CQAF 2025

Rachel Sermanni

Rachel Sermanni

The Deer’s Head

Sunday 11 May, 2.00pm

Doors 1.30pm | Unreserved seating

£15.00/£13.00 (Concession)

Buy Tickets

Rachel Sermanni is a Scottish based singer/songwriter that makes the mundane moments mystical: shock-positive pregnancy tests in train-station toilets, coffee machine breakages, cold river swims, the regret of not saying ‘I love You’, the moon & how it pulls, bare feet on wood floors, the soft glow of a house plant, ‘what even is consciousness?’, strange dreams lingering in quiet mornings…

She brims with dreamy indie-folk pop that speaks of the struggle and desire to Flow, to love, to live, to feel. Sometimes, her songs speak of the rare moments of quiet-still, found in the midst of this struggle & desire.

Rachel’s most recent offering is her 4th studio album : Dreamer Awake. An in depth assortment of playful and candid vignettes, peeping into life: after birth, after separation and in the wake of recognising the internalised conditionings of patriarchy. She seeks to be honest with herself and her environment. She seeks to express from this raw place. She seeks to speak from the descent, the plateaus, the dream-catchings and contemplations of womanhood.

There are no conclusions to be drawn. It is a call to arms, of sorts, to wake up and dream the future, to dismiss the external for a minute and tend to the inner landscape of heart and mind. To not be distracted. To focus on the light and the shadow in equal measure.

Since the release of Dreamer Awake, Rachel has become a mother for the second time and continues to explore this experience while offering her songs and also her insights into creativity.

This show is strictly for audiences aged 18 and over.

If you have access needs, feel free to email Aoife at aoife@cqaf.com for more info—we’re happy to help!

Tickets also available from:
Visit Belfast | 028 9024 6609
9 Donegall Square North - Open 7 days a Week

CQAF 2025 Earlybird Shows

John Shuttleworth: Raise the Oof!

John Shuttleworth: Raise the Oof!

The Black Box

Thursday 1 May, 8.00pm. Extra show Friday 2 May, 8.00pm

I’m With Pulp, Are You? Mark Webber in Conversation

In association with Ulster Presents

I’m With Pulp, Are You? Mark Webber in Conversation

Ulster University Block BC (Belfast)

Friday 2 May, 7.00pm

Doc’n Roll Films presents “We Are Fugazi From Washington, DC”

Doc’n Roll Films presents “We Are Fugazi From Washington, DC”

The Avenue Cinema 

Saturday 3 May, 2.00pm

Drunk Women Solving Crime

Drunk Women Solving Crime

The Black Box

Saturday 3 May, 3.00pm. Extra Show Added, 1.00pm

Córas Trio- AV show

Presented by The Mac, CQAF and Moving on Music

Córas Trio- AV show

The Mac Upstairs

Saturday 3 May, 8.00pm

Black Belfast: Cathedral Quarter – Horror and True Crime Walking Tour

Black Belfast: Cathedral Quarter – Horror and True Crime Walking Tour

Albert Memorial Clock

Sunday 4 May and Sunday 11 May, 2.00pm - 5.00pm

Historic Pubs of the Cathedral Quarter

Historic Pubs of the Cathedral Quarter

Leaves Kellys Cellars

Sunday 4 and Sunday 11 May, 2.00pm

Neil Brogan

Strange Victory + CQAF Presents

Neil Brogan

McHughs Basement

Saturday 3 May, 8.00pm 

John Higgs: Exterminate / Regenerate: The Story Of Doctor Who

John Higgs: Exterminate / Regenerate: The Story Of Doctor Who

The Deer’s Head

Sunday 4 May, 2.00pm

Roisin Lanigan

Presented by Seamus Heaney Centre and CQAF

Roisin Lanigan

Seamus Heaney Centre, Belfast

Sunday 4 May, 6.00pm 

A History of House feat Iain McCready, Dilly, Eamon Beagon + Marty McAllistair

CQAF and Belfast Underground present

A History of House feat Iain McCready, Dilly, Eamon Beagon + Marty McAllistair

The Deer’s Head

Sunday 4 May, 8.00pm - 2.00am

The 4 of Us: Belfast Launch of ‘Crescent Nights’

The 4 of Us: Belfast Launch of ‘Crescent Nights’

