East Belfast Arts Festival, Wed 5 to Sun 9 September

In two weeks’ time the brand new East Belfast Arts Festival will be taking place. The full programme and links to ticket outlets are available on the festival website. Some highlights:

Wednesday 5 September

Ruth Gonsalves Moore // Belmont Tower, 9am-9pm // Photographic exhibition – This time, this place – representing everyday life in East Belfast. Also runs Thursday 6 from 9am-10pm. Free.

Basra Boy // The Welders at 8pm // Brassneck theatre Company’s production following best friends Speedy and Stig as one abandons the streets of East Belfast and the marches of the East Sons of Ulster Flute Band for the streets of Afghanistan. £8. Also playing on Thursday 6.

Thursday 6 September

Art in the Eastside: Art Flag Bunting // Unit B5 Portview Trade Centre 6-9pm // Fed up with flegs? Create your own bunting to celebrate your area of East Belfast in this workshop.

Creative Exchange – Art in the Eastside III // Portview Trade Centre, 6-9pm // A total of 26 billboards will form a visual arts trail across the east of the city, starting from Central Station and journeying along Albertbridge, Newtownards, Cregagh and Castlereagh Roads. The billboards are up from 3-17 September; the opening exhibition is on the Thursday evening.

Healing of a Wounded City // Ballyhackamore Library at 7pm // A “stylis and hard-hitting Irish language documentary about Belfast’s journey over the past century … Through the eyes of its citizens, it explores the city’s often dark past as it gives way to a brighter and peaceful future. Free – reserve a place by emailing william AT eastbelfastartsfestival DOT org.

Friday 7 September

Songwriters at the Dock // The Dock Café at 6pm // Local songwriters Dave Stevenson, Scott Willis and Dee McQueen will perform. Free.

Dan Gordon: We didn’t just build the Titanic you know … // The Shipyard Church (Westbourne Presbyterian) at 7.30pm // Fresh from a month of five star performances of The Boat Factory at the Edinburgh Fringe, and sponsored by the letter ‘B’, local actor and playwright Dan Gordon is back with his one man show to talk about East Belfast, bonfires, bicycles, boys brigade, bad breath, biscuits, buns and boats. £8 (£5 concession). Also plays on Saturday 8.

Saturday 8 September

Art in the Eastside: Art Flag Bunting // Connswater Shopping Centre noon-4pm // Fed up with flegs? Create your own bunting to celebrate your area of East Belfast in this workshop.

Mini Magic Club // Belmont Tower at 2pm // Four magicians with close up tricks as well as on-stage wonders. Billed as “an intimate, interactive and fun-filled afternoon”. £6.

Big Top Festival // Aircraft Park (opposite Ashfield Girls School), Holywood Road from 3pm // Brian Houston, Wonder Villians, Gareth Dunlop, Katie & the Carnival, Belfast Community Gospel Choir, Anthony Toner, Mama Kaz Band and Van Morrison along with his daughter Shana will be performing. £45.

Sunday 9 September

Lament: Walking Meditation // departs City East business centre at 2pm // Local artist Bronagh Lawson has been visiting a different church in Belfast every Sunday for the last three years. Along with Chicago artist Suellen Semekoski, she will lead a walking meditation between some East Belfast churches. Free - reserve a place by emailing william AT eastbelfastartsfestival DOT org.

Livingstone Presents: A Night of Belfast Songs & Belfast Stories // Strand Cinema at 7.30pm // Launching his book and album, storyteller and songwriter Ian Livingstone will tell tales of growing up in East Belfast, accompanied by the Farriers. £9.


And the Yellow Fever Independent Film Festival is back on the weekend of Friday 7 to Sunday 9 September in the Stormont Hotel with screenings of local and international indie films, the annual charity Zombie Walk through the Stormont Estate (Saturday at noon), and the Sunday night awards ceremony. Weekend passes from £15 (while half price offer remains) from the YFIFF website.