Belfast TradFest 2025: Stellar line-up announced for Ireland’s premier summer festival of traditional music – The Irish News

BELFAST Tradfest returns for its seventh summer edition celebrating traditional music from across the island of Ireland.
Last year the event attracted more than 20,000 revellers and this year organisers hope to maintain those numbers by announcing a “stellar line-up for headline concerts,” taking place across multiple venues within Belfast city centre between July 27 and August 3.
The festival will open with a double-bill featuring Dervish, a global phenomenon in traditional music, alongside six-piece Irish ensemble NOTIFY, who will be joined by the Irish Concertina Orchestra, Cormac McCarthy, and the MGCE Concert Orchestra for an evening at Belfast’s historic Ulster Hall on July 27.
This will be followed by a performance from multi award winning quintet Goitse, at the Empire Music Hall on July 30. The band will be joined by trad troubadours and members of Irish American supergroup Solas John Doyle and Mick McAuley.
The Empire Music Hall will also host twice Grammy-nominated Irish singer Iarla Ó Lionáird & virtuosic instrumentalist Tim Edey on July 31.
The combination of Ó Lionáird’s unique singing style and Edey’s intricate accompaniment promises to, “display some of the finest skill in traditional music today.”
Also on the bill is dynamic trad ensemble, Tempest, featuring Brendan Mulholland (flute), Blaithín Mhic Cana (vocals), Aaron O’ Hagan (uilleann pipes) and Luke Ward (bouzouki and vocals). Firmly rooted in the heritage, song and music of their native Ulster, combining the singing traditions of South Armagh with tunes originating from the northern province.
On August 1 the Mandela will be buzzing with Trad treats including performances from Matt Molloy, John Carty, Brian McGrath as well as Ríoghnach Connolly & The Breath. Followed by a collaborative concert featuring Julie Fowlis, Éamon Doorley, Zoë Conway and John McIntyre, together known as Allt, with the Ulster Orchestra as well as a performance from Kinnaris Quintet on August 2.
And returning to Belfast for the first time in three years is Sligo Irish alternative folk band Moxie. Comprising of Julia Spanu — a multilingual vocalist whose heritage spans France, Italy, Vietnam, and Tunisia, Jos Kelly (keys/accordion), Darren Roche (accordion), Ted Kelly (tenor guitar/ukulele bass), Richie Delahunty (acoustic guitar), and Caoimhe De Barra (percussion).
Together, they craft a sound that is both grounded and global, familiar yet futuristic. Their upcoming third album, due in Autumn 2025, draws inspiration from Bob Quinn’s “Atlantean” theory, taking listeners on a sonic journey that blends Irish tradition with sounds and stories from France, Spain, and North Africa. It’s a bold, genre-defying statement of cultural exchange and imagination — a rich tapestry of language, rhythm, and identity – a fitting finale to Belfast TradFest 2025.
Belfast TradFest is supported by Belfast City Council, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland, Ulster University and Belfast Cathedral Quarter BID.
Tickets are on sale now at www.belfasttradfest.com
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
@2025 The Irish News Ltd

source