The Empire

Sunday 4 May, 8.00pm

‘I Hear You’- Live Readings – Paul McVeigh

‘I Hear You’- Live Readings – Paul McVeigh

The Deer’s Head

Monday 5th May, 7.00pm

Josie Long: A Work in Progress About Giant Extinct Animals

Josie Long: A Work in Progress About Giant Extinct Animals

The Black Box

Monday 5th May, 8.00pm

SBT [Sarabeth Tucek] with special guest Ben de la Cour

SBT [Sarabeth Tucek] with special guest Ben de la Cour

The Deer’s Head

Tuesday 6 May, 8.00pm

CHOP – Lords of Strut

In association with Festival of Fools

CHOP – Lords of Strut

The MAC

Wednesday 7 May, 7.00pm

VARC – Visual Audio Radical Circus

VARC – Visual Audio Radical Circus

Circusful, 23 Gordon St, Belfast BT1 2LG

Wednesday 7th & Thursday 8th May, 8.00pm

Gruff Rhys – American Interior Screening + Q&A

Gruff Rhys – American Interior Screening + Q&A

The Black Box

Wednesday 7 May, 8.00pm

Hayden Thorpe & Propellor Ensemble perform NESS

Hayden Thorpe & Propellor Ensemble perform NESS

The Deer's Head

Wednesday 7 May, 8.00pm

Traditional Bread Baking Workshop

Traditional Bread Baking Workshop

The Northern Whig

Thursday 8 May, 6.00pm and Friday 9 May, 1.00pm

Caoilinn Hughes in Conversation

Presented by Seamus Heaney Centre and CQAF

Caoilinn Hughes in Conversation

Seamus Heaney Centre, Belfast

Thursday 8 May, 6.00pm

Screening of Poitín with Bán Poitín Tasting & Talk

In association with Bán Poitín and Echlinville Distillery

Screening of Poitín with Bán Poitín Tasting & Talk

Oh Yeah Centre

Thursday 8 May, 7.30pm

Shame Show

Presented by the Mac and CQAF

Shame Show

The Mac Upstairs

Thursday 8 May, 7.45pm 

Andy White: ‘The night is approaching though some would say it was morning’ – Album Launch

Andy White: ‘The night is approaching though some would say it was morning’ – Album Launch

The Crescent Arts Centre

Thursday 8 May, 8.00pm

Fortuna and Chips

Presented in association with The Linenhall Library

Fortuna and Chips

The Linenhall Library

Friday 9 May, 1.00pm (ends 2.30pm) & 6.00pm (Extra show Added)

The Anthony Toner Songbook

David Hull Promotions & CQAF proudly present

The Anthony Toner Songbook

St. George's Church

Friday 9 May, 7.30pm & Saturday 10 May 2.00pm 

Mohammad Syfkhan

Moving on Music & CQAF present

Mohammad Syfkhan

The Black Box

Friday 9th May, 8.30pm

In Conversation with Tariq Ali: You Can’t Please All

CQAF in association with Ulster Presents…

In Conversation with Tariq Ali: You Can’t Please All

Ulster University Block BC

Saturday 10th May, 2.00pm 

Theresa Lola – ‘Ceremony for the Nameless’

Presented by Seamus Heaney Centre and CQAF

Theresa Lola – ‘Ceremony for the Nameless’

The Seamus Heaney Centre (Belfast)

Saturday 10 May, 2.00pm

Lisdoon Nirvana

Presented by CQAF and The MAC

Lisdoon Nirvana

The Mac Upstairs

Saturday 10 May, 7.45pm

Sreang Dhofheicthe: Tionscadal Taylor Swift/Invisible String: The Taylor Swift Project

Sreang Dhofheicthe: Tionscadal Taylor Swift/Invisible String: The Taylor Swift Project

Áras Mhic Reachtain

Dé Sathairn 10 Bealtaine | Saturday 10 May, 8:30pm

The Spitfires

CQAF and Right On Promotions present

The Spitfires

The Deer’s Head

Saturday 10 May, 8.00pm 

Lael Neale

Strange Victory + CQAF Presents

Lael Neale

McHughs Basement

Sunday 11 May, 7.30pm

Bernard Butler

Bernard Butler

First Presbyterian Church, Rosemary Street

Sunday 11 May,  8.00pm

AOIBHA: Artist in Residence 2025

AOIBHA: Artist in Residence 2025

Various venues throughout the festival

Supported By

dormant
embrace
FHM
up

Contact

The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival and Out To Lunch are annual festivals of music, comedy, theatre, art and literature which take place in January and May in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Join our mailing list to keep up to date with festival news, events and early ticket releases.

View Our Privacy Policy

Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival / Out To Lunch Arts Festival
Unit 8
Northern Whig House
Bridge Street
Belfast
BT1 1LU