City of Music
Belfast Music Guide
Discover Belfast’s famous faces and the best places for traditional music, live music events or something a little different, with our ultimate guide to the city’s music scene.
Music Events Not to Miss This Autumn
Belfast has a huge range of breath-taking music events this autumn; from small gigs to epic arena concerts and musical theatre shows. Here’s a list of the top things you don’t want to miss.
Traditional Irish Music
Sipping a drink in a crowded pub while listening to live music is a must to tick off your Belfast bucket list. Here’s our guide to the best venues for traditional Irish music.
Music Legends
Home to names such as Snow Patrol, Two Door Cinema Club, The Undertones, Stiff Little Fingers, and Van Morrison, Belfast lacks nothing when it comes to musical claims to fame.
The city is also dotted with venues that have hosted historic concerts. Led Zepplin played the first show of their world tour ‘Stairway to Heaven’ at the Ulster Hall in 1971; in 1963 The Beatles made their Northern Ireland debut at the King's Hall, where Nirvana played their last indoor gig in 1992; and the MTV European Music Awards were hosted here in 2011.
Gigs & Concerts
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EventBCGC’s Christmas Spectacular!
gps_fixed 0.66KMSun, 16 DecCelebrate 10 years of Belfast Community Gospel Choir at their Christmas spectacular, full of old favourites and new anthems.
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Magical Musical Christmas Programme
gps_fixed 0.51KM24 Nov-23 DecThere will be lots of magical Christmas music in the city centre to get you into the festive spirit.
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Leningrad!
gps_fixed 0.25KMFri, 22 Mar 2019Experience a night of music at the Ulster Hall this spring.
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Brahms’s 2nd Piano Concerto
gps_fixed 0.25KMFri, 18 Jan 2019Experience Brahms’s 2nd Piano Concerto at Ulster Hall.
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Hayseed Dixie
gps_fixed 0.94KMSat, 02 Mar 2019Always bringing an amazing performance, Hayseed Dixie are back at one of their favourite stomping grounds, The Empire Music Hall.
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ANDREA BOCELLI
gps_fixed 1.29KMThu, 24 Oct 2019The world’s most beloved tenor, Andrea Bocelli, will be returning to the SSE Arena, Belfast.
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Rod Stewart Tribute
gps_fixed 1.77KMSat, 29 Dec‘Dave as Rod Stewart’ presents a tribute to a true legend, the one and only Rod Stewart.
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The 1975
gps_fixed 1.29KMWed, 09 Jan 2019The 1975 are back in Belfast with their brand new tour at the SSE Arena this January.
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Season Finale: Mahler's Fifth
gps_fixed 0.25KMFri, 24 May 2019The 2018/19 Finale brings together two recurring themes from across the Season – symphonic pieces on a grand scale and composers taking new...
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Ulster Hall EventHungarian Spice
gps_fixed 0.25KMThu, 16 May 2019The Lunchtime Concerts Series allows a bite-sized sample of the Ulster Orchestra in its full glory!
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Ulster Hall EventMozart’s Horn Concerto No.4
gps_fixed 0.25KMThu, 11 Apr 2019This irresistible lunch time concerto is performed by Ulster Orchestra Principal Horn Paul Klein.
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Mozart’s Requiem
gps_fixed 0.25KMFri, 19 Apr 2019The heart-wrenching and revolutionary final work from one of the world’s foremost musical geniuses.
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Saint- Saëns’Egyptian
gps_fixed 0.25KMFri, 05 Apr 2019This concert makes its way to Egypt by way of Greece for Saint-Saëns’ delightful Fifth Piano Concerto.
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Ulster Hall EventVienna!
gps_fixed 0.66KMFri, 04 Jan 2019Let the Ulster Orchestra and charismatic guest performers take you to the glittering world of Strauss for the waltz of your life!
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Four Last Songs
gps_fixed 0.66KMThu, 24 Jan 2019Enjoy a night of music by Strauss at The Belfast Waterfront.
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Brass On Your Doorstep – Ulster Orchestra at Bangor Abbey
gps_fixed 18.3KMFri, 14 DecJoin the members of the Ulster Orchestra for a night of superb Christmas music in the beautiful setting of Bangor Abbey!
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Rachmaninov’s Second
gps_fixed 0.25KMFri, 10 May 2019A masterpiece of melodic writing and a sublime partnership between soloist and orchestra.
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Belfast Empire EventThe Elvis Spectacular
gps_fixed 0.94KMSat, 12 Jan 2019The Greatest Tribute to the King of Rock and Roll.
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Variations on a Rococo Theme
gps_fixed 0.25KMFri, 26 Apr 2019This concert features not one, but two delightful pieces for rising star cellist, Alexey Stadler, making his debut with the Ulster Orchestra...
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Forever Jackson
gps_fixed 1.77KMSat, 19 Jan 2019The ultimate tribute to Michael Jackson setting the industry alight and selling out venues wherever they go.
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Inspired By Bach
gps_fixed 0.25KMFri, 08 Feb 2019Bach is the thread that runs through this concert programme, opening with Webern’s beautiful arrangement of Bach’s Ricercar, a six-voice fug...
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Meat Loaf Tribute
gps_fixed 1.77KMSat, 26 Jan 2019This amazing tribute artist Pete became the first tribute act to make it through to the live semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent performing...
