We're incredibly excited to announce that Dark Tropics a Pop-Noir duo from Belfast. will be playing Culture Night Belfast in one of their favourite venues in the country St Joseph's Sailortown Get down! 8pm sharp.

Dark Tropics are Belfast-based duo, Rio and Gerard. Their formation was a natural consequence of a shared creative vision, drawing from an eclectic selection of influences, including Radiohead, Aretha Franklin, and The Velvet Underground.

Rooted in a broad spectrum of inspiration from literary giants like William Somerset Maugham and Paul Auster, to the raw poetic stylings of John Cooper Clarke - Rio and Gerard built a partnership founded on instinct and ingenuity. Their sound, described as ‘pop-noir', blends timeless, cinematic elegance with a modern edge, creating music that feels both haunting and exhilarating.

Join us at St Joseph’s, Sailortown for Culture Night Belfast 2026!

Step back into a much-missed piece of Belfast’s music history with our Rotterdam Retrospective — an evening celebrating the memories, music and unmistakable atmosphere of the legendary Rotterdam Bar.

Live music from Bob Dylan’s Outlaws aka Tony Villiers and the Villians

Come along, share your memories, reminisce about nights at the Rotterdam and soak up a little of that infamous Rotterdam vibe once again.

Free event | Everyone welcome

Have you ever dreamed of making a giant bubble or step into a giant bubble?

Come and experience the magic of bubbles at Culture Night!

An immersive and playful experience for everyone, regardless of age or ability.

Explore Create Connect Play

A joyful experience designed to spark curiosity, imagination, creativity and connection.

4.00pm–5pm inside St. Joseph’s Church and then outside after with some bubble displays until 6pm

Come along, get involved and let the bubbles bring a little magic to your Culture Night!

Everyone welcome

Please note: This event will include filming and photography for the creation of an immersive VR experience. By attending, you may appear in the footage. images and footage may also be used to promote future activities.

We are looking forward to having this wonderful addition by Katya Ekaterina Solomatina to our EHOD event!

Katya worked with Sailortown Residents past and present to create a memory based virtual Reality exhibition.

Call in, put your VR goggles on and be immersed in Sailortown Stories

Join us for the last of our Sundays on the Maritime Mile in Sailortown as we welcome the fantastic Belfast Jazz Orchestra to Barrow Square for an afternoon of live music, swing and dancing!

Formed in 1990, the Belfast Jazz Swing Orchestra is a 20-piece band dedicated to performing and celebrating the classic Big Band swing sound.

Under the musical direction of Victor Currie and featuring Chair and lead vocalist Caroline Brown, expect an afternoon packed with brilliant live jazz, timeless swing favourites and plenty of opportunities to get up and dance.

So get your glad rags on, bring your dancing shoes and join us in Barrow Square for a fantastic afternoon as we bring this year's Sundays on the Maritime Mile in Sailortown to a swinging finale! @top fans Maritime Mile Belfast City Council Belfast Harbour Belfast Jazz Orchestra

See you in Sailortown!

A tribute to the women of Belfast: New Lodge Festival

For generations the women of Belfast have served as the quiet caretakers of our homes, communities, and the city’s future.

This short film by Louise Hillman features the stories of three local women from the past 70 years.

Through their narratives we see the humour, strength, heart, and resilience needed to navigate times of change and challenge.

This film serves as a tender reflection and a reminder of the importance of carrying these values forward together today.

£2 suggested donation

A free interactive drumming and rhythm experience for all ages and backgrounds.

With the Gathering Drum

Come and make some NOISE in Sailortown.

With Arts & Crafts for the Wains

Dockside Stories with ArtsEkta in American Bar

Come and chat to some of the team working with ArtsEkta on this very exciting project.

 Dockside Stories is a new three-year heritage project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund exploring the rich history, migration stories and cultural connections that have shaped Belfast's dockside communities, including Sailortown, Little Italy and the Half Bap.

‘We're still at the beginning of our journey and are keen to meet people who have a connection to these communities, whether through family history, personal memories, photographs, documents, or simply an interest in local heritage.

We're also looking for people who may be interested in:

 Volunteering with the project

 Taking part in oral history training

 Sharing stories and memories of Belfast's docklands

 Helping us uncover and celebrate this important part of the city's heritage’

50 years on from Keith Jarett' legendary 1975 performance in Koln, Belfast Pianist Scott Flanigan pays tribute to this iconic concert.

