Belfest
Encyclopedia
belFEST was a festival celebrating and showcasing the music scene in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
. Established in 1996, it featured many bands and artists who have gone on to find fame and success in the record industry such as Snow Patrol
, Duke Special
and Iain Archer
.
It usually took place in the late Autumn, utilising the many venues of Belfast including The Limelight
complex, the Empire Music Hall, Lavery's, the Duke of York, and the Black Box. The centrepiece showcases were free and were scheduled in such a way that the public could catch up to five or six bands per night by making their way back and forth to the various locations. The showcases were complemented by a range of high-profile gigs organised to coincide with the festival, as well as educational and fringe events featuring well-known and successful industry figures such as In the City, Factory Records
, Hacienda boss Tony Wilson
, and Creation Records
founder Alan McGee
.
belFEST was organised by local music promoter Gerry Sheppard, known to many as 'Shep the bollix'. In later years the event enjoyed the support of the Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission, BBC Radio Ulster
's Across The Line show, the Northern Ireland Events Company, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland
. For many years belFEST was complemented by DigitalT – another showcasing event taking place each Spring and dedicated to electronic and dance music.
There was no Belfest in 2007. In an announcement made by Gerard Sheppard said there "will be a new look belFEST in 2008. It will be a more focussed presentation of the best of our new music. It will improve how we project that music. It will all be revealed in the New Year."
Nothing happened.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Established in 1996, it featured many bands and artists who have gone on to find fame and success in the record industry such as Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
, Duke Special
Duke Special
Duke Special, real name Peter Wilson, is a songwriter and performer based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. A piano-based songwriter with a romantic style and a warm, distinctly accented voice, he has a distinctive look, with his long dreadlocks, eyeliner and outfits he describes as "hobo chic"...
and Iain Archer
Iain Archer
Iain Denis Archer is a singer–songwriter from Bangor, Northern Ireland, who was once a secondary lyricist for the indie band Snow Patrol. Archer comes from a musical background and released several solo albums in the mid 90s on the small Scottish independent label Sticky Music...
.
It usually took place in the late Autumn, utilising the many venues of Belfast including The Limelight
The Limelight (Belfast)
The Limelight in Belfast, Northern Ireland is a bar, nightclub and music venue. The complex on the city's Ormeau Avenue includes The Limelight, a bar called Katy Daly's, and Spring and Airbrake. The nearby Auntie Annie's Porterhouse on the Dublin Road is also owned by The Limelight.The Limelight...
complex, the Empire Music Hall, Lavery's, the Duke of York, and the Black Box. The centrepiece showcases were free and were scheduled in such a way that the public could catch up to five or six bands per night by making their way back and forth to the various locations. The showcases were complemented by a range of high-profile gigs organised to coincide with the festival, as well as educational and fringe events featuring well-known and successful industry figures such as In the City, Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
, Hacienda boss Tony Wilson
Tony Wilson
Anthony Howard Wilson, commonly known as Tony Wilson , was an English record label owner, radio presenter, TV show host, nightclub manager, impresario and journalist for Granada Television and the BBC....
, and Creation Records
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
founder Alan McGee
Alan McGee
Alan McGee has been a record label owner, musician, manager, and music blogger for The Guardian.McGee is best-known for co-forming and running the independent Creation Records label from 1983–1999, and then Poptones from 1999-2007...
.
belFEST was organised by local music promoter Gerry Sheppard, known to many as 'Shep the bollix'. In later years the event enjoyed the support of the Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission, BBC Radio Ulster
BBC Radio Ulster
BBC Radio Ulster is one of two Northern Irish BBC radio stations, the other being BBC Radio Foyle located in the city of Derry. BBC Radio Ulster is located at Broadcasting House in the Ormeau Avenue area of Belfast city centre...
's Across The Line show, the Northern Ireland Events Company, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure is a devolved Northern Irish government department in the Northern Ireland Executive...
and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is the lead development agency for the arts in Northern Ireland....
. For many years belFEST was complemented by DigitalT – another showcasing event taking place each Spring and dedicated to electronic and dance music.
There was no Belfest in 2007. In an announcement made by Gerard Sheppard said there "will be a new look belFEST in 2008. It will be a more focussed presentation of the best of our new music. It will improve how we project that music. It will all be revealed in the New Year."
Nothing happened.