Northern Ireland
BBC Music Day - Northern Ireland
Highlights of BBC Music Day in Northern Ireland
The Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast came alive with music as the former prison was transformed into an intimate music venue showcasing eclectic sounds. From a special broadcast of Radio 3’s ‘In Tune’ to a spectacular evening concert on BBC Two Northern Ireland, listeners were treated to a line-up including Sir James Galway, Conor O’Brien from ‘Villagers’, the Belfast Community Gospel Choir, The Ulster Orchestra, African drumming group ‘Releasing Rhythms’ and former winner of The Voice Andrea Begley.
Throughout the day BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle hosted a series of live outside broadcasts. In the morning, Sean Coyle was at Lurgan Town Hall in Co. Armagh hosting music and tea dances with tunes from the 1950s to the present day. Hugo Duncan brought live music and intergenerational singing to a small primary school celebrating their centenary in Co. Tyrone. Gerry Kelly presented an outside broadcast at Belfast's Ulster Hall and in the evening Michael Bradley of The Undertones broadcast live from Smalltown America Records in Derry, with sets from PØRTS, Our Krypton Son and Jessica Doherty.
Throughout the day, musicians and singers from the inaugural BBC Radio Ulster/Arts Council NI Young Musician Platform Awards performed across a variety of BBC Radio Ulster shows.
Line-up
18.15–19.15 – BBC Radio 3’s ‘In Tune’ featuring:
- Sir James Galway (flute)
- Neil Martin (uilleann pipes)
- Ulster Orchestra
- David Brophy (conductor)
- Methodist College Chapel Choir
- Ruth McCartney (director)
1830 - 1900 - The Arts Show Music Day special from Smalltown America Records
- PØRTS
- Our Krypton Son
- Jessica Doherty
2100–2200 – BBC Music Day: From The Crumlin Road Gaol on BBC Two NI:
- Sir James Galway
- Conor O’Brien from Villagers
- Michael McHale
- The Belfast Community Gospel Choir
- Andrea Begley
- Releasing Rhythm
- The Ulster Orchestra
- Community musicians
Catch up
BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio Foyle broadcasts:
- Sean Coyle at Lurgan County Hall
- Hugo Duncan at Moortown Primary School
- Gerry Kelly at Ulster Hall
- Michael Bradley at Smalltown America Records
- Linley Hamilton’s ‘Jazz World’
- The Late Show with Cherrie McIlwaine
The Crumlin Road Gaol concert was on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Two NI and the Red Button
Highlights were also featured on The One Show
Highlights from BBC Music Day on Radio 3
A small selection of great moments from the day's programmes
BBC Music Day: Belfast Community Gospel Choir
We speak to Marie Lacey from Belfast Community Gospel Choir.
BBC Music Day: Releasing Rhythms
We take a moment to speak to Thomas Tettey Annang about drumming.
