Music Connections

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Music Connections

Music Connections is a central online hub created to support the development and growth of NI’s diverse, talented and thriving music sector.

From funding opportunities and events to health advice and news, Music Connections signposts musicians, music businesses and music organisations towards vital information to support their work. It is an open forum, for all genres, at all levels, across all of NI. It seeks to champion, promote and connect the NI music sector, locally, nationally and internationally. To receive regular updates from

Music Connections, sign up to our monthly Music Connections newsletter. All for the love of NI music.

10/11/2025

NI artists! Free specialist physio support is available in Belfast this month 🎶

BAPAM’s next Performing Arts Physio Clinic takes place next Friday 21st Nov, led by experienced physio Kathy Harris (Ulster Orchestra, RIAM).

If you’re a musician, dancer or performer dealing with injury or strain, in-person and online appointments are available.

More info via Music Connections:

https://musicconnections.com/event/bapam-performing-arts-physio-clinic/

31/10/2025

Supported by Belfast City Council and Perspective Economics, the The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival Music Bursary is now open!

NI-based musicians and bands (emerging or established) can apply for one of 20 bursaries of £1,000, aimed at supporting the composition and/or recording of a new piece of music (plus campaign costs).

Deadline is Friday 2nd January 2026. More info: https://cqaf.com/creative-bursaries-2025/

Tickets are also available for the upcoming Creative Bursary Showcase, featuring 2025 recipients Eve Belle, Conn Thornton and Garrett Laurie on 9th November as part of Sound of Belfast Festival 2025 👇

https://cqaf.com/creative-bursaries-showcase-at-sound-of-belfast/

29/10/2025

The shortlist has been announced for the 2025 Gerry Anderson Music Bursary, presented by the Oh Yeah Music Centre.

This year’s shortlisted artists are CHERYM, Cora Harkin, Garrett Laurie, Polar Bolero and Tessio.

Learn more:

https://musicconnections.com/shortlist-announced-for-gerry-anderson-bursary/

13/10/2025

On Tuesday, 29th October, the Royal Society of Musicians & BAPAM host a free online webinar tackling one of the biggest issues in music today: stress and burnout.

It’s something almost every musician or music industry professional will experience at some point, and this session - led by psychotherapist & singer Denise Devenish - offers tools to understand, manage and prevent it.

Find out more - plus other industry and mental health events this month from IMRO, Arts & Business NI, Beyond Skin, Music Venues Trust & more - below 🔗

https://musicconnections.com/events/

02/10/2025

Fresh off the press: the October edition of the Music Connections newsletter has landed! Check your inboxes for your essential round-up of funding opportunities, open calls, industry news and events from across NI’s music community.

This month we spotlight And So I Watch You From Afar's Rory Friers on two decades of creativity and his debut solo project HOME, celebrate the record shops and PR/management teams sustaining careers, and bring you the latest news on wellbeing events, digital training, international showcases and much more.

Packed with resources and inspiration to keep you moving forward.

Read our interview with Rory, explore the latest opportunities and sign up for next month's full newsletter here:

www.musicconnections.com

01/10/2025

ICYMI: The shortlists for this year’s NI Music Prize have been revealed. Returning to the Ulster Hall on 12th November as part of Sound of Belfast, the night will celebrate some of the very best in NI Music.

PPL Album of the Year nominees:

And So I Watch You From Afar MEGAFAUNA
Ciaran Lavery - Light Entertainment
George Houston - TODC
Jordan Adetunji - A Jaguar's Dream
Joshua Burnside - Teeth of Time
Junk Drawer - Days of Heaven
OR:LA - Trusting Theta
RÓIS - MO LÉAN
Sister Ghost - Beyond The Water
Snow Patrol - The Forest Is The Path
Taylor Lally -Taylor Lally
The Wood Burning Savages - Hand To Mouth

Full info on all shortlists, as well as tickets and more:

https://wwwmusicconnections.com/

30/09/2025

The Oh Yeah Music Centre has announced the new Scratch My Progress 2025 artists: GUSH, The Thing Is..., Pinsleep and Lord Jane. Now in its 14th year, the programme offers world-class mentoring, showcases and support for emerging musicians.

Learn more below - and sign up for the Music Connections newsletter, featuring industry news, events, funding opportunities and much more, via link in bio. The October issue drops this week!

https://musicconnections.com/oh-yeah-music-centre-reveals-scratch-my-progress-2025-artists/

24/09/2025

Moving On Music, one of NI's leading independent promoters, is recruiting a Music Touring Officer for maternity cover from late November/early December 2025 until 31st October 2026. The part-time role (22.5 hours per week, £24,570 pro rata) will manage tours and support the team’s busy concert programme.

Applications close Thursday 9th October at 3pm. More details + to apply:

https://musicconnections.com/moving-on-music-recruiting-new-touring-officer/

17/09/2025

The NI Music Prize 2025 longlists are live.

Taking place at the Ulster Hall on Wednesday, 12th November as part of Sound of Belfast Festival, the public can now vote one Album, one Single and one Live Act onto this year’s Shortlist.

Artists longlisted for Best Album include And So I Watch You From Afar, Ciaran Lavery, Jordan Adetunji, AM Shanley, Or:la, The Wood Burning Savages, Kaidi Tatham, Joshua Burnside, Córas Trio, Hypnic Jerk, Junk Drawer, Taylor Lally and RÓIS.

Voting closes 9am, Monday, 22nd September. Full details below.

https://musicconnections.com/longlists-announced-for-ni-music-prize-2025/

11/09/2025

BAPAM’s free performing arts medicine clinics return to Belfast this month, with the first session taking place tomorrow, 12th September, and another on 26th September. Be quick if you’d like to book in.

Open to performing arts professionals and students, the clinics provide specialist support for anyone dealing with injuries or health issues that affect their ability to work or study.

Appointments are free to book by emailing [email protected] or calling 020 8167 4775 (9am–5pm, Monday to Friday).

https://musicconnections.com/event/bapam-belfast-september/

05/09/2025

Our September Music Connections newsletter went out yesterday, with news, opportunities and events from across NI’s music community.

This edition includes a Q+A with NI music champion Charlene Hegarty, coverage of Output Belfast 2025, the launch of Radio Starr, new funding deadlines and industry events from MPG NI to Arts & Business NI’s Cultural Governance Conference.

Everything featured is also available to explore on the Music Connections website, and you can sign up there to receive future newsletters direct to your inbox!

https://musicconnections.com/

01/09/2025

Output Belfast returns on Thursday, 25th September with its evening showcases across the Cathedral Quarter. Partnering with The Thin Air, IMRO, Faction, Girls With Guts, Soultrane, Under The Drum, PRS and more, the night will spotlight some of the most exciting new and emerging artists from across Ireland.

This year’s line-up features Aqua Tofana, Lord Jane, Madam’s Last Discovery, Touzai, Stratford Rise, Ruá, Dani Larkin, Monday’s Child, Makeshift Art Bar, Sophie French, Ria Timkin and many others.

All performances are free to attend in venues throughout Belfast’s UNESCO City of Music.

Full story: https://musicconnections.com/output-belfast-announce-evening-showcases/

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