A CHARITY guiding musicians through troubled times is opening an outlet in Belfast.
Help Musicians UK has been working with artists since 1921, and is using the Sound of Belfast 2016 series of events to promote their arrival in the north, and let performers know help is at hand at all stages of a music career - from the highs to the lows.
The privately funded charity aids artists with health and well-being - such as offering hearing tests - and also helps get careers off the ground, by supporting and promoting acts and new talent.
Speaking as this year's Sound of Belfast line-up for November 3-12 was launched at the Oh Yeah Music Centre in the city's Cathedral Quarter, spokesman and music producer Declan Legge said: "It is a great time to be launching the charity's services in
Northern Ireland, as the music scene here is continuing to grow at a rapid rate, and the need for support is greater than ever.
"We have had a few open meetings in Belfast ahead of the launch, attended by musicians, and the response was fantastic. There is a lot of talent here, and plenty of work for us to do."
One of the areas in which the charity has been at the forefront of offering support is mental health.
"This can be an area that is often not talked about openly, but can affect many musicians," Declan said.
"For some, the idea of achieving success can be overwhelming, and the industry can take its toll. We can offer help to those that experience the dark side of making a living from their talent."