.

Phillips is often on the road, performing to eager fans throughout the US and overseas. With the release of In the Hour of Dust in September 2025, concert dates are planned for the U.S., UK, Europe and other regions to follow.

Reflects Phillips “I don’t see songs of love and songs of protest as being so far apart, really. It’s all about recognising the value of connection in a disconnected time.”

‘Women in Black’ are four incredible musicians – Ursula McHugh (vocals), Dee Doherty (Piano), Multi-instrumentalist Jude Murphy (Bass/sax and flute) and Rebecca Montgomery (Drums).

Experience the mesmerising sound of this exciting new ensemble ‘Women in Black’. The group made their debut earlier this year in a sell-out show in New Gate Arts and Cultural Centre as part of The City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival.

This powerhouse all-female quartet will sweep you away with stunning music, beautiful harmonies and exquisite melodies from the golden era – as well as modern day favourites.

The ease with which they use humour and personality to link the songs through the journey of the show creates an ambiance that captivates audiences from the very first note.

There is a rare alchemy that occurs when Lemoncello (Laura Quirke and Claire Kinsella) sing together, cutting through a minimal yet dramatic soundscape driven by cyclical, finger-picked guitar and earthy, gritty cello playing. 

Audiences are charmed into a world of intimate observations and uncomfortable questions with irresistible chemistry, charisma, and humour, while blanketed in their unique sound – embedded in Irish folk roots and off-kilter-indie pop influences. The 2024 release of their album ‘Lemoncello’ (2024) garnered the duo new audiences, seeing them nominated for Best Folk Song and Best Album at the RTE Radio 1 Folk Awards, receiving widespead radio play on the likes of BBC6 Music, RTE and Lyric FM. 

Their enrapturing performances have led them to sold out audiences all over Ireland, The UK, Europe and the US, playing venues such as Dublin’s legendary Vicar Street, London’s EartH theatre, and Irish Arts Centre NYC and opening for esteemed artists Fionn Regan, Lisa O Neill, Sam Amidon and Glen Hansard. Their second album made with producer Ruth O’ Mahony Brady (Sam Smith, Lisa O Neill, Glen Hansard) is set for release in 2026.

 ‘Irish indie-folk duo Lemoncello are making power moves. The pair’s strident songwriting cuts through the noise, with their refreshing, organic sound gaining a cult following.’ – CLASH MAGAZINE

Los Dramaticos perform stunning arrangements of songs and instrumental pieces from around Latin America and Spain.

Their sound is a fusion of the Flamenco and Andean traditions. This reflects their heritage: Victor is a gifted charango player from Valparaíso in Chile. Paddy is one of the most accomplished flamenco guitarists in Ireland and the UK, whose artistic path developed over many years in Granada, Andalucia.

The new 2026 show combines a joyful, exciting and unique blend of Latin American and Andalusian musical flavours with compelling and humorous storytelling. It’s an unmissable opportunity to be transported to those sun-kissed lands, their people, their infectious passion and their zest for life.

 Outstanding playing! A recital of classics and original compositions that are by turn uplifting, stirring and humorous, contextualised with surprising and funny stories. It’s sizzling good fun. Bernard McKeown, The Daily Mirror 

 If you can’t go on holiday this year, go and see Los Dramaticos! Kathy Clugston, The Ticket, BBC Radio Ulster 

 Los Dramáticos have captured the imagination with their infectious passion and global outlook, their entertaining musical approach and their incredible musicianship. Linley Hamilton, Jazz World, BBC Radio Ulster 

 When I hear Los Dramáticos, I’m transported to another joyful world, of warm, southern climes, a world of exhilaration, of life-giving energies. Their compelling musicianship, effortlessly fused in a masterful combination of flamenco guitar and 10-string charango, lingers long in the heart after the final notes are sounded. Neil Martin, composer

Red Sky July are husband and wife duo Ally Mcerlaine and Shelly Poole, along with esteemed vocalist Haley Glennie-Smith. The band’s sound is a blend of alt-folk, country and Americana, with its music described “as atmospheric as it is emotional.”

They have performed with the likes of Sheryl Crow, Steve Earle and Jools Holland, while they’ve appeared at some of the UK’s most renowned festivals including Glastonbury and Isle of Wight.

