The 12th annual Open House Festival is a month-long programme of music, comedy, literary, and food & drink events. The majority of the 125 events will take place at two key locations: the award-winning Court House on Bangor seafront, and the beautiful Walled Garden at Bangor Castle.
Music highlights include acclaimed Irish folk singer Lisa O’Neill and one of Ireland’s greatest jazz and blues artists, Mary Coughlan, both of whom will be performing on the festival stage in the Walled Garden, while The Ocelots, German-based twin brothers whose latest album Everything, When Said Slowly has garnered international acclaim, will appear at the Court House.
Key literary events include Chris Whitaker, author of the global bestselling thriller, All the Colours of the Dark, English historian Paul French, author of Her Lotus Year, which offers a fresh perspective on the legendary Wallis Simpson, and award-winning American journalist Karen Hao, who is making her first visit to Northern Ireland to chat about Empire of AI, her exposé of the dark side of OpenAI. All three authors will be stopping off at Bangor during their international book tours and are also appearing at the acclaimed Edinburgh Book Festival this month too. Gary Lightbody will be making two visits to the Walled Garden to talk about his bestselling book The Forest is the Path – a different type of homecoming gig for the Bangor musician.
For comedy fans, Chris Kent, one of Ireland’s leading comedians will be making his debut Open House appearance at the Walled Garden. And panel events include Bangor authors Colin Bateman and Louise Farr discussing the merits of radio drama with the producer of BBC Radio 4’s Short Works series, Michael Shannon.
“Our programme is really diverse this year, with a lovely mixture of local, national and international artists and creatives,” said Open House director, Kieran Gilmore. “We’re thrilled that lots of events have already sold out, but there are still plenty of tickets available for a whole range of brilliant acts, from soul artists Dana Masters and Manukahunney, to the award-winning playwright Karis Kelly.”
A special Blues and Jazz week will form part of the festival later in the month, with a free music trail over the bank holiday weekend. Supported by Beamish and Ards and North Down Borough Council, it will feature at least 37 free music sessions in nine Bangor bars. And the free Picnic in the Park events will continue in Ward Park each Sunday afternoon of August, culminating in the festival’s trademark Bluegrass Picnic on Sunday 31st.
Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Gillian McCollum said: “Ards and North Down Borough Council is delighted once again to support the Open House Festival – in this its 12th year. With another packed programme of live events held in iconic Bangor venues such as the award-winning Court House and our beautiful Bangor Castle Walled Garden, it will encourage increased footfall to Bangor that will undoubtedly give our local economy a major boost. I wish all those participating a very successful Festival.”
“The first of August always seems to come upon us so quickly,” said Kieran, “but we’re ready, and can’t wait to welcome people to the festival, and Bangor.”
For full details of all festival events, and to purchase tickets, go to www.openhousefestival.com
