 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||||
GENERAL INFO
| SPONSORS
FUNDERS
MEDIA PARTNERS
A word from our sponsorsI love live music and I’ve been to hundreds of gigs. But I’ve never seen anything as extraordinary as Seasick Steve at McHugh’s Bar last year. He represents a tradition that goes far, far back into the American past and when he talks, he talks of jumping freight trains, of living on the streets and of years of struggle and deprivation. Watching him in a small bar felt like a privilege. It was an encounter with a sound so authentic you could touch and feel and smell the dust and heat and poverty that spawned it. That’s what is so good about this festival. It is the real thing. Created by people who understand the DNA of real music. Seasick Steve was on the Jools Holland show on New Year’s Eve last year. He was brilliant. And now his career has taken off. He’s got a new album out and he’s in heavy demand. It didn’t surprise me, Kieran and Alison have this special talent for finding exciting musicians and showcasing them before the rest of the music world catches up. Two years ago it was Kate Rusby. Last year it was Seasick Steve. I can’t wait to see what they’ve come up with this time. Nick Garbutt This great independent festival with real personality is just what Belfast needs. InBev are delighted to be sponsoring Open House, and to be supplying to festival venues the kinds of beers that grown-up, free-thinking individuals will appreciate, including Becks, Leffe and Staropramen. If you find you’re working up a thirst from all those hot chillies and even hotter music, quench the fire in style. Have a great festival – see you at the bar. Ciaran McAlinden
Thanks (in no particular order) toChristiano Ronaldo, Nemenja Vidic and Paul Scholes; Stephen Magorrian, Helen Mulholland, Cathy Toner, Jayne Brennan and all the staff at Botanic Inns including Chris the barman at Madisons Hotel; Ciaran McAlinden at InBev; Pedro, Catherine, Davy, Peter, Tomas and all at the John Hewitt; Paul Flynn, Julie McBride and Lorraine McDowell at the Arts Council; Nick Garbutt, Jenni Barkley, Barry Turley and Lindsay McVicker at Asitis Consulting; Lynette Fay, Maggie Doyle, Gerry Anderson, Cherrie McIlwaine, Ralph McClean and anyone at the BBC who’s helped us; Declan Cranney at DSD; Kellie While and Mike Harding; Christine O’Toole and Deirdre Robb at Belfast City Council Arts and Culture Unit; Becky Morris, Louise McElvanna and all the crew at Smallworld; Kerry, Michael and Lauren at International Kitchen; John Willis and Marty and all the staff at Production House; John, Ann, Donal and all the staff at Marcus Music; Julie Cochrane, Eileen Johnston and the Belfast Welcome Centre staff; Andrew, Mark, Sandra and all at Tandem Design for the cool programme; Dean, Stephen and Michael and all the staff at the Rotterdam; Eithne and Brian Vallely, Sean Kelly, Chris Hall of Swampmusic, Jim Johnstone, Steve Wold, Matt Greenhill, Maureen and Norman Gordon, Peter and Kathleen Gilmore, Katie-Rose and Rory Gilmore. A big thanks to all the staff, committee members and volunteers who did so much at last year’s festival and in anticipation of their help at this year’s! including Méabh, Sean and Fergus O’Hare, Jim Rainey, Tomas Gorman, Lawrence Graham, Tom Sherlock, Catherine Boyle, Declan McCarthy, Paddy Craig and the students at North Down and Ards Institute Music Technology Course, Ian “Ralph” Higham, Maria McAlister, Lára Kerr, Dave Briggs, Fiona McGettigan, Gorretti and Pat O’Conor, Lorraine McCutcheon, Mary Preston, Rhoda McIntire and Gordon the Scotsman, Caomhín Vallely, Abi Norman, Liam McBurney, Bryan Rice, Seonaid Murray, Robert Scott. A very special thanks to the Zutons.
|