In January 1975, piano virtuoso Keith Jarrett played in Koln, Germany, an improvised concert which became one of the biggest selling solo jazz records of all time, selling over 4 million copies.

That the concert got off to the worst possible start helps explain its legendary status. The notoriously perfectionist Jarrett had asked for a grand piano. However, the organisers mistakenly ordered a baby grand that was in poor condition. Moreover, Jarrett arrived exhausted from an epic drive and suffering back pains. On seeing the baby grand he initially refused to play but was eventually persuaded. Despite or perhaps because of so many difficulties, he gave the performance of a lifetime.

50 years on from this iconic concert, pianist Scott Flanigan, founder of Scott’s Jazz Club and one of the most in-demand keyboardists on the Irish jazz scene, pays tribute to this seminal concert on a grand piano in one of Belfast’s most atmospheric venues, St Joseph’s church in Sailortown.

The second half of this concert will feature Scott in a rare duo format with celebrated harpist Gráinne Meyer.

Two different worlds collide in this concert - jazz piano with traditional harp, resulting in uplifting, thought-provoking and well-crafted music by two musicians at the height of their powers.

Scott Flanigan is one of the foremost keyboard players in Ireland. He performs regularly across the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Germany, and has recently performed with Van Morrison, the Ulster Orchestra, Larry Coryell, Jean Toussaint, Jim Mullen and Linley Hamilton. As a leader, Scott successfully tours his own contemporary piano trio, as well as a hard-swinging organ quartet. He also runs the successful Scott’s Jazz Club in East Belfast, a weekly jazz club bringing the best in Irish jazz to local audiences.

Harpist and Pianist Gráinne Meyer has recently completed a postgraduate diploma in classical and Irish traditional music at the TU Dublin conservatoire of music, receiving tuition from Cliona Doris, Denise Kelly and Gráinne Hambly. She previously received an honours music degree from the University of York, where she was awarded the Thomas Beecham scholarship.

Project 5:

a new event series from Bang Bike and Martha Dark dedicated to playing the freshest and finest House music - launches at Sound of Belfast 2025. Built for dancers and ravers, Project 5 will unfold as both standalone events and festival takeovers, with a focus on bold spaces, distinctive sounds, and unforgettable energy.

Ray Bubbles, Guinness World Record holder, wows all with volcanoes, carousels & even a tornado—can he make the ultimate square bubble?

Ray Bubbles, International Bubbleologist and Guinness World Record Holder, is on a mission to master the art of bubble-making and create the ultimate square bubble!This show promises a whirlwind of excitement and surprises, as Ray uses various different gases to craft stunning bubble sculptures, effects, and magical displays.Prepare to be amazed as Ray creates a volcano bubble, a soap bubble carousel, a bubble ghost, and even a tornado inside a bubble!The show was inspired by Ray’s work with SEND schools, adult neurodivergent groups, and science centres across Europe.The performance is suitable for children and adults with additional needs.Join Ray and see if he can create the ultimate square bubble!

‘The Revival of Ulster Protestant Radicalism and William Sharman Crawford’

By Peter Gray, Professor of Modern Irish History QUB

AR and Stop Motion Animation Workshop

Join us for an exciting Stop Motion Animation Workshop this Culture Night Belfast, September 2025! Delivered by Digital Arts Academy & BEAMA in partnership with Sailortown Regeneration, this creative session blends hands-on animation with innovative technology. Participants will craft their own stop motion stories and bring them to life using Augmented Reality (AR), turning 2D art into interactive 3D experiences. Set in the heart of Sailortown, this family-friendly event celebrates community, storytelling, and digital creativity. Whether you’re a budding filmmaker or just curious about animation, come explore the magic of stop motion and AR in an inspiring, inclusive environment.

11am: Relaxing soundbath to start the day

2pm: Uplifting harmonies from Cairde Community Choir

3pm: Stunning music from Ludwig O’Neill & the amazing Los Dramáticos

11-5: Hands-on fun in the creative print workshop

5pm: Showstopping finale from the one and only Currach Circus!

Sailortown Jazz: Taking it to the Street

With Scott Flanigan and young Jazz performers

Jazz: The Devil's Music (1920s): Culture Shock

Last Appearance in St Joseph’s