YOU might not realise it, but Belfast has long been 'twinned' with the American country music hub of Nashville, Tennessee.
Now in its 10th year, the Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival is an annual celebration of songcraft which brings together some of the best musicians and artist from both cities and further afield.
More than one hundred artists will be performing over 10 days at 50 events as part of the 2014 programme, which offers loads of live entertainment for fans of Americana, blues, rock, country, folk and all points inbetween.
Local talent signed up for the 10th 'Belnash' festival include Gareth Dunlop, Bap Kennedy, Simon McBride,
Chris Keys, Sara Crockett, Amanda Agnew, Triona, Farriers, Wilfie and Donovan - who now lives in Co Cork, so we're claiming him as our own. International turns come courtesy of Midge Ure, Chip 'Wild Thing' Taylor, Jim Lauderdale (USA), Billy Yates, Bagatelle, My Darling Clementine and Lee Roy Parnell.
To mark the festival's 10th anniversary, a one-hour TV special is being produced for broadcast on America's PBS channels, while presenters from Nashville's WSM Radio will also be in town to document the event.
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Tickets and full line-up available from Belfastnashville.com.