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Beethoven No.7
gps_fixed 0.25KMFri, 08 Mar 2019Experience Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony at the Ulster Hall.
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Olly Murs
gps_fixed 1.29KMTue, 14 May 2019Following the release of his swaggering new single ‘Moves’ featuring Snoop Dogg, Olly Murs returns with his dazzling new album ‘You Know I K...
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Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto
gps_fixed 0.25KMFri, 22 Feb 2019Guy Braunstein explores Tchaikovsky’s work with the Ulster Orchestra.
Take a Tour
Take a bus journey through the heart of this rock and roll city. Sit back, relax, and enjoy tunes and tales from Them and Van Morrison, by way of awesome guitar players, traditional and folk, to punk rock and Hollywood soundtracks.
From the venue where Van Morrison made his debut, to the place where The Undertones recorded ‘Teenage Kicks’ in 1978, the tour finishes at the NI Music Exhibition in the Cathedral Quarter.
Live Music Sessions
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Limelight Complex Limelight Complex
gps_fixed 0.48KMEstablished as one of the city's main venues for live music, hosting international touring acts, sell out club nights and local live bands.
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Alibi Alibi
gps_fixed 1.01KMLocated on Bradbury Place, in the heart of Belfast's Queen's Quarter, Alibi offers the very best in liquor, food and music.
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McHugh's Bar & Restaurant McHugh's Bar & Restaurant
gps_fixed 0.65KMLocated in the trendy Cathedral Quarter, McHughs is housed in one of Belfast's oldest buildings, dating back to 1711.
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Duke of York
gps_fixed 0.59KMNestled along a narrow cobbled alleyway in the historic Half Bap area, the Duke offers a traditional Belfast welcome, craic and music.
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Fountain Tavern
gps_fixed 0.26KMThe Fountain Tavern is a very traditional pub with Tudor design and has a warm and friendly atmosphere.
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Perch Rooftop Bar
gps_fixed 0.26KMBelfast's highest rooftop bar, The Perch is located in the historic Linen Quarter, beside sister bars Rita's, Sweet Afton and Chinawhite.
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Dirty Onion / Yardbird Dirty Onion and Yardbird
gps_fixed 0.58KMThe Dirty Onion is Belfast's oldest building, with real Irish music and craic seven nights a week.
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Cabaret Supper Club
gps_fixed 0.16KMSumptuous food, exceptional service and wondrous entertainment.
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Henrys
gps_fixed 0.38KMHenrys, named after historic Belfast figure and United Irish man Henry Joy McCracken, has been a pub for over 100 years. Call into this Joys...
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Sunflower Public House Sunflower Public House
gps_fixed 0.75KMA simple corner pub free of gimmicks or themes, and music is very much part of its life.
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Whites Tavern and Vandal
gps_fixed 0.42KMBuilt in 1630, Whites Tavern is one of Belfast’s oldest pubs.
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Voodoo
gps_fixed 0.24KMVoodoo is well established as a Belfast hotspot, adding a bit of spice for those who like things a little different.
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Horatio Todd's
gps_fixed 4.25KMVisiting East Belfast? Then you have to dine or have a drink in the award-winning Horatio Todd's Bar and Restaurant.
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Belfast Empire Belfast Empire
gps_fixed 0.94KMA converted church in the heart of Belfast, The Empire hosts regular Music Hall gigs and comedians from the UK and international comedy circ...
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Kelly's Cellars Kelly's Cellars
gps_fixed 0.34KMOne of Belfast's oldest traditional Irish pubs, Kelly's Cellars offers live traditional music, pints of Guinness and Irish stew.
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Errigle Inn
gps_fixed 2.46KMServing fabulous food and drink, The Errigle Inn features five bars, roof gardens, a beer garden and live televised sporting games.
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Berts Jazz Bar & Restaurant
gps_fixed 0.44KMBerts encapsulates the sleek elegance of the art-deco era, complemented by live jazz, fabulous cocktails and mouth watering food.
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Filthy McNastys
gps_fixed 0.56KMFeaturing the Secret Garden beer garden, live music, DJs, cocktails and open mic nights, Filthy McNastys is one of the biggest live entertai...
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John Hewitt
gps_fixed 0.59KMA unique venue in the heart of Belfast's Cathedral Quarter, you are guaranteed a very warm Belfast welcome at The John Hewitt.
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Robinsons Bar Robinsons Bar
gps_fixed 0.34KMOne of Belfast's oldest and biggest bars, Robinsons hosts five venues under one roof.
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Cloth Ear Cloth Ear
gps_fixed 0.56KMThe Cloth Ear is the five-star Merchant Hotel's cosy public bar in the heart of Belfast's Cathedral Quarter.
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Rita's Belfast Rita's Belfast
gps_fixed 0.25KMOne of Belfast's most lavish cocktail dens, join Rita's talented bartenders and enjoy one of their many gins, a cocktail or light bite.
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The Points
gps_fixed 0.6KMAt the heart of Belfast, The Points creates a truly Irish experience that reflects the city’s culture and history.
The Belfast Playlist
Plug into the sound of something local. Belfast’s Oh Yeah Music Centre has curated a Spotify playlist of music from the city and across Northern Ireland.
As well as a few classics, it features upcoming artists and songs inspired from a love for the city these artists call home.