Red Sky July’s third album ‘The Truth and the Lie’ saw them collaborate with Beth Nielsen Chapman and new album Misty Morning was released earlier this year to a clutch of hugely favourable reviews.

‘A timeless blend of vocals and intricate twang’ – Q
‘A seductive, exuberant mix of voices’ – Evening Herald
‘A joyous blend of indie and country’ – Daily Record

John R Miller is a true hyphenate artist: singer-songwriter-picker. Every song on his thrilling upcoming debut solo album, Depreciated, is lush with intricate wordplay and haunting imagery, as well as being backed by a band that is on fire.

Miller is somehow able to transport us to a shadowy honkytonk and get existential all in the same line with his tightly written compositions. Miller’s own guitar-playing is on fine display here along with vocals that evoke the white-waters of the Potomac River rumbling below the high ridges of his native Shenandoah Valley.

Miller grew up in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia near the Potomac River. “There are three or four little towns I know well that make up the region,” he says, name-checking places like Martinsburg, Shepherdstown, Hedgesville, and Keyes Gap. “It’s a haunted place. In some ways it’s frozen in time. So much old stuff has lingered there, and its history is still very present.”

After a short and aimless attempt at college he was introduced to old time and traditional fiddle music, particularly around West Virginia, and his whole musical world started to open up.

Around the same time he discovered John Prine and says the music of Steve Earle sent him “down a rabbit hole”. From there he found the 1970s Texas gods like Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker, Billy Joe Shaver, and Blaze Foley, the swamp pop of Bobby Charles, and the Tulsa Sound of J.J. Cale, who is probably his biggest influence.

As much as the music buoyed him, it also took its toll. “I always prioritized being a touring musician above everything, and my attempts at relationships suffered for it,” he says. Miller was also often fighting depression and says that for a long period he did a lot of self-medicating. “I used to go about it by drinking vodka from morning to night for months on end,” he says. “I shouldn’t have made it this far. I’m lucky, I think.”

Ultimately, the music won out and Depreciated is the hard-won result of years of self-education provided by life experiences that included arrests, a drunken knife-throwing incident, relationships both lost and long-term, and learning from the best of the singer-songwriters by listening.

Don Letts’ reputation has been firmly established in both the film and music world by a substantial body of work from the late 70’s through the 80’s, 90’s and well into the millennium. His work has been exhibited in The Kitchen N.Y.C, The Institute of Contemporary Art, The N.F.T in London and was honored at Brooklyn’s BAM festival and The Milan Film festival. In March 2003 he won a Grammy for his documentary ‘Westway To The World’.

He came to notoriety in the late 70’s as the DJ that single handedly turned a whole generation of punks onto reggae. It was whilst as a d.j at the first punk club ‘The Roxy’ in 1977, that Don adopted the punk D.I.Y ethic and begun to make his first film ‘The Punk Rock Movie’. Shot on Super-8mm it is the only documentary on the U.K punk scene w/ Sex Pistols-The Clash and many others. This led to a period directing over 300 music videos for an eclectic mix of diverse artists ranging from Public Image to Bob Marley. He then moved into documentary work covering the likes of Gil Scot-Heron, The Jam, Sun Ra, George Clinton and most recently Paul McCartney. Dancehall Queen (co-directedby Rick Elgood) shot in location in Jamaica 1997 was his first feature film.

Don continues to D.J nationally and internationally playing strictly old and new school dub reggae. His set is in the spirit of his time as DJ at London’s legendary Roxy club back in ’77.

I Dreamed I Dream is a four-piece from Cork whose sound is a fearless collision of noise, chaos, and raw emotion. Blending post-punk grit with dream-pop shimmer, sean-nós ornamentation, and the spirit of 60s girl groups—all filtered through a distinctly Corkonian lens—the band has rapidly carved out a place as one of Ireland’s most thrilling live acts.

Hailed by Paste Magazine as “possibly the best live act in Ireland right now,” I Dreamed I Dream are known for their explosive, unpredictable shows that teeter between gig and ritual.

Their performances are a heady mix of noise, catharsis, and communal celebration—an intoxicating storm of sound, sweat, and tonic wine that leaves audiences exhilarated and unsure of what might happen next.

