This is just a snapshot of what Sound of Belfast has to offer, with 10 days of special performances in unique venues across the city, such as Lilla Vargen in the historic Linenhall Library, a specially commissioned Grace and Glory gospel music event at St. Rosemary’s Church led by the creators of Soultrane, a Sacred Sounds event at Shankill Mission which combines yoga with a live ambient DJ set, and a Factory Sessions set by ROE.

Charlotte Dryden, CEO of Oh Yeah said,

“This festival proves time and time again that we have no end of incredible musical talent to show off in Northern Ireland, and this year will be the biggest showcase and discussion we have ever seen across 3 days. The first ever PRS Foundation Talent Development Conference will bring 73 UK-wide organisations to Belfast to discuss emerging talent, plus we have the Output Conference, the NI Music Prize and the youth-focused Breaking Into Music. It’s remarkable and we are so grateful to all our supporters.”

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Micky Murray said,

“As Lord Mayor of Belfast, I am immensely proud of the Sound of Belfast Festival 2024. This year's festival marks a decade of celebrating the incredible talent, creativity, and community spirit that makes Belfast a UNESCO City of Music. From intimate gigs to large-scale performances, the Sound of Belfast is a celebration of the deep connection our people have with music, and how it reflects the heart and soul of our city.
“The 2024 festival has an even bigger and more exciting programme for the special 10th anniversary, highlighting the diversity and brilliance of the local music scene. To mark the occasion, Belfast City Council is delighted to be able to offer enhanced support to the festival this year. I encourage everyone to enjoy the festival, and experience how music brings us together and truly shows what makes Belfast a great music city.”

Welcome to Sound of Belfast, your annual Festival that truly captures the heart and soul of this vibrant city. With an impressive line-up of 82 events spread across 43 venues across Belfast, this festival is a testament to the city's thriving and diverse musical landscape.

Taking place from 7 to 17 November, this annual celebration is dedicated to showcasing Belfast’s musical talents and its status as a UNESCO City of Music. Spanning gospel to garage rock, electronic to rap, the festival celebrates our world class music community through collaboration, partnerships and specially curated events across the city.

The flagship event of Sound of Belfast, the NI Music Prize took place on Wednesday 13 November at the Ulster Hall, with an Oh Yeah Legend Award presented by PRS For Music to Thin Lizzy’s founding member Eric Bell, followed by a special performance.

In a festival first, on Friday 15 November we partnered with the University of Atypical to deliver Sounds Atypical, an intimate gig at the Ledger Studio which shone a spotlight on Belfast’s d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent musicians. On the same day, Sound of Belfast hosted a night dedicated to rising queer artists called Out Loud in the Show Some Love Greenhouse - an inclusive creative hub on Victoria Street.

The annual Women’s Work showcase returned on Saturday 16 November, with a refreshed and representative lineup curated by the Tutti Collective.

As Victoria Square’s charity partner for the year, Oh Yeah’s Centre Stage series culminated on the 16th and 17th November with special performances by the Philharmonic Choir and Cairde Choir respectively. On Saturday 16 November we platformed one local musician to perform at the Belfast City Hall Christmas Light Switch On in front of 10,000+ people.

Together, we make a great music city.