Beat Carnival

Belfast Mela by Arts Ekta starts this Saturday and runs until Sunday 30th August.

There is a big selection of events and activities including family friendly, outdoor performances and world food.

Our pick is 'Earth Child', an outdoor spectacle featuring hundreds of performers, blending aerial dance, global drumming, storytelling, live music and fiery pyrotechnics.

You can check out all the events here: https://belfastmela.org.uk/

It's already been one week since our Beatndrum Samba Band performance at the Fleadh Cheoil Fringe Festival. What an experience and what an incredible event for Belfast!

Thanks to MayWe and Carrie Davenport Photography for sharing these fab pics with us ❤

The Belfast International Arts Festival launched this week and will take place 14th October - 8th November 🙌

We are particularly excited to be working on two fantastic collaborative projects this year:

⭐Parade - The Giant Wheel by Autin Dance Theatre: we/ Beatndrum Samba Band are working with them to bring rhythm, participation and community celebration into the heart of the event.

⭐Rhythms of Connection: we will again be working with our friends from Hannover, Tudo Azul, to celebrate our shared passion for Brazilian music during an unforgettable evening of rhythm and music.

Check out these events and the full programme here: https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/



📸2 & 3: Belfast International Arts Festival

What an amazing time we had at the Fleadh on Saturday! Beatndrum Samba Band put on an amazing performance, spurred on by a great audience 💃🏼 🕺

The band had such a good time that they went a little rogue after the official set to do an impromptu performance on the street 😉

Congratulations to Fleadh Cheoil and Belfast City Council and bring on 2027!

It’s been a busy Summer for Beatndrum Samba Band and they wouldn’t have it any other way! While some of the band were in Brighton last weekend, the others were at the Heart of the Glens Festival, Cushendall

What a joy it is to be invited to so many amazing events ♥️

Next up Fleadh Cheoil
📅 Saturday 8th Aug, 2pm
📍FLAXX Social Space, Brunswick Sthr

Fleadh Cheoil is here! What an amazing opportunity for the city to showcase the wonderful artistic talent we have 💚

We are so excited to be involved, with our Beatndrum Samba Band performing next Saturday, 8th August*. Expect the usual high-energy from the band but with a twist - traditional Brazilian carnival music will be blended with local flavour and contemporary hits from across the decades with lyrics in English, Irish and Portuguese 🥁

*Unfortunately the online listings have included the incorrect date- BeatnDrum will be performing on Saturday 8th, not today (Sunday 2nd).

Rebecca recently attended a screening of Youth Culture, one of the films in a new documentary series,‘Threading Voices’, by Belfast Buildings Trust.

‘Threading Voices’ explores Belfast’s history through the story of Carlisle Memorial, including linen industry, architecture, migration, youth culture and community life.

Thanks to Belfast Buildings Trust for involving us with the project, it was great to be able to contribute to the Youth Culture film with our young people.

We recently worked with Portaferry Recreation Hub and Cloughey Community Association to create large puppets at a series of workshops- don’t they look fab?! 🩵

It was great to be able to showcase the puppets at Portaferry Gala Festival on Saturday 18th July.

The workshops were made possible with support from Arts Council of Northern Ireland (Rural Engagement Arts Programme) and Ards and North Down Borough Council