5 Local Gigs To Check Out In Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter This Year

When it comes to gigs in Belfast, the city’s Cathedral Quarter is a hub of fantastic music. From festivals, venues, and theatre spaces to bars and clubs there’s no better place to relax to your favourite genre.

Northern Ireland is full of talented local musicians that deserve our ongoing love and support, and several of them are hosting headline gigs around The Cathedral Quarter this year.

It’s time for you to check out our amazing local bands, learn their lyrics and practice your best hand horns.

Here are 5 local gigs coming up this year that you should check out:

1. Junk Drawer Album Launch

Venue: Black Box, Hill Street

Date/time: 16th September @ 7:30 pm

Price: £7 entry or £21 entry + Ready For The House LP

Junk Drawer will be launching their new album “Ready For The House” as part of Black Box Recorder.

The album was released through Art For Blinds Records back in 2020 and the album features their lead single “Year Of The Sofa”, the winner of the Best Single at The Northern Ireland Music Prize in 2019”.

The band describes itself as “four multi-instrumentalists drawing from post-punk, krautrock, psychedelia, experimentalism and art-rock”.

To find out more information about the event, go to blackboxbelfast.com and check out Junk Drawer on Soundcloud

2. BICEP Venue: Telegraph Building, Library Street Date/time: 2nd October Price: £30 + BF Bicep are a popular DJ Duo from Belfast made up of Andrew Ferguson and Matthew McBriar, the group are best known for their chart-topping single ‘Glue’. The electronic music stars are no strangers to The Telegraph Building stage having previously played the venue in 2018 and 2019.

For more information and tickets go to ticketmaster.co.uk or check them out on Spotify 3. Brand New Friend Venue: Black Box, Hill Street Date/Time: 16th October @ 7pm Price: £10 + booking fee Brand New Friend, a five-piece indie-pop band from Castlerock, are back and headlining their own show at The Black Box this October. Since the release of their debut album ‘Seatbelts For Aeroplanes’ back in 2018, Brand New Friend have been performing at venues and festivals across the UK and Ireland, supporting the likes of Snow Patrol, Lewis Capaldi, RAT BOY, and Ash. Brand New Friend brings energy to their shows like no other, promising an unforgettable night for their first headline gig post-COVID. To book tickets go to ticketmaster.co.uk or you can stream all of Brand New Friend’s music on Spotify. 4. Joshua Burnside Venue: Ulster Sports Club, High Street Date/time: 12th & 13th November @ 7 pm Price: £14 Joshua Burnside is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter based in Belfast and was the artist in residence at The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. His new album “Higher Places“ incorporates elements of Irish Folk, rock, Americana, and electronica, and has featured on BBC Radio 6. For more information or to book tickets go to ticketmaster.co.uk or you can listen to Joshua Burnside on Bandcamp 5. Amy Montgomery Venue: Ulster Sports Club, High Street Date/time: 26th November Price: 10+ booking fee Amy Montgomery is a singer-songwriter from County Antrim. At just 21 years old, she creates a fearless and confident persona in terms of singing and performing. Covered in war paint and performing barefooted helps to create a unique and memorable experience, as well as her strong and powerful voice. To book tickets go to ticketmaster.co.uk or to listen to Amy Montgomery on Soundcloud To find out more about what’s happening in Belfast Cathedral Quarter check out the Destination CQ website at cathedralquarterbelfast.com