BBC Music Live comes to Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is set to be the stage for top-flight musicians and performers from all musical genres when it hosts the BBC's acclaimed live music festival ‘Music Live’ in April and May this year.

Home-grown star Cara Dillon, veteran singers Michael Ball and Petula Clark (in a world-exclusive version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard), Latin supremo Horacio 'El Negro' Hernandez and jazz virtuoso Brian Irvine are among the performers hitting Northern Ireland’s stages and concert halls for an event-packed 11 days.

With more artists and events signing up each day, it is anticipated that there will be more than 100 concerts from over 50 venues.

A special floating stage is being constructed on the River Lagan at Lanyon Place, outside the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, to accommodate more concerts.

The festival, celebrating music of all kinds, will be based throughout the region and will feature on BBC Radio, TV and BBCi in scores of special national and local broadcasts.

In the past, BBC Music Live has visited Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Yorkshire, plus hosted special festivals to mark the Millennium and The Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Anna Carragher, Controller, BBC Northern Ireland, said: "This is a huge BBC event which will see world-class talent pouring into all parts of Northern Ireland for a week of live music.

"Our audiences have a great reputation for the warmth of their welcome and we look forward to bringing them an unforgettable festival."

Bill Morris, Festival Director, added: "BBC Music Live promises to be a wonderful, 11-day musical festival for everyone.

"It draws on the most amazing richness of musical talent and tradition from Northern Ireland and adds a large measure of world-class performers flying in especially.

"Northern Ireland will become the world's music capital for 11 days!"

(GB)