The Darkling Air joined by frequent collaborators Arco String Quartet promise an atmospheric and nostalgically charming performance of songs from their most recent album “Pareidolia” and previous albums “Ancestor” & “Untamed & Beloved”.

“I’m always mesmerised by how they create a sound that feels as though it is floating in mid air, being held up by convection currents. Like a glider. Elegant, vulnerable, defying gravity” – Stephen McCauley BBC Radio Ulster

Katherine Priddy has announced the release of her third album, These Frightening Machines for March 2026 via Cooking Vinyl. The new record follows Priddy’s highly acclaimed debut The Eternal Rocks Beneath and sophomore LP The Pendulum Swing which firmly established her as one of the most exciting artists on the contemporary British music scene.

Priddy has sold out headline tours and supported world class artists with her haunting vocals and distinctive finger-picking guitar style. She recently wrote and released two songs with Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and performed on the legendary BBC Later with Jools Holland TV show.

The most sonically varied of her career, the songs on Priddy’s new album span a full spectrum of emotions and explore what it means to keep going when things fall apart, to hold onto connections in a world that sometimes divides, and to figure out where we fit into the machines and systems we find ourselves a part of.

With her momentum showing no signs of slowing, the release of These Frightening Machines is set to take her star even higher.

A captivating tale of sibling rivalry in post-Troubles Northern Ireland. With gut-punch gags and emotional blows, Caroline reckons with her lifelong battle with her younger brother, who loves trains, buses and getting his way.

Funny, joyful, and deeply personal, this is a story about coming to terms with a messy past and complicated future, one where Caroline might have to balance caring for her adult brother with her own desires. Expect sibling spats, visits to the London Transport Museum and a whole lotta Disney as Caroline explores family, love, and full-time care.

‘The Northern Irish comic does not shy away from topics such as The Troubles or making fun of the English. She is a fantastic storyteller’ Entertainment Now ★★★★

‘Deeply funny’ A Young(ish) Perspective ★★★★

‘She’s a star’ Alison Spittle

This perennial Out to Lunch favourite sees captivating performances of cabaret classics staged by Northern Ireland’s award-winning national opera company.

Featuring Anthony Toner, Mark Crockard and Marcus McAuley.

Hank Williams, Glen Campbell, Don Gibson, Kris Kristofferson, Gram Parsons, Willie Nelson…

I’m so Lonesome I could Cry, Galveston, Sea of Heartbreak, Love Hurts, Always on my Mind,….

Just some of the names and songs that have built the foundations of country music and the craft of great songwriting. Lyrics and music that have survived and will continue to survive because they speak to the heart.

Beautiful melodies, touching words, soaring harmonies and intricate solos are the core of great country music. Anthony Toner, Mark Crockard and Marcus McAuley have come together as ‘The Boondocks’ to play the old school country songs they love and hope you do too.

Why not join them as we go out to the Country for Lunch?

The all-new show from Scotland’s new international breakthrough stand-up star. A hit at the 2024 Fringe Encore Series as part of the New York Comedy Festival.

Connor’s previous show “1994” also sold 10,000+ tickets in Edinburgh, toured 100 dates around UK and Australia. He’s supported Daniel Sloss in 3 continents and his debut comedy special gets its world-wide release this summer.

‘Burns has arrived’   ★★★★ Entertainment Now

‘Brilliant… gags coming at you at a terrifying rate… Superb!’  ★★★★ The List

‘Hilarious… he is fearless and it is wonderful…!’ ★★★★★ The Scotsman

* Gallus: Traditional Scots dialect meaning Bold, Daring and Reckless

Five Women. Ten instruments. Wookalily.

With awe-inspiring four-part harmonies, low-bowed double bass, flutes, trumpet, banjo and more, Wookalily create a masterful and sweeping sonic tapestry that will leave audiences rapt with wonder, and wanting more.

This is an ambitious folk music. Daring to dissolve musical and generic boundaries. Irreverently intertwining the disciplines of blues, rock, punk and more to create a unique and singular musical menagerie that must be witnessed to be truly experienced. Audiences are left spinning with transcendent melodies and floating on ethereal vocals.

