As part of the weekend finale of Belfast TradFest (23 – 30th July) everyone is welcome to take part in the TITANIC CÉILÍ. A free, one day outdoor family event on Sun 30th July 1-5pm, celebrating traditional music, song, and dance at the Titanic Slipways on Belfast’s Maritime Mile.
The event includes an outdoor Céilí, with sets such as The Waves of Tory and Siege of Ennis, called by Ronán Eastwood for all ages to experience. A traditional music stage will have performances by The Blackwater Céilí Band, Niall Hanna, Ciara Fox, Belfast Wren Boys Cleamairí Feirste, Ards CCÉ, Drumlough Pipe Band and Glengormley School of Traditional Music. The fun doesn’t stop there with Bodhrán circles, children’s maritime art workshops, face painters and a live five hour traditional music session on the deck of the SS Nomadic also taking place.
In advance of the Titanic Céilí there will be a popup céilí at the Soundyard (located at the back of the SSE Arena) on the Maritime Mile, Sunday 23rd July, 1pm – 2pm.
Also featuring in the Belfast TradFest finale weekend are:
- Trans-Atlantic supergroup and RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Group of the year The Olllam, for what will be their biggest Irish show to date, in the recently refurbished Mandela Hall. Featuring Belfast’s very own John McSherry an Uilleann piping legend who has founded groups such as Lúnasa, At First Light and Ulaid, the band also features Vulfpeck’s Bass dynamo Joe Dart and US producer to the stars Tyler Duncan.
- International festival favourites Four Men and a Dog will play Belfast TradFest for the first time at Mandela Hall, as they celebrate almost 35 years on the road, having emerged in 1990 during the Belfast Folk Festival.
- At the Empire Music Hall, appearing for their debut performance at the festival are four part female vocal harmony group Landless who feature Belfast’s own Meabh Meir. Also, legendary triumvirate of musical magpies Mike McGoldrick, John Doyle and John McCusker. These masters of the tradition have shared stages and recording studios with everyone from Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler to Paul Weller, Joan Baez and Linda Thompson.
- Scottish singing sensation Kathleen MacInnes brings highly acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Mike Vass to Belfast to share the bill with award winning Highlands Indie Folk band Elephant Sessions, who will excite revellers to dance the night away and surely raise the roof, at the festival’s closing concert in Mandela Hall.
- Plus the fantastic rip roaring festival clubs on the Friday and Saturday night at The Deer’s Head – visit website for details.
Dónal O’Connor, Belfast TradFest Artistic Director, commented:
“The countdown is on for the fifth edition of Belfast TradFest, which will showcase some of the best music these islands have to offer. Our finale weekend is filled with fantastic events, not to be missed. We are very excited to be working, once again, with the team at Maritime Belfast Trust to bring the Titanic Céilí back to the Maritime Mile. What a wonderful place and space for this event. Our finale weekend programme is filled with extraordinary music and performances and will be a very special way to close this year’s festival.”
Maeve Moreland, Destination Manger at Maritime Belfast Trust, said:
“We are delighted to be sponsoring Belfast TradFest’s Titanic Céilí for a second year running. The Céilí is a great way to spend the afternoon along the Maritime Mile dancing on the historic Slipways.”
For the full 2023 programme and finale weekend, visit www.belfasttraditionalmusic.com
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