The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival returns for the 25th time – from the 1st – 11th May – with its biggest programme yet, promising 11 days of live music, comedy, literature, film, visual art, theatre, discussion and more – across Belfast’s historic cultural quarter and beyond.
The first “CQAF” took place in 2000 in the then semi-derelict Cathedral Quarter of Belfast. Over the last 25 years the Festival has grown alongside the Quarter it takes its name from. It now welcomes thousands of visitors from across the island and beyond every May. Its companion festival Out to Lunch which runs throughout the month of January is now also a much-loved fixture in the city’s Cultural Calendar.
Speaking at the programme launch Festival Director Sean Kelly said:
“Launching the first festival in May 2000, we were unsure if there would be a second one, let alone another 24. So it is with some surprise and a great deal of pleasure we launch our 25th edition this May.”
“As ever, we’ve sought to bring together some of the greatest artists working today, both from our own city and from much further afield.
Fires, floods, funding cuts, volcanic ash cloud chaos and a global pandemic may have tested us along the way but the loyalty of our audiences and their openness to new artistic voices has been truly amazing.”
“There are so many great artists, musicians, theatre-makers, writers and comedians we’d still love to present. In that sense, although a significant milestone for the festival, it feels like we’re only getting started. Now CQAF 2050 – that’ll be some party!”
The bumper CQAF25 musical line-up includes Camille O’Sullivan, Lisa Hannigan, Gemma Hayes and Paul Noonan, Tinariwen, The 4 of Us, Arooj Aftab, Timber Timbre, UNKLE, The Bluebells, Bernard Butler, Sister Ghost, King Creosote, The 4 of Us, Andy Irvine, Lael Neale, Meryl Streek, Hayden Thorpe and Propellor Ensemble, Noah Gundersen, Niamh Bury, The Anthony Toner Songbook, The Ennio Morricone Experience and The Magic Numbers. CQAF25 is also thrilled to introduce its new artist in residence AOIBHA.
Highlights from the comedy and drama programme include long standing festival favourite John Shuttleworth as well as Josie Long, Lords of Strut, Mark Watson, Drunk Women Solving Crime, SH!T Theatre, Shame Show from former CQAF bursary winner Colm McCready and Fergus Wachala-Kelly, Dressed for Space – new site specific work (the roof of Castle Court Shopping Centre no Less!) from the great Patrick J O’Reilly, Fortuna and Chips – a rehearsed reading, written byBrenda Winter Palmer with music by Rod McVey and Lisdoon Nirvana, a new one man show written and performed by Frankie McCafferty.
The CQAF25 film programme features NI premieres of the hotly anticipated Fugazi documentary and Jeffrey Lewis: Roll Bus Roll, The psychedelic Macca/ Stevie Wonder biopic Ebony and Ivory and celebrated photographer Martin Parr also joins the festival for a Q and A and premiere screening of I am Martin Parr.
Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys will be in town for a screening of his award-nominated American Interior plus the festival is proud to present a rare showing of the first ever Irish language feature film: Poitín.
Poetry, literature, spoken word and ideas includes Caoilinn Hughes, Tariq Ali, Owen O’Neill, Theresa Lola, Roisin Lanigan. There’s live readings from Paul McVeigh’s acclaimed new short story collection “I Hear You”, A History of House featuring Iain McCready. Pulp guitarist Mark Webber will be discussing his new memoir “I’m With Pulp Are You?” and author John Higgs talks Dr Who in “Exterminate/ Regenerate: The Story of Dr Who”. Nelofer Pazira Fisk joins the festival to talk about the legacy of her late husband, the celebrated journalist Robert Fisk.
Elsewhere, talks, tours, visual art, workshops, street performances plus the annual CQ Bazaarand Hit The North Street Art Festival will animate the spaces of places of the city centre and beyond for 11 days of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival.
Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland said: “The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is proud to be the principal funder of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. This festival has been one of the main forces behind the arts-driven transformation of Belfast’s lively Cathedral Quarter, and it remains as important now as ever to the city’s ongoing creative and cultural development. We look forward to another of CQAF’s famously eclectic programmes, and the opportunity to enjoy some of the most interesting, exciting and entertaining artists and performers around. Happy 25th anniversary, CQAF!”
The 25th Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival runs from 1-11 May in venues across Belfast. Tickets and info available at CQAF.COM
