Antrim on Folk Directory

An Droichead

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Over the past year and a half, An Droichead has established itself as one of the best traditional music venues in Belfast. Friday 9–12 is a traditional session with Réalta and Friends; Saturday has a family-friendly fireside session 2–4 and a night session 9–12.

Billy Andy's

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Mostly tunes and a few songs.

Crosskeys Inn

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Crosskeys is an old thatched coaching inn set down a secluded leafy lane, a quiet spot for a fortnightly session.

Cultúrlann (Belfast)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

An Chultúrlann spans three floors, with space for artistic and theatrical expression, a café, a tourist information office, community radio, and the North’s largest dedicated Irish language and media book and gift shop. Located in Belfast’s Gaeltacht Quarter, it hosts live traditional and contemporary music sessions and poetry readings.

Suitable for beginners and advanced. Core musicians are Dusty Doris (fiddle) and Maria Rafferty (flute), with visits from various guests and local musicians.

Fountain Lane

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Garrick Bar

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A venue for trad music, consistently hosting sessions four evenings a week over the last two decades. A Thursday evening has recently been added, making it five.

Gasworks Museum

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

It is a ‘Slow Session’ specifically set up to encourage musicians who have no group skills to participate in session playing.

Halt

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Halt is a new venue in the old Europa bus station.

Hearth

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A new session in Ballyhackamore, open to all skill levels. Meets every Wednesday; schedule updates are posted on social media.

Katy Jane's Bar

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

All skill levels welcome. Core instruments include banjo, box, fiddle, mandola and bodhran. Free bar for musicians.

Kelly's Cellars

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Lavery's

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

McEnaney's

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

McHugh's

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

McHugh’s is a session for Belfast trad players from BelfastTrad.org who are not yet professional, providing a space to swap tunes and play together. It began on 29 November 2009.

O'Connor's Bar

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

This session has been running for the past twenty-five years and is the home of the local Comhaltas group. A junior session was recently introduced, starting around 8.30pm, with the adults taking over around 9.30pm.

Pavillion Bar

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A welcoming bar offering free pints for musicians.

Post House

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Seatons Of Sailortown

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Adair Arms Hotel

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Thursday night session, mainly tunes with a few songs. All welcome, though it may not suit absolute beginners.

The American Bar

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Bushmills Inn

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A 50/50 ballads and tunes session, with a mix of Scottish and Irish music and song.

The Chester

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Deer's Head

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Dirty Onion

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Friday 9pm–12am; Saturday 2–4pm and 9pm–12am; Sunday 2–5pm and 7–10pm.

The Distillers Arms

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Distillers Arms hosts a new session with an early start at 8.30pm. Started this summer, it is currently a summer-only session. The venue has an open-plan layout with a small, cosy lounge area and an open fire, where the session takes place.

The Duke Of York

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

[No usable description available.]

The Duncairn Centre For Arts And Culture

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Details of when it is on are available on the website.

The Meeting House

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Singer Session runs all year, subject to holiday closures, poor weather, or too few participants.

The Morning Star

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Northern Whig

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Parador

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The session has been going for many years, the two mainstays being Tom Clarke on pipes and Andy Dixon on fiddle. Numbers vary from week to week.

The Phoenix Bar

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Points

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Second Fiddle

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Smugglers Inn

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The session began about three years ago, shortly after the venue opened. The Smugglers Inn is primarily a restaurant with a bar attached, offering a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. The session features a blend of songs and tunes.

White's Tavern

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Great music - hosts are Maria (Flute), John Boy (bouzouki), Darragh (pipes) and Kevin (Fiddle). Visiting musicians welcome to join in but you need to be there about 9 to secure a seat.