As I have recently relocated to gorgeous red-brick and currently autumn-colored Belfast, I will now do my best to update on the happenings in the Arts and Culture scene up here. Believe me, this city has a great deal to offer in this regard. For a city with such a contested and violent past, Belfast has made an incredible turn-around. The place is no longer dreary, depressing or frightful, but vibrant and full of life! This article will provide a few initial tasters.
For instance, my second week of living up here coincided with Belfast Restaurant Week - a fantastic initiative to show-case and celebrate the culinary diversity of Belfast. We seized this opportunity and enjoyed a delicious meal at Home restaurant (@homepopup). A former pop-up, home has found its permanent location in Belfast City Centre, where it continues to treat its customers to “homely, feel-good, nourishing food” in a cozy-chic environment filled with mix-and-match furniture. Although restaurant week is already over, I encourage everyone who is looking for a place to eat in Belfast to have a look through the Restaurant Week Guide - a handy compilation of all of Belfast’s eateries worthy of a visit.
The Belfast Festival at Queens is currently in full swing (@BelfastFestival). Belfast’s annual multi-arts festival provides a tightly packed programme of Dance, Art, Theatre, Comedy, Music and Family events. Let me just highlight a few of my favorites here.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
On Thursday the 25th of October the Swedish singer-songwriter, The Tallest Man on Earth, performed at Queen’s Student’s Union. Often compared to the likes of Bon Iver and James Vincent McMorrow, The Tallest Man on Earth is described as a “charismatic and captivating” performer, whose “passion for performance bleeds through every single time he takes the stage” (Festival Guide). His Blues and Folk music is filled to the brim with emotion and I would have gladly payed the £18 to see him!
Or maybe you are more in the mood for something spooky? Then head to a performance of the Ghosts of Drumglass, a haunting site-specific play set in the unique surroundings of Drumglass park. Using sound and light installations the Kabosh theatre company will bring the ghosts of the long-passed Musgrave family of Drumglass alive. Intrigued? Better book quickly as performances are limited to twenty spaces only!
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Another event not to be missed is the exhibition of the Magpie Art Collective running at the Naughton Gallery from 26th of October to the 11th of November. Weaving reclaimed objects and trinkets into elaborate art pieces, this South African art collective highlights the beauty to be found in all the things the world discards. A social enterprise, Magpie has had a huge impact on its local community of native South Africa and reached international acclaim. During the period of the festival, the collective will create a site-specific installation using the plastic bottles brought in by members of the public.
To find out more and book any of the events visit www.belfastfestival.com. I am excited to see some of the performances myself and update with more in-depth reviews!
