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As the weekend settles over the city, acclaimed Belfast composer Neil Martin will direct a special multicultural music experience, ‘Connections’. A renowned uilleann piper and cellist who has collaborated with Christy Moore, The Dubliners and The Chieftains, Martin will lead this collaboration with ArtsEkta and a cast of 12 musicians and dancers, blending Irish traditional music with sounds from Africa, South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and beyond, reflecting the rich cultural diversity of contemporary Belfast.
Friday evening will also feature Scottish ensemble TRIP who will ignite the stage with their dynamic, cross‑genre sound. Born out of the vibrant Glasgow traditional music scene, unite the kindred Celtic traditions of Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man. Their trademark sound is dynamic, driven and distinctive and celebrates the band’s roots in tradition, whilst showcasing a contemporary, cross-genre flare. Their tight-knit arrangements blend traditional melodies and self-penned tunes and songs to produce an exciting take on folk music. The line-up features six musicians at the forefront of Glasgow’s traditional music scene, including Michael Biggins (accordion), Isla Callister (fiddle), Tiernan Courell (flute and whistle), Alasdair MacKenzie (guitar and vocals), Rory Matheson (piano) and Craig Baxter (bodhrán).
Irish heavyweights Lúnasa, who have formed the backbone of some of the greatest Irish groups of the decade will also take to the stage on Friday evening. Long hailed as the ‘Irish music dream team’, their influence has shaped the very landscape of trad. Lúnasa’s current lineup features Trevor Hutchinson, who achieved fame as the bassist with The Waterboys; piper Cillian Vallely was a member of Riverdance and recorded with Bruce Springsteen; Flute player Kevin Crawford, considered one of Ireland’s greatest flute players, was a member of Moving Cloud; award-winning fiddler Sean Smyth, who performed with Donal Lunny’s legendary Coolfin and accordionist Alan Kelly; Colin Farrell is a multiple award winning fiddler, who has toured with Project West, Grada and Michael McGoldrick while Guitarist Ed Boyd made a name for himself in the UK folk scene with bands such as Flook, Kate Rusby, and Cara Dillon.
The Gig Rig will offer performances from 11am to 11pm each day. A full lineup of artists including stage times will be announced soon.
The Fleadh’s Gig Rig daytime programme brings the energy and atmosphere of the fleadh right into the heart of Belfast city centre. Set against the iconic backdrop of Belfast City Hall, this free outdoor concert series showcases an exciting mix of national and international performers, featuring traditional music, song, dance, céilí bands and large ensembles.
Throughout the week, audiences can enjoy performances from Comhaltas branches and visiting artists from across Ireland and around the world, alongside youth orchestras, community collaborations and outstanding local talent. With a packed programme running daily, the Gig Rig offers a welcoming and accessible way for everyone to experience the richness, creativity and infectious spirit of Ireland’s living traditional arts.
