FOLK great Teddy Thompson, eighties favourites The Blow Monkeys and award-winning poet Hollie McNish are among some of the stars performing at the Out to Lunch Festival in Belfast next month.
The festival, which runs from January 8 to 30, will include more than 50 music and comedy shows.
Highlights include gigs by American musician BC Camplight, singer Hazel O'Connor and classical pianist Ruth McGinley, as well as comedy shows with Lucy Porter, Robin Ince and Cork-based Tadhg Hickey.
The festival will also showcase Freak Scene: The Story of Dinosaur JR and US film-maker Todd Haynes' documentary on the Velvet Underground.
Festival Director Sean Kelly said the event, which is celebrating its 17th anniversary, is "back in venues where it belongs".
"And in the current social and political gloom, we hope we can offer good cheer, top entertainment and even a bowl of something hot for people throughout the longest, darkest month of what seems set to be an uncertain year," he said.
"We’ll also be taking all the necessary safety precautions to ensure that our audiences can enjoy Out to Lunch with minimum fuss and maximum delight."
Sonya Whitefield from the Arts Council said the festival is an "annual highlight".
"The festival also offers a valuable platform in supporting local artists and this year it’s great to classical contemporary pianist, Ruth McGinley on the programme as well as singer songwriters, Brigid O’Neill, and Ciara O’Neill, who will be launching new music at the festival," she said.
For more information on the festival line-up, and to book tickets, visit www.cqaf.com
