BelFEST
From Wikifudia
belFEST was a festival celebrating and showcasing the music scene in Belfast. Established in 1996, it featured many bands and artists who have gone on to find fame and success in the record industry such as Snow Patrol, Duke Special and Iain Archer.
It usually took place in the late Autumn, utilising the many venues of Belfast including The Limelight complex, The Empire Music Hall, Lavery's, The Duke Of York, and The Black Box. The centrepiece showcases were free and were scheduled in such a way that the public could catch up to five or six bands per night by making their way back and forth to the various locations. The showcases were complimented by a range of high-profile gigs organised to coincide with the festival, as well as educational and fringe events featuring well-known and successful industry figures such as In the City, Factory Records, Hacienda boss Tony Wilson, and Creation Records founder Alan McGee.
belFEST was organised by local music promoter Gerry 'Shep' Sheppard. In later years the event enjoyed the support of the Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission, BBC Radio Ulster's Across The Line show, the Northern Ireland Events Company, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. For many years belFEST was complemented by digitalT, another showcasing event taking place each Spring and dedicated to electronic and dance music.
There was no belFEST in 2007. An announcement made by Shep said there "will be a new look belFEST in 2008. It will be a more focussed presentation of the best of our new music. It will improve how we project that music. It will all be revealed in the New Year."
Nothing happened, however Shep co-produced the Belsonic festival that year.
Compilation Albums
Each belFEST festival was accompanied by a compilation CD of Northern Irish acts, which were available to buy at the showcase gigs as well as in various Belfast music stores. There was no 1998 festival, though an additional event and CD was produced in the Spring of 1999. The belFEST 2003 album was delayed by a year, and released in limited numbers alongside the 2004 CD.
- BelFEST 1997
- BelFEST 1999 (Autumn)
- BelFEST 1999 (Spring)
- BelFEST 2000
- BelFEST 2001
- BelFEST 2002
- BelFEST 2003
- BelFEST 2004
- BelFEST 2005
