COURT HOUSE TOASTS BIG NAMES AT BEAMISH SESSIONS

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GREAT NIGHT STOUT: Live music lovers are in for a treat over the coming months as The Court House in Bangor hosts The Beamish Sessions, a series of intimate gigs in February and March featuring a stellar line-up that includes Hothouse Flowers, David Holmes, Duke Special and punk legend Jah Wobble. Supported by leading stout brand Beamish in partnership with Arts & Business NI, the sessions get under way on Sunday February 11 with punk legend and former PiL bassist Jah Wobble, and conclude on Saturday March 30 with a headline show from legendary Irish band Hothouse Flowers. Launching the Sessions at The Court House are (l-r) Maeve McKervey from Arts & Business NI, Matthew Fitzpatrick of United Wines, the company that distributes Beamish in Northern Ireland, and Kieran Gilmore, Director of The Court House and co-founder of local music and arts charity Open House which owns and operates the venue. For more information on The Beamish Sessions at The Court House, Bangor, visit www.courthousebangor.com/event-category/beamish-sessions/.

BANGOR’S Court House will be raising a glass to some of the biggest names in music over the next few weeks.

That’s because acts including post-punk legend Jah Wobble, Northern Ireland’s superstar DJ turned soundtrack renaissance man David Holmes, and 1980s Irish hitmakers Hothouse Flowers are coming to town.

They’re the opening salvo in the Court House’s new Beamish Sessions strand, which also includes three performances over three days from Duke Special.

Many of the shows are already sold out, with only Jah Wobble and one of the Duke Special gigs still boasting available tickets.

Real name John Wardle, former Public Image Ltd bassist Jah Wobble opens the Beamish Sessions on February 11 with a performance drawing on his 2021 album Metal Box Rebuilt In Dub, which saw him reinterpret his old band’s classic LP with new, largely instrumental versions of its songs.

The following weekend sees David Holmes bring his eclectic club night God’s Waiting Room back to the Court House for a return engagement, while March 7, 8 and 9 host shows from Duke Special.

The curtain falls on the strand at the end of March with Hothouse Flowers. Responsible for the best-selling Irish debut album in history, the Don’t Go hitmakers are coming back to Bangor after their sold-out Open House Festival show in the Walled Garden two years ago.

Says Court House director Kieran Gilmore: “Through the Beamish Sessions at the Court House, our aim is to curate an unforgettable live experience for local music lovers in Northern Ireland and take them on an extraordinary musical journey with a series of captivating and diverse original gigs.

“We hope the Court House will become the beating heart of Bangor’s burgeoning music and arts scene, and we appreciate the support of companies like Beamish and Arts and Business NI in our efforts to achieve this goal.”

Andrew Hollywood of Beamish distributors United Wines said the company is delighted to support the Court House gigs, toasting the Quay Street building as ‘one of Northern Ireland’s finest live music venues’.

He added: “With its historic charm, the Court House offers a unique and intimate setting that allows for a more personal and immersive musical experience, giving music lovers an opportunity to be up close and personal with their favourite artists.”

And Maeve McKervey from Arts and Business NI, said: “We are delighted to support this new creative partnership between Open House Festival and United Wines, which has enabled the programming of the Beamish Sessions, a series of live music performances in the Court House, featuring international artists alongside respected local artists.

“By working together on this exciting new project, United Wines and Open House are forging new connections, reaching new audiences and bringing benefits to the local cultural scene, positioning Bangor as a vibrant creative city.”