BEING hailed as history-making is nothing new for Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jon M Chu.

1. When did you think about a career in the film industry and what were your first steps into it? I entered the business as a child actor and always wanted to direct and write as well as act.

SHANE Briant, who passed away last week at the age of 74 after a long illness, was a man of many talents.

DINNER IN AMERICA Starring: Kyle Gallner, Emily Skeggs, Griffin Gluck, Pat Healy, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Lea Thompson Director: Adam Rehmeier Available on Arrow-player.

:: Cherym – Listening To My Head (single, Alcopops!) THE last time we heard from Derry power trio Cherym was back in February when they were taking down Valentine's Day in fine grungy pop fashion via their bad romance anthem Kisses On My Cards.

IT'S been a long pandemic for working musicians: with the live music scene still shut down, bands and solo artists have resorted to staging streamed concerts and events on social media platforms as a way of staying in touch with fans during lockdown and beyond, as well as keeping their hand in with actually performing.

BELFAST'S annual Women's Work festival returns this week for four days of workshops, panel discussions and live (via Zoom/YouTube) performances.

GLASGOW'S Red Hot Chilli Pipers (RHCP) have been in constant demand at music festivals and music events all over the world ever since they claimed victory on TV talent show When Will I Be Famous? back in 2007.

BRIAN McGilloway's novel The Last Crossing is one of just six books shortlisted for the prestigious Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2021.

David Roy chats to author Joanna Walsh about the new print edition of her acclaimed 2017 digital novel Seed, which has just been published by Belfast's No Alibis Press

*1. When did you think about a career in writing and what were your first steps into it?* I never thought about it as a career, and it isn't really a career.

Jenny Lee chats to poet and spoken word artist Colin Hassard about his poetic cookbook, Age of the Microwave Dinner, which stirs together the emotions of love and life, with a blend of thought-provoking social content and a sprinkling of humour

The Grand Opera House in Belfast after has undergone a £12.2 million restoration during the Covid pandemic. Anne Hailes, one of the first to visit the refurbished landmark, finds the magic of theatre alive and well

With live events now on their way back as Covid restrictions continue to ease, Bangor's Open House Festival have announced their plans for three weeks of live music and arts this August. David Roy found out more about their initial line-up for 2021...

How do you unwind at the weekend? Pre-lockdown, it was all about family and friends, like the people we'd stay with who live near the beach at Portaferry.

SIR Simon Rattle quitting as director of the London Symphony Orchestra to take up a job in Germany is perhaps among the most high profile examples of the pandemic's cultural fallout.

GO mBEANNAÍ DIA daoibh, a big hello to those of faith and those of none, you’re all welcome to the Bluffer’s Guide to Irish. “An ministir easaontach - the dissenting minister...

DINNSEANCHAS Bovevagh – Boith Mhéabha – Méabh’s hut or cell’  The townland and parish of Bovevagh in Co. Derry derive from the Irish Boith Mhéabha ...

Tá litir thraspháirtí seolta foilsithe sna meáin inniu, (15 Meitheamh) ag éileamh “ar an Fheidhmeannas, mar ábhar práinne, clár ama a aont...

GO mBEANNAÍ DIA daoibh, hello to the pitch perfect and the tone-deaf, you are all welcome to the Bluffer’s Guide to Irish. Yayyy!!! Tá an ceol beo ar ais - live music is back - ho...