Either way, Belfast provides something for all, here is Singing Lessons Belfast's guide to the best of them.
Limelight Belfast originally opened in 1984 and has grown over the years to incorporate two venues, Limelight and Limelight 2, while quenching your thirst with Katy's Bar. The venue is far from your typical branded arena, with a penchant for booking performances from new artists who go on to make it big. Legend has it that Oasis performed in 1994, and received a phone call during their set informing them of their début album's number one position. You only have to look at the list of past acts to cement the venue's status as a prime location for new and upcoming artists. From Biffy Clyro to Blur, and the Libertines to Moby, you are sure to be in store for a great performance, whatever night you decide to go. The venue mainly plays host to the alternative side of the indie rock sound, so if you are into a more electronically-influenced, or metallic sound then you will probably find a better suit elsewhere. But if you fancy catching a big-name band on a mid-sized stage, then look no further than Limelight.
Ulster Hall is a listed building in central Belfast that was originally built in 1859. As a result, the venue is an architectural delight, and watching your favourite band in such a beautiful building is an experience not to be missed. With the opening of other, larger venues, Ulster Hall was thought to be in danger of becoming obsolete. However, this was certainly not the case, with residents knowing the atmosphere of Ulster Hall was irreplaceable and ensuring it remains hugely popular. With a capacity of almost 2,000, the venue is not exactly small, but it is intimate enough to put on a top-quality performance. Being a site of such historical interest, with Charles Dickens conducting readings in the past, the list of performances should be enough to excite, and they undoubtedly do. The venue was the first venue at which Led Zeppelin performed Stairway to Heaven live, and if that wasn't enough, rock titans AC/DC performed there, along with Irish blues master Rory Gallagher. More recently, the Vaccines and Red Hot Chili Peppers have graced the stage, proving the venue has still got it even today. So if architecture enhances your musical enjoyment, but you still enjoy seeing the biggest acts the UK has to offer, head down to Ulster Hall.
The SSE Arena The Odyssey Arena is a stark contrast to what has come before, it is frankly huge, and the calibre of acts it therefore attracts becomes exponentially bigger and more mainstream. The capacity is around 15,000 and its alternate function as a sports venue gives away the sheer size of the stage. The performers that have graced the stage include Britney Spears, Beyoncé and Girls Aloud, as well as Blink 182 and the Who. These are artists who are clearly at the top of the musical pyramid, and so the Odyssey is the prime place in Belfast to see the biggest bands. This is not necessarily a bad thing, though, as the biggest performers are sure to put on quite a show, ensuring you have a night to remember. This £120 million venue opened in 2000, and so has had plenty of time to accumulate a stellar list of past performers, and has since gained a reputation as the best place to see your favourite big-name acts. If you want to give the new bands a miss for a night, see the Odyssey box office for the latest chart-topping bill.
Located at 11A Fountain St, Belfast BT1 5EA, Voodoo is a great small venue located in the heart of Belfast. You will find everything from local bands to small touring acts playing at this venue showing off a wide array of genres. They host everything from rock to metal to blues to acoustic and everything else in between you can think of. The venue was originally opened in 2011 and was built across two floors. They have regular club nights as well as gigs & have even hosted comedians and musical theatre nights. For more information please check out their website.
The waterfront hall has a capacity of over 2000 and is located at 2 Lanyon Pl, Belfast BT1 3WH. The hall is located in Lanyon Place, the flagship development of the Laganside Corporation. The development is named after the architect Charles Lanyon. Planning for the building began 1989, with the hall being completed in 1997 for the sum of £32 million. The main circular Auditorium seats 2,241 and is based on the Berlin Philharmonic Hall designed by Hans Scharoun. Since the time the venue has opened it has hosted a wide range of acts and even multiple orchestras.
