Belfast Music Week comes to Sea Sessions, Europe’s best surf, skate and music festival, on Saturday, June 22, 2013 with a line-up featuring five of Northern Ireland's finest artists – Rams' Pocket Radio, Axis Of, VerseChorusVerse, Robyn G Shiels and Our Krypton Son.
November 11 – 17 this year will see the third annual Belfast Music Week. It features live music performances, workshops, seminars and networking events, and includes over 250 events in 70 venues across the city. It's a chance to see legends and breaking talent, and to appreciate the ongoing success stories in a musical city that continues to make us proud.
Belfast Music Week is delighted to bring a flavour of the city's fertile music scene to Sea Sessions in Bundoran, County Donegal, with not-to-be-missed performances from five extremely talented acts.
Rams' Pocket Radio is the alias of Peter McCauley, a Lisburn-born singer, songwriter and pianist whose passionate pop runs the gamut from barrelling, energetic piano-rock to tender balladry, and always with an ear for the unusual. Following a series of EPs and tours with Snow Patrol, Darwin Deez and Foy Vance, expect to hear songs taken from his highly anticipated debut album.
Tony Wright is all about passion. He brought it to his role as guitarist for post-rock heroes And So I Watch You From Afar and now he brings it to solo project VerseChorusVerse – an outlet for passionate folk-rock songwriting in the vein of Bruce Springsteen and Frank Turner. Expect to hear big-hearted songs from a big-hearted man.
Hailing from Kilrea in County Derry, Robyn G Shiels brings a uniquely eerie, gothic approach to finger-picking folk, with beautifully crafted, honest songs peering into the dark side of life. Following a series of EPs over the last couple of years, he is soon to release the long-awaited follow-up to his acclaimed debut album, A Lifetime Of Midnights. It's no accident that Shiels was crowned Best Solo Artist at the Northern Ireland Music Awards in 2011, ahead of the likes of Duke Special and Foy Vance.
Our Krypton Son's 2012 debut album marked the arrival of a genuine talent. The alias of Derryman Chris McConaghy, the self-titled record presented 11 songs of seriously accomplished songwriting that echoed the likes of Richard Hawley, Nick Cave and John Grant. Prepare to be moved, as Chris and his band open the Belfast Music Week showcase at Sea Sessions.
Belfast City Council’s Belfast Music Week began in 2010 as a spontaneous response from the local music community to the arrival of MTV. It was such an inspiring project that it has become an annual event, which last year contributed over £2 million to the local economy hosting 250 events across 70 venues in the city, with an attendance of over 40,000. Belfast Music Week celebrates Northern Ireland’s musical heritage, while offering a platform for emerging new talent.
One of the discoveries from last year’s event was Soak, who recently signed to Universal Music Publishing. The event programme involves rock, alternative, classical, traditional, and dance culture and sees gigs popping up in the most unexpected places, from the Victorian Palm House in Botanic Gardens to the Europa Bus Station. Aside from live music performances, there are workshops, seminars, networking events, and film screenings.