Concert News

AVA FESTIVAL 2021 ⚡Full programme, day splits, after parties, and closing party for Belfast weekender

• 10th Aug 2021

In less than two months, we will see the mighty return of AVA; now a fully outdoor multi-stage Festival at Boucher Road Playing Fields. After what feels like a lifetime, the homegrown event is ready to fill a dancefloor-shaped hole in attendees’ hearts and one of the only open-air music festivals to go ahead across Ireland with over 70 local and international artists. With support from Arts Council NI, AVA will continue to champion local scenes and new sounds. In 2021, the festival features a new direction in live programming with a stage for alternative acts and many local artists will be making their international Boiler Room debuts.

“I hope people will be blown away by our new site design, our programme of DJ’s & live acts, our 360 degree sound systems, AV shows and other experiences across the festival site. We are working with the best in the business, and have used the time between our last event and now to really invest in the design, production & experience and we can’t wait to show everyone!”

AVA Founder and Director Sarah McBriar
The full programme of action across the weekend of 24th-25th of September including after-parties and the closing party on Sunday 26th has been revealed. For those after the full AVA experience, there are a handful of weekend tickets left at £85 plus booking fee, or for those who want to attend for one day only,

The last remaining day tickets are currently available at £45 + BF. All tickets are available from avafestival.com

FRIDAY –

Taking place at their new home at Boucher Road Playing Fields, AVA 2021 will be a multi-stage, outdoor experience that will capture the festival spirit and the magic atmosphere of Belfast. On Friday, AVA welcomes host international titans and homegrown heroes, including powerhouse duo FJAAK and techno’s reigning queen Helena Hauff, who’ll be present with industrial, angular selections. Grammy-nominated Jayda G, will make a welcome return to the Festival with her colourful blend of fresh and classic percys, plus long-term AVA faves experimentalist duo Optimo, Derry’s finest Or:la and Dublin’s quality selector Saoirse. Also across the day, find KI/KI, Object Blue, Space Dimension Controller, Brame + Hamo, Holly Lester, Cailin, Bobby Analog, Carlton Doom, Kessler, and a plethora of other DJs, crews, and collectives ready to step up across AVA Festival’s three stages.

• SATURDAY –

Saturday is set to be another solid-gold day with a heavyweight lineup, again made up of revered global names and Irish talent who have been representing Ireland’s new-gen of electronic and alternative sounds. KINK will once again step up with a live show, after his memorable performance with a samba band in 2018, AVA attendees are set to be surprised. Also taking to the stage are Carista, Hammer, Sunil Sharpe and there’ll be what promises to be a memorable B2B with the dream team Sally C and Cromby.

For 2021, AVA introduces new flavours into their sound spectrum as they welcome some of the nation’s freshest rap, hip-hop, and live acts into the fold for the first time. Dublin rapper Kojaque will bring raw energy and chaotic lyrical charm, fresh from his debut album ‘Towns Dead’ released this June, as well as live sets from Gemma Dunleavy and Aby Coulibaly. Plus, the line-up is packed out with plenty more selectors and crews from day to night.

• AFTER PARTIES + CLOSING PARTY –

AVA always delivers on an afterparty and 2021 will be no different from Thompsons Garage set to host parties on 24th September and 25th September. First up on Friday, Optimo will headline with their usual blend of electronic obscurities and left-leaning tracks, plus Cyence and Moodtrax. Saturday sees mighty duo Sally C and Cromby go back to back to expect a high-energy night packed with big “chunkers” and maximum heat. These after-hours parties are a perfect taster of the famed Belfast nightlife for any visitors to the city.

A staple of the AVA weekender is the post-festival Sunday session, Thompsons will open its doors to AVA’s stamina crew. Always a solid day out, the closing party is the only way to see the weekend off right. Stepping up to soundtrack is a variety of Cáit, Matheson, Away From Dave, EMA and Pony M, a variety of local legends set to

Full festival weekend passes can be bought online at £85, or day tickets at £45. Afterparties tickets are limited and £10 each. The closing party is free entry. Tickets to AVA Festival are on sale via https://avafestival.com/festival.

AVA FESTIVAL 2021

24 – 25 SEPTEMBER || BOUCHER ROAD FIELDS, BELFAST

WEEKEND TICKETS – £85 + BF || DAY TICKETS – £45 + BF || AFTER PARTIES – £10

FRIDAY

FJAAK (DJ) – Helena Hauff – Jayda G – Or:la – Optimo – Saoirse – KI/KI – Object Blue – Space Dimension Controller – Brame + Hamo – Holly Lester – Cailin – Bobby Analog – Carlton Doom – Mount Palomar – Mark Blair – Kessler – Cartin – Marion Hawkes – Twitch – High Hoops – Crilli – Cyence – Sputnik One – Bloom – Emby – Leo Miyagee – Percboi 3000 – EVE – Nikki O

SATURDAY

KINK (Live) – Carista – Kojaque – Hammer – Sally C b2b Cromby – Sunil Sharpe – Gemma Dunleavy – Aby Coulibaly – Tommy Holohan – Phil Kieran – R Kitt – T-Bone + JMX – Kaidi Tatham – Jordan – Schmutz – Swoose – DSNT – Brien – Inside Moves – Moodtrax – Kwame – Korova b2b Plain Sailing – Daire – AeronXTC b2b TainT – DART – Caoimhe – Farhannah

AFTER PARTIES

Friday 24th Sept – Thompsons Garage

Optimo – Cyence – Moodtrax

Saturday 25th Sept – Thompsons Garage

Sally C B2B Cromby – Hijaxx

CLOSING PARTY

Sunday 26th Sept – Thompsons

Cáit – Matheson – Away From Dave – EMA – Pony M

AVA September 2021 is supported by Arts Council Northern Ireland.