Brian Coney
Editor, The Thin Air
Brian Coney is the founder and editor of The Thin Air, one of Ireland’s leading independent music and culture publications.
For more than a decade, Brian has documented and championed Ireland's music scene through interviews, reviews and features, while also writing for Pitchfork, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, The Wire, The Quietus, Dazed and VICE. He's also a musician with Northern Ireland Music Prize-winning band Junk Drawer, giving him a unique perspective on the artists, venues and communities that make Belfast's music scene thrive.
I built the week the way I listen: start at the session and end up somewhere I didn't plan.
The itinerary
Brian's top picks
Wednesday 24 June
Friday 24 July
Saturday 25 July
Sunday 26 July
Monday 27 July
Tuesday 28 July
Wednesday 29 July
Thursday 30 July
- TALKS & LECTURES
A Conversation with the Language and Identity Commissioners
St. Mary's University College
Thursday 30 July · 1pm–6pm - TALKS & LECTURES
The Belfast Women’s Assembly in Conversation with Sam McBride
St. Mary's University College
Thursday 30 July · 3pm - DANCE
Sets Céilí with The Abbey Céilí Band & Mairéad Casey
Redeemer Central
Thursday 30 July · 8pm
Friday 31 July
Saturday 1 August
Sunday 2 August
- TRAD & FOLK
North Belfast Heritage Tour
Clifton House
Sunday 2 August · 10:30am–2pm - TRAD & FOLK
Opening Ceremony
Belfast City Hall - Gig Rig
Sunday 2 August · 12pm - OUTDOORS
Road to the Fleadh: South Belfast Music Trail
The Commons
Sunday 2 August · 1pm - DANCE
Sets Céilí with the Beartla Ó Flatharta Céilí Band
Europa Hotel
Sunday 2 August · 3pm
Monday 3 August
- TRAD & FOLK
Libraries NI - The art of the Bodhrán with Ogham Art
Falls Library
Monday 3 August · 10:30am - TRAD & FOLK
Seisiúin Ceoil
Caifé Ceoil, Áras Mhic Reachtain
Monday 3 August · 11am - OUTDOORS
Gig Rig - Monday 3rd August
Belfast City Hall - Gig Rig
Monday 3 August · 12pm–9pm - TALKS & LECTURES
NI Science Festival - The Neuroscience of the Harpers Brain
Black Box
Monday 3 August · 2:30pm - TALKS & LECTURES
Forgotten Femicide: PJ McGrory Lecture
St. Mary's University College
Monday 3 August · 5pm - PERFORMANCE
Weird Ireland
Lavery's
Monday 3 August · 7:30pm
Tuesday 4 August
- TRAD & FOLK
Loughshore Trad & Guests
Caifé Ceoil, Áras Mhic Reachtain
Tuesday 4 August · 11am–12:30pm - EXHIBITION
Dragos Musat: Passing Voices
Castle Place Tent
Tuesday 4 August · 1pm–3pm - TRAD & FOLK
Córas Trio & Gráinne Meyer
Oh Yeah Music Centre
Tuesday 4 August · 3pm–5pm - TRAD & FOLK
The Wran
Lavery's
Tuesday 4 August · 7pm
Wednesday 5 August
- WORKSHOPS
The Bodhrán Challenge Beginner Level
Áras Uí Chonghaile James Connolly Visitor Centre
Today · 10am - TRAD & FOLK
Sinéad McKenna, Eugene McKenna, agus Lauren Ní Néill
Caifé Ceoil, Áras Mhic Reachtain
Today · 11am–12:30pm - WORKSHOPS
Print your own Fleadh Linocut
Visit Belfast
Today · 1pm–4pm - TALKS & LECTURES
AI, Big Tech, and Ireland's Energy Futures
St. Mary's University College
Today · 3pm - SCREENINGS
Sean Kelly & The Super 8's
The Belfast Barge
Today · 6pm–6pm - TRAD & FOLK
Joshua Burnside's Big Night Out
Banana Block
Today · 7:30pm
Thursday 6 August
- TOUR
Lavery's Bus Tour: Pints, Punks & Paramilitaries
Lavery's
Tomorrow · 10:30am–12pm - TRAD & FOLK
Introduction To Irish Language
The Belfast Barge
Tomorrow · 1pm–3pm - TALKS & LECTURES
Annual James Connolly Lecture
St. Mary's University College
Tomorrow · 5:30pm - TRAD & FOLK
John Spillane (Support: Shamrock Showband)
Lavery's
Tomorrow · 7pm
Friday 7 August
- OUTDOORS
Gig Rig - Friday
Belfast City Hall - Gig Rig
Friday 7 August · 11am–11pm
PERFORMANCELaunch: Canaigí
Linen Hall Library
Friday 7 August · 4pm- TRAD & FOLK
Culture and Language: A Battlefield for a Progressive Ireland
St. Mary's University College
Friday 7 August · 5pm - LIVE MUSIC
Kíla & Brass plus special guest Clare Sands
Mandela Hall
Friday 7 August · 7pm–10pm - TRAD & FOLK
Conor McAuley & Friends Seisiún Band
Oh Yeah Music Centre
Friday 7 August · 8:30pm–10:30pm
Saturday 8 August
- OUTDOORS
Féile an Phobail Poc Fada
Divis & Black Mountain
Saturday 8 August · 9am - OUTDOORS
Lúnasa Big Walk
Belfast Castle
Saturday 8 August · 10am - OUTDOORS
Unison Walk for Palestine
Divis & Black Mountain
Saturday 8 August · 11am - TRAD & FOLK
Open Singing Seisiún with Special Guests Landless
Oh Yeah Music Centre
Saturday 8 August · 3pm–6pm - TRAD & FOLK
Titans of Trad - Altan, Frankie Gavin & De Dannan
Mandela Hall
Saturday 8 August · 6:30pm–10pm - TRAD & FOLK
Valtos
Lavery's
Saturday 8 August · 9pm
Sunday 9 August
FAMILYSuper Sunday Session West
St Comgall's
Sunday 9 August · 10:30am- OUTDOORS
A Fleadh Farewell: East Belfast Music Trail
Audacity Coffee
Sunday 9 August · 1pm - OUTDOORS
A Fleadh Farewell: West Belfast Music Trail
St. James Farm
Sunday 9 August · 1pm - EXHIBITION
Fleadh Edition: SkullDuggery Tatu Pop-up & Art Market
Oh Yeah Music Centre
Sunday 9 August · 1pm–8pm - LIVE MUSIC
Tom Makem and The Keady Loafers
The Harrison Chambers of Distinction
Sunday 9 August · 3:30pm–8pm - TRAD & FOLK
The Rapparees - Fairytale of The Pogues | Fleadh Finale
Lavery's
Sunday 9 August · 7pm