BELFAST'S Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival (CQAF) will return next month, bringing 10 days of live music, comedy, literature, theatre and more to the city centre.
Running from September 2 to 12, organisers say the 21st CQAF will be "safe, secure and above all celebratory". Full health and safety precautions will be observed at all events, including the wearing of masks to and from seats, social distancing and proof of double vaccination for entry to the main Festival Marquee.
Live music will include Lisa Hannigan, The Bonnevilles, The Sabrejets, Bronagh Gallagher, Kíla, Neville Staple, Bell X1 (acoustic with Dowry Strings), Sharon Shannon, The Adventures, Luka Bloom, Camille O'Sullivan, Ciaran Lavery, Grainne Duffy, King Kong Company, Shadows and Light – The Songs of Joni Mitchell, Norman Jay, John Murry, Dave Arcari, Erland Cooper, Gwenifer Raymond, Deptford Northern Soul Club, John Blek, The Remedy Club, Christine Bovill's Piaf, Robocobra Quartet, Native Harrow, Niamh Murray, Leo Miyagee and 2021 Artist in Residence, Reevah.
Live comedy headliners include returns for CQAF alumni Andrew Maxwell and Rich Hall, the acclaimed Nabil Abdulrashid (aka NABIL: Nobody Believed I'd Last), Catherine Bohart, Joanne McNally and Teresa Livingstone.
There's the return of Belfast's Street Art Festival Hit The North, another series of the much loved Faculty Lectures, poets Kerri Ni Dochartaigh & Annemaire Ni Churreáin and best seller Seamás O'Reilly, author of memoir Did Ye Hear Mammy Died.
CQAF screenings include Don't Go Gentle – A Film about IDLES, a 50th anniversary screening of Harold and Maude, School of Rock, Gay Chorus Deep South, legendary lost Dylan doc Eat the Document and a special screening of Summer of Soul with live music from Manukahunny.
The live theatre line-up includes Anthem by CQAF bursary award winner Alice Malseed & Sarah Baxter and Bruiser Theatre Co's production of Owen McCafferty's tour de force Mojo Mickeybo.
Festival Director Sean Kelly says: "This might just be the most hotly anticipated of all our 21 festivals. That goes for us as well as our audience. After a long 18 months, we're truly thrilled to be able to host a full festival of live events, albeit in slightly different circumstances and a different time of year.
"There were obvious challenges programming a festival in the current circumstances but we're incredibly proud of our line-up. We won't be sacrificing safety however, and the strictest standards will apply to all our events.
"But the fact we're able to have a festival at all is a cause for celebration. So come join us for 11 days of great live festival events, and hopefully the start of a brighter future for the arts."
:: Full programme and ticketing details at CQAF.com
