03/12/2007

Carols Heralds Festive Season

The sound of carols sung by lamplight will tomorrow herald the next phase of Belfast's festive celebrations.

Tuesday's annual Christmas event allows shoppers and passers by to join in the festive period as carols are song by groups from across the city, which will be accompanied by the band of the Royal Irish Regiment

The traditional Yuletide procession will be led by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Jim Rodgers, along with Dean Houston McKelvey from St. Anne’s, the Very Rev Dr Hugh Kennedy from St Peter’s Cathedral and the Reverend Richard Johnston of the Belfast Central Mission.

Leaving St. Anne’s Cathedral at 7pm, the carolers and musicians will make their way through the main city centre thoroughfares to the City Hall.

The carol procession will stop at CastleCourt and Castle Junction, and outside Marks and Spencer, to bring some festive cheer in one of the city’s favourite Christmas events.

The musical parade will finish at the front of City Hall around 8pm.

Meanwhile, it will be ‘Rock Around The Clock’ time in the city in a few weeks time as it rings in the New Year with a massive free concert.

Top local acts such as David Holmes, Foy Vance, Bap Kennedy and Tin Pot Operation will join headliners Ocean Colour Scene for the December 31 shindig at the city’s Custom House Square.

The gates will open at 7pm and the concert will finish at 12.30am.

Ocean Colour Scene have been one of Britain’s top folk-rock acts for the last 15 years, with 12 albums, 11 Top 20 singles and countless tours under their belts.

Bap Kennedy is another highly talented singer-songwriter, with his roots very firmly in his native west Belfast. Formerly lead singer with the Energy Orchard, he has forged a highly successful solo career, ranking the likes of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Mark Knopfler among his fans.

His latest album, ‘The Big Picture’ features contributions from Van Morrison and Shane Magowan.

West Belfast indie-punk quartet Tin Pot Operation formed in 2003 and released their debut album, ‘Manufacturing Dissent’, shortly afterwards.

Tickets to ‘Rock Around The Clock’ will be available – maximum four per person – from the Belfast Welcome Centre in Donegall Place from Tuesday 4 December.

See:

www.belfastcity.gov.uk/events


(BMcC)


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