Townsend Street in Belfast has a rich history, and this year the Ulster Orchestra, Townsend Enterprise Park and Zeppo Arts are working on Sound Links, a new project exploring that history as part of Belfast 2024 – an ambitious cultural celebration that will see the city come to life with creative projects, events and civic initiatives taking place across Belfast throughout the year.
BLOCK PARTY: A celebration of Townsend Street – Sat 21 September 2024
The Ulster Orchestra, Zeppo Arts and Townsend Street Enterprise Park are thrilled to announce an exciting community street party set to take place on Townsend Street on Saturday 21 September 2024 from 2pm to 8pm.
The best part? Admission is free and everyone is welcome! This vibrant outdoor event promises an unforgettable day filled with live music, bustling markets, energetic dance performances and delicious food offerings, finishing with a live performance by the Ulster Orchestra* at 8pm - there will be something for everyone to enjoy. Our block party is part of the Belfast 2024 programme, celebrating creativity and culture, funded by Belfast City Council and taking place on International Peace Day.
- Live Music: Enjoy captivating performances from classical pieces to contemporary soul, funk and dance - the live music lineup is sure to delight audiences of all ages. Acts include Winnie Ama, String Ninjas, Utropiks, Boom Strutt Brass, Diamonte Dance and Drama, Downshire Brass and Belfast Ukulele Orchestra.
- Sound Links concert*: A new musical commission about Townsend Street will be performed by the Ulster Orchestra at 8pm (requires free ticket, see below).
- Markets: Browse through a diverse selection of market stalls. These will feature products by local artisans, craftspeople and sellers.
- Dance: Experience dynamic dance performances that will get everyone moving. These will include everything from traditional Irish and Scottish dances to modern routines.
- Food: Indulge in a wide selection of food options from local food trucks and vendors. There will be plenty of delicious choices to satisfy your taste buds.
- Kids’ Activities. Children can enjoy workshops, bouncy castles and much more.
*If you would like to attend the 8pm Ulster Orchestra performance, please book a FREE ticket here.
Keep an eye on this page and our social media for more updates about the event.
Accessibility and information
Location
The Block Party will take place on Townsend Street, Belfast. View location on map. Townsend Street can be accessed from either end via Divis Street and Peters Hill.
Getting there
Townsend Street will be closed to traffic on the day of the Block Party, so we recommend travelling by public transport or on foot. Townsend Street is approximately a 15-minute walk from Belfast city centre.
The nearest bus stops are:
– Divis Tower (approx. 0.2 miles away)
– Millfield (approx. 0.2 miles away)
– Peters Hill (approx. 0.1 mile away)
– Lower Shankill (approx. 0.1 mile away)
Nearby car parks include:
– Handy Park – Millfield Car Park, 31 Samuel Street
– NCP Belfast The Tannery, 1 Francis Street
– Kent Street Car Park, Kent Street
– Handy Park, Wilson Street
– Handy Park, Winetavern Street
Guides/marshals in high-viz jackets will be situated along the length of the street and will be able to assist with queries or issues.
Accessible Parking
Townsend Street will be closed to general traffic however a limited number of on-street accessible parking spaces for blue badge holders will be available on the day. If you require an accessible parking space, please let us know by emailing [email protected] with your name and car registration number.
Wheelchair and mobility access
The location of the Block Party on Townsend Street is on a flat surface. The Ulster Orchestra performance at 8pm will take place in the former Townsend Street Church building. The building is fully accessible and accessible seating on the ground floor will be available upon request. If you require accessible seating for the performance, please choose the option for accessible seating when booking tickets.
Toilets
An accessible toilet (‘AccessoLoo’) will be situated at the Peters Hill end of Townsend Street. Please ask a guide/marshal who will be able to direct you.
Quiet Spaces
A Quiet Room will be available upon request. Please ask a guide/marshal who will be able to direct you.
Interpretation
BSL/ISL interpreters will be at the main stage all day and at the 8pm Ulster Orchestra performance.
Dietary Requirements / Allergies
There will be food vendors at the event providing a variety of food and drink. Please vendors know when ordering if you have any dietary requirements or allergies.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs are welcome at both the Block Party and 8pm Ulster Orchestra performance and there will be a designated outdoor toileting area for them.
Enquiries
If you have any questions about any aspects of the accessibility of the event, please email [email protected] or phone Vittoria Cafolla on 07907 443 771.
Sound Links: Project Background
Townsend Street is one of only two points in Belfast where one can see the Farset River, the river that gave the city its name.
It also houses Townsend Enterprise Park and the former Townsend Presbyterian Church, which is now home to the Ulster Orchestra. In the past, the history of the street and its surroundings were buried by the degradation of the area and the legacy of Troubles-era interface gates.
For this project, we are working together with the local community, residents and the businesses of Townsend Enterprise Park so that the street will once again be firmly in the consciousness of the city.
What is Sound Links?
Sound Links is a community-informed project that will culminate in a community-led celebration of the street and its people on International Peace Day in September 2024. Here at the Ulster Orchestra we’re also looking forward to our role in the project, introducing ourselves to the area, in addition to telling the story of a forgotten part of Belfast’s history.
We want Sound Links to celebrate the heritage of the area. We have commissioned three new works as part of the project, by composers Úna Monaghan, Rory Friers and Jamie Thompson, which will be performed at Townsend Street Church.
(L-R) Composers Úna Monaghan, Rory Friers and Jamie Thompson
The story so far…
Over the past few months, we’ve held several consultation workshops in the local area where members of the public came to share their memories and stories of Townsend Street and offer their hopes and aspirations for the future.
We’ve also visited local schools, care homes, day centres and community groups, where our facilitators – writers Natasha Geary, Emily DeDakis, Fionnuala Kennedy and Maria McManus; and Ulster Orchestra Animateur Jonathan Simmance – worked with pupils, residents and attendees over several weeks to talk about their memories and ideas.
All of this material has been gathered together and given to our three composers to inform the music they are writing for the final event. We’ve been surprised and delighted by the variety of stories and ideas that have been shared with us during the workshops and can’t wait to see how they inspire the finished pieces.
We’d like to extend our deepest thanks to everyone who has participated so far and to the schools, groups and venues who have welcomed us so warmly into their spaces: St Comgall's - Ionad Eileen Howell, New Life City Church, Townsend Enterprise Park, Glenwood Primary School, St. Mary’s Primary School, City Way Day Centre, Bradley Manor Care Home, and Shankill Area Social History.
We'll be working with Zeppo Arts to capture your stories of Townsend Street. If you'd like to contribute, please email us at [email protected] in the first instance. As we're using email to collect your contact details we need to explain what we're doing to protect the information you send us. You can find out more about that on our Privacy Policy page.