Sound Links Block Party – Saturday 21 September 2024, 2-8pm
Townsend Street, Belfast
Click here to view an at-a-glance schedule.
FOOD AND STREET MARKET
Townsend Street Market with Little Fox Events
2.00-8.00pm, Townsend Street and Townsend Social Outreach Centre
Expect handcrafted and beautiful wares, from the best of Belfast’s creative community. A market filled with a well-curated mix of local makers and shakers! Art, craft, vintage and more...
Food Vendors
2.00-8.00pm, Townsend Street
Al Gelato
Crepes 2 Go
Street Eatz NI
Browns' Fish and Chips
KIDS' ACTIVITIES
Bouncy Castle
2.00-8.00pm, The School Yard, Townsend Street Enterprise Park
Face painting and Glitter tattoos
2.30-6.30pm The School Yard, Townsend Street Enterprise Park
STREET ANIMATION
Sapphire Entertainment, Downshire Brass, St. Louise's Dance
Various times, Townsend Street
Keep an eye out for local performers providing entertainment along Townsend Street throughout the day.
MUSIC & DANCE
Main stage acts will be hosted by BBC radio presenter and musician, Gemma Bradley.
Bang Bike
2.00-6.00pm, The School Yard, Townsend Street Enterprise Park
Bang Bike is a mobile buzzy sound system from Belfast. A festival favourite, powered by Dimebag DJs playing melodic electronic, disco, acid, and much more.
Utropiks
2.00pm, Main Stage
Utropiks is Israh Castro, a Brazilian songwriter and producer based in Belfast. His unique compositions take inspirations from a variety of Brazilian rhythms, Spiritual Jazz, Jamaican Dub music and Afrikans polyrhythm grooves. Using his bass, nylon string classical guitar, looper pedal, electronic drums and FX’s and his voice, Israh has been experimenting freely towards the creation of polyrhythmic rhythms that dance between Brazilian Afrosambas, progressive music, Funk and modern electronic music.
Diamontes Dance
2.45pm, Main Stage
A special performance from pupils of Diamontes Dance and Drama school. Diamontes established in 2003 by Diane Montgomery AISTD and offers dance and drama tuition for children ages 3-18 in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, acrobatic arts and drama.
String Ninjas
4.00pm, Main Stage
String Ninjas are a Belfast based instrumental duo consisting of Fingerstyle Guitarist Gavin Ferris and Electric Violinist Mick Conlon. Having formed in 2017 against the backdrop of the Belfast open mic. Scene, the pair quickly established themselves as a musical force to be reckoned with and have since redefined what it is to be a cover act. Their unique sound, characterised by heavy basslines, complex rhythms, technical solos and advanced performance techniques, has helped the Ninjas stand out, transfixing viewers with their energetic live performances and warm, welcoming personalities.
Belfast Ukulele Jam
5.00pm, Main Stage
An informal and friendly group who meet for a ukulele jamming session every Wednesday evening, and who play occasionally at nursing homes, charities and community events. The Belfast Ukulele Jam have appeared at festivals including Sunflowerfest, St.Patricks Day, Belfast Culture Weekend, Fiddlers Green and various ukulele festivals.
Boom Strutt Brass
6.00pm, Main Stage
Boom Strutt Brass Band is a New Orleans brass band born and based in Belfast. The band pride themselves in their dedication to combining traditional second line and modern New Orleans music. Think along the lines of Rebirth, Hot 8, Dirty Dozen Brass Bands and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. Whether it’s a street corner, festival or stage, Boom Strutt are guaranteed to get any crowd going, with their own brand of up tempo, energetic New Orleans vibes.
Winnie Ama
7.15pm, Main Stage
Northern-Irish Ghanaian music artist Winnie Ama has been hailed as a standout talent for three consecutive years. In 2024, both The Belfast Telegraph and The Irish Times recognized her as the 'One to Watch'. Her music is a fusion of conscious lyrics, soulful vocals, blending seamlessly with pop and dance rhythms. Hailing from Belfast she splits her time between her home city and London, Winnie Ama has garnered support from local and national radio, notably BBC Radio 1, where BBC Introducing's Gemma Bradley praised her unique voice and fresh writing style. Notable stage appearances include headlining the BBC Introducing Stage at Latitude in 2022 and gracing the Glastonbury stage in 2023.
Ulster Orchestra: Sound Links concert* (SOLD OUT)
8.00pm, Townsend Street Church. *Click here to book free tickets. THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT.
