The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival is celebrating its 20th birthday in style with over 100 events in 11 days.
The 11-day extravaganza will feature over 100 events in over 20 venues across Cathedral Quarter and beyond from May 2-12.
And to celebrate its 20 anniversary, organisers revealed a bumper programme of live music, comedy, literature, theatre, film, visual art and more at its launch this week.
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Rufus Wainwright, Echo and the Bunnymen, Anna Calvi, Teenage Fanclub, Spiritualized, Marian Keyes, Yola, UNLOVED (feat, David Holmes), Nina Conti, Horslips, Chris Difford, Roy Walker, Bill Drummond, Patty Griffin, Kevin McAleer, Lisa O’Neill, Lowkey, Bernard MacLaverty, Horslips and Kevin McAleer are among the star names descending on Belfast’s historic cultural quarter.
Festival Director Sean Kelly said: "There are very few festivals in the world will give you the opportunity to see Rufus Wainwright, Marian Keyes and Roy Walker all in one week but, thankfully, the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival is not your average festival.
"Much has changed in the Cathedral Quarter since our first modest festival back in 2000. But two decades on, our commitment to showcasing the best arts in the world and the best arts in this city remains undimmed.
"We’re a small team, and we’re extremely proud of what we’ve managed to achieved over the years with somewhat limited resources. I think it’s fair to use the phrase ‘punching above our weight’ when it comes to describing the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival.
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"We invite festival goers, fun lovers and cultural heads to come help us celebrate over 11 days of amazing music, comedy, literature, film – the works! After 20 years in the game, we promise you’re in good hands!"
The musical lineup also boasts My Darling Clementine, Craig Charles, Jason Lytle (of Grandaddy), Howe Gelb, Kitt Philippa, Sean O’Hagan, Joshua Burnside, whenyoung, Mick Flannery, Nubya Garcia, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Carla del Fomo, A Certain Ratio, Say Sue Me, Folsom Prison Blues: A Tribute to Johnny Cash, Glasshouse Ensemble Perform Sufjan Stevens, Barb Jungr: Bob, Brel and Me, Awesome Tapes of Africa and Alejandro Escovado.
As well as two of the most celebrated living Irish writers in MacLaverty and Keyes, CQAF20 is welcoming Emma Dabiri, author of the bestselling Don’t Touch my Hair, acclaimed local authors Jan Carson and Geraldine Quigley, Neu! Reekie!’s Curfew Towering, Phil Taggart’s Slacker Guide to the Music Industry, Julian Vignoles holds forth on his book on Rory Gallagher: The Man Behind the Guitar and the traditional Seamus Heaney Homeplace tour, complete with lunch.
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Comedy highlights include legends Roy Walker and Kevin McAleer fresh from Derry Girls stardom, Jerry Sadowitz, Nina Conti, Tom Stade, Kieran Hodgson doing ’75 – his epic tale of how Britain joined Europe, Sarah Keyworth, Whose Line is it Anyway’s Stephen Frost and his Improv Allstars, the fabulous Deirdre O’Kane and Rob Auton.
Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive of principle funders, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland , said: "One of the hallmarks of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival is its joyful eccentricity. This year’s programme is no exception, with acts ranging from the legendarily misanthropic comedian Jerry Sadowitz to the sublimely musical Rufus Wainwright, and much else in between.
"Here we have a hugely creative, diverse and accessible festival programme that mixes the international with the local, all of it top quality. And the affordable prices mean there’s no excuse for not trying something new! Is it any wonder this festival commands such a wide, loyal, and growing, audience.
"The Arts Council, as principal funder through our public and National Lottery funds, is proud to support the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival as it delivers another inspirational programme of arts."
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