Gary Lightbody praises Belfast’s thriving music scene ahead of Fleadh

By Claudia Savage, Press Association

Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody has spoken about the growth of the music culture in Belfast as thousands of people are set to visit the city this week for the Fleadh.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann – the world’s biggest celebration of Irish music and culture – kicks off on Sunday, with 800,000 people expected to attend the festival, which runs until August 9th.

Speaking ahead of the opening of the festival, Lightbody said that despite travelling the world playing music, he has always felt the call back to Northern Ireland where he has lived for the last five years.

https://x.com/deptinfra/status/2083832678193713293?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

“I’ve lived around the world, but I’ve always had a place here and have always felt that calling back,” he said.

“There are so many extraordinary places in Northern Ireland and there’s beauty everywhere.”

The multi-platinum artist said that from a cultural and musical perspective, it can be hard to recognise Northern Ireland now from the place he grew up in.

“Maybe then there wasn’t such a connected music scene, certainly not like it is now,” he said.

“We have so many great bands and artists all playing on each other’s records, lending each other kit and really pulling for each other.”

With this year marking the 20th anniversary of Snow Patrol’s Eyes Open album which included the seminal hit Chasing Cars, Lightbody spoke about the concerts that shaped his musical life.

In the 90s there was not that much happening here with huge international artists, bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana are tattooed on our hearts because they came at a time when no-one else would

He said: “My very first gig was Red Hot Chili Peppers at the Ulster Hall and my second was Nirvana at the King’s Hall, so not too bad as a start.

“In the 90s there was not that much happening here with huge international artists, bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana are tattooed on our hearts because they came at a time when no-one else would.

“The Nirvana gig was life-changing. When I looked at them on the stage, I knew I wanted to be up there.”

With visitors to Northern Ireland also being encouraged to go beyond Belfast in their time at the Fleadh, Lightbody recommended Bangor’s Guillemot Café on the Seacliff Road, saying: “It’s absolutely brilliant – amazing food and a great wee spot.”