Wookalily have performed in session for the BBC, UTV, RTE and Sky. Notable live performances include support for Martha Wainwright at Soma, IBMA Songwriter’s Showcase in Nashville and more recently at Electric Picnic County Laois.

What do you do when your country becomes a repressive authoritarian state?

A breath-taking, compulsively readable story about how a regular person can stand up for their rights against an oppressive regime.

2014: Russia prepares to host the Winter Olympics. Russia invades Crimea. Putin is re-elected president. Several political prisoners are amnestied and released early from prison.

Maria Alyokhina is among them. She had spent two years in a penal colony after performing the punk prayer ‘Virgin Mary, Banish Putin’ with her friends in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. They had warned the rest of the world of the dangers of authoritarianism but the Russia she finds when she gets out of prison is even more oppressive.

What can you do, she asks, when your country has been seized by all-powerful men who are waging war against another country and their own citizens?

As Maria recounts her brave and colourful protests, we are drawn straight into the world of grassroots opposition and witness the absurd measures the Russian state takes to contain protest. And when the full-scale war against Ukraine starts and the Russian opposition is repeatedly silenced, Maria and her activist friends continue to resist despite the high stakes.

They fight increasingly absurd cycles of detention and house arrest: sometimes with the smallest acts such as going for a walk or having a rainbow ice cream, until, faced with a new prison sentence, she escapes Russia in May 2022 dressed as a delivery food courier. Her story, like her life, is fiercely courageous, darkly funny and highly inspiring to anyone who wants to stand up for the truth.

THE AUTHOR
Maria Alyokhina is a political activist, artist and member of Pussy Riot collective. Her first book Riot Days was highly acclaimed and translated into many languages.

Yann Tiersen returns with a solo piano + electronics performance in support of his new album Rathlin from a Distance | The Liquid Hour. In an era of climate urgency, Yann Tiersen is redefining touring and challenging capitalist norms.

From his solitary winter tour across Europe from Brest to Tallinn with no crew and only his dog for company – driving no faster than 61mph in his van, eschewing the usual trappings of tour consumerism (hotels, dressing room rider) and sleeping in people’s gardens, to voyages aboard his sailboat Ninnog, where he sailed through Ireland, the Faroe Islands, Scotland, Shetland, Wales, and Cornwall – he has brought his music to extraordinary landscapes and intimate settings, rejecting the trappings of large scale touring to forge genuine connections with local crews and organisers.

Rathlin from a Distance | The Liquid Hour is an album divided into two distinct, interconnected parts, each with its own unique sonic characteristics. Rathlin from a Distance is eight tracks of introspective instrumental piano.

Tiersen explains, “There is something transformative about being at sea. Away from the noise and weight of the world, you are left with the raw, untamed forces of nature – and yourself. It is a space where you can begin to challenge your beliefs, your identity, your gender – even the person you thought you were. I began to shed the expectations, constructs, and roles that society places on us. The waves demand honesty.”

He continues, “Rathlin from a Distance is born of this experience. Each piano piece is tied to a place we visited, but also to a moment of meditation. They are maps to the self. They are meant to guide you to the core of who you are – not the version of yourself moulded by societal expectations. It is a call to connect, to be vulnerable, and to find solace in the authenticity that comes from facing the forces around – and within – you.”

The Liquid Hour is an expansive, genre-defying blend of electronic synthesis and dynamic psychedelic rhythms.

Tiersen explains how an experience at the helm of his sailboat, with Belfast glimmering in the distance, informed these five tracks, “I think of the bruises left by systems grinding against us, I feel the fury bubble up – ancient, raw, electric. It burns through me. The water becomes a mirror to my rage. And hope. There’s a war to wage against the choking vines of capitalism, binding our roots, stealing our light. It’s a wipe-out of everything that’s broken. A rebuilding, hand in hand, heart to heart, until there’s no room left for despair. I feel it swelling inside me, this energy, this urge to act, to gather, to shout, to rise. Because the future doesn’t wait. It’s there – blinding, brilliant, gender-fluid, shimmering with brightness. This is for you. With your hope and your rage. For all of us, for what’s coming, for what we’ll build together. The soundtrack to our uprising.”