A special performance by the Ulster Orchestra, performing three newly-commissioned pieces of music by composers Úna Monaghan, Rory Friers and Jamie Thompson for the Sound Links project. These pieces are a culmination of months of consultation workshops in the local area where members of the public came to share their memories and stories of Townsend Street and offer their hopes and aspirations for the future. This material was then given to the composers to inform their work. Visuals relating to the past, present and future of the street will be projected within the Church during the performance, creating an atmospheric, immersive experience.
EVENTS
Reflection with Reverend Jack Lamb and church organ performance by Matthew Owens
2.30pm, Townsend Street Church
Rev Jack Lamb was Minister Emeritus of Townsend Street Presbyterian Church, before the Orchestra made it its home. Townsend street and its people have come a long way and through hard times, and the church has had a seminal role in the local community. To kick off our family fun day, the Rev Jack will lead a short reflection. This will be followed by a short performance on the church organ by Matthew Owens.
Peace Day Céilí
4.00-6.00pm, The Jig (Townsend Street Memorial Hall)
Called by céilí dance master Ronán Eastwood and for all ages and abilities to take part in. Bring your Dancing Shoes!
Tours of Townsend Street*
2.00pm and 4.00pm. Meet at The Jig (Townsend Street Memorial Hall)
*Come early! Limit of 25 on each tour as you will be provided with a Whisper Set.
Join local historian & renowned tour guide, Francis Higgins as he illuminates the fascinating history of Townsend street and the surrounding area. From a foundry to go-go dancers, prepare to be entertained and amazed about the history of this pocket of Belfast.
Born in 1960 Francis Higgins grew up in the zone between the Catholic and Protestant zones of Belfast and has been blown up by a bomb and had two friends shot dead beside him. Leaving school at 15 he went back to night school, then university gaining a Honours Degree then a Masters in History before completing Post Grad in Education and Tour Guiding. His history of Brown's Square is now a teaching resource in US and UK Universities and his book on Harland & Wolff where the RMS Titanic was built won an award in 2022. Married for 45 years with two grown up children and two grandsons, he is now a professional and internationally rated Tour Guide. Francis’ most recent book is called You Could Die Laughing (Growing Up in the Troubles).
The History of Townsend Street Memorial Hall
3.00pm, The Jig (Townsend Street Memorial Hall)
A short talk from local historian and author, Francis Higgins, on the fascinating history of the memorial hall, how it shaped local kids' lives and some of the people behind its foundation - including local legend: The Parachute Padre.
WORKSHOPS
Art Workshop with Ali
2.00pm-6.00pm (drop in anytime), Townsend Social Outreach Centre
All Ages
Join Ali and her crew for a fun arts and crafts workshop…where your imagination is the only limit!
Ali Fell is one half of Seedhead Arts. She believes in the importance of a good list and plenty of sticky tape, and the power of creativity to change your world. But mostly she loves yarn, and tries to take life one stitch at a time.
Street Art Workshop with Wee Nuls*
2.00pm-6.00pm (with a 30-min break)
Suitable for 12-16 year olds. *8 places only – please email Vittoria at [email protected] for a spot.
Want to try your hand at Street Art? No idea where to start? Join Wee Nuls for this 4 hour workshop, where you can help co create a piece of Art for the Ulster Orchestra, and learn to use the paint and materials of the trade.
Wee Nuls (Nuala) is a multi-disciplinary artist and creative director based in Belfast. She works in a number of mediums including spray paint, hand drawn and digital illustration, and printmaking. Wee Nuls street art murals can be seen across Belfast and have become a part of the visual identity of the city over the past few years. She is inspired by challenging gender inequalities, beauty ideals, sexism, and raising awareness for feminist issues in a playful way.
Football Physics*
2.00pm, The Jig (Townsend Street Memorial Hall)
Age 8+ and families. Running time: 45mins-1hr. *Click here to book free tickets.
Train your brain to win the game! Join physicist, TV presenter and former professional footballer, Mark Langtry, aka Mark the Science guy, on a highly interactive investigation into the science and technology behind the beautiful game! Discover how the world's greatest footballers use science to gain the competitive edge and discover the role scientists and engineers play in high-performance sports. Challenges, demonstrations, experiments, skills and mucho thrills, this show will reveal how science can improve your performance on and off the pitch. Supported by Northern Ireland Science Festival and Community Sports Network.
Instagram: Mark_theScienceGuy / TikTok: Mark the Science Guy / X: @MarkLangtry / Facebook: Mark the Science Guy
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