Culture Night Belfast is to return to the city in September but will this year take the form of "an on-site installation that people can drop into and enjoy over the course of the weekend".

FOR some reason, 1987 jumps out as the year I discovered music.

:: 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.

BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH – TO CARRY A WHALE SINGER-songwriter Benjamin Francis Leftwich takes an unflinchingly frank look at the life of a recovering alcoholic in To Carry A Whale.

THE greatest musical side projects tend to have one thing in common – they offer their stars a chance to think outside the box.

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.

The music festival has been pushed back by three weeks, to September 24 to 26, to give it the best chance of proceeding.

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