Belfast Club Guide – Club Listings

WEEKLY - MONDAY

Blue Monday

Weekly Monday, Starts 9pm

Music Policy: Dance Classics

Thompsons, 3 Patterson Place, Belfast, BT1 4HW

www.clubthompsons.com

DJ’s Jay Kay and Midge cut and paste their way through three decades of dance music. Undiscovered gems are mixed up with contemporary floorfillers by two of Belfast’s finest floor controllers.

Club Sandwich

Weekly Monday, Starts 8pm

Music Policy: Varied

Lavery's Bunker Bar, 12 – 16 Bradbury Place, Belfast, BT7 1RS

www.bruisedfruitpromotions.com
 

Club Sandwich sees two bands 'sandwiched' between upcoming DJs. Touring bands such as I Love UFO (France), Chaos Emeralds (England) and Samuraj Cities (Sweden) have all graced the stage with local artists and the night also offers new DJs an opportunity to display their record collections and teaches inexperienced jockeys how to use equipment and programme a set.

Forbidden Fruit

Weekly Monday, Starts 10pm

Music Policy: House and Pop, LGBT

The Potthouse, 1 Hill Street, Belfast

www.potthouse.co.uk

Sexy vocal house, camp classics with a splash of commercial pop! With hostess Baroness Titti Von Tramp, Northern Ireland’s most infamous drag queen, DJs Jamesy and Kenny K.  A fun gay night, with all three floors open to guests. 

Uprising

Weekly Monday, Starts 9pm

Music Policy: Reggae, Ska and Dub

Lavery’s Back Bar & Beer Garden, 12 – 16 Bradbury Place, Belfast, BT7 1RS

www.laverysbelfast.com

Uprising promises to bring a host of sunshine Jamaican vibes to beat away the Belfast grey. Classic ska sounds clash with rockin’ roots reggae to recreate a sound system party set for dreads, skins and toasters.

WEEKLY – TUESDAY

Circus of Sound

Weekly Tuesday, Starts 9pm

Music Policy: Rock and its roots

Lavery’s, 12 -16 Bradbury Place, Belfast, BT7 1RS

www.laverysbelfast.com

Showcasing all branches of the rock family tree before the British punk explosion, Circus of Sound blends elements of early folk and rock n roll with various 60s based movements including beat, psychedelic, garage and classic rock right through to some 70s prog and glam. Experience the music that made Hippies shake, Rockers roll and Mods move.

Dust

Weekly Tuesday, Starts 9pm

Music Policy: Indie, Funk, Breaks

Thompsons, 3 Patterson Place, Belfast, BT1 4HW

www.clubthompsons.com

DJ Kenny Matheisson & guests spin Indie, Funk, Fuzz beats and Breaks each and every Tuesday. Also features indie bands who dabble in DJ’ing including The Futureheads.

Revolver

Weekly Tuesday, Starts 10pm

Music Policy: Indie, Alternative

The Stiff Kitten, 2 Bankmore Place, Belfast

www.myspace.com/skrevolver

Deci Gallen plays out all the best indie and alternative anthems (with just a smidgeling of dirty dance and grimy hip hop thrown in for good measure). Expect to hear anything from The Chemical Brothers to The Smiths, Hot Chip to New Order, The Ramones to Panic at the Disco, and more.

Shag

Weekly Tuesday, Starts 9pm

Music Policy: Indie, Rock, Retro-pop and Disco

Limelight/Katy Daly’s/Spring & Airbrake, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast

www.the-limelight.co.uk

Shag started in 1991 and has developed into Belfast’s biggest student night, taking over all three venues each Tuesday night. You’ll find guitar based indie and rock anthems in the Limelight, an eclectic range of new music in Katy Daly’s and the Spring and Airbrake hosts retro-pop and disco beats. With something for every taste, Shag will keep you on your feet all night.

The Whole Fandango

Weekly Tuesday, Starts 9pm

Music Policy: Eclectic Student Club

Lavery’s Bunker, 12 -16 Bradbury Place, Belfast, BT7 1RS

www.laverysbelfast.com

Hosted by Gregz McCann, Nadine and Rona. Expect to hear the greatest student anthems of all time from the worlds of alternative rock, alternative dance, early hip hop, cool Indie, 80s electronica, classic rock, punk, funk, soul, beats and grooves. Bursting with quality tunes so there’s no room for the mainstream.

WEEKLY - WEDNESDAY

Kickback @ Katy’s

Weekly Wednesdays, Starts 4pm

Music Policy: Varied

Katy Daly’s Bar, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast

www.the-limelight.co.uk

Wednesday. It’s the middle of the week. You’re bored and stressed with work or uni. The cure could be to go and have a nice relaxing drink, and if that’s the case, the place to go is Katy’s. You’ll walk into a chilled out, candle lit pub, where tunes from Fatboy Slim, The Jackson 5, Bowie, The Doors are played from 4pm-8pm. There are even drinks promos. What more do you want?

Belfast Music Club

Weekly Wednesday, Starting 9pm

Music Policy: Eclectic

The Garrick Bar, 29 Chichester Street, Belfast

http://www.myspace.com/belfastmusicclub

The Belfast Music Club is about giving the best DJs in Belfast a great opportunity to get to play what they didn’t manage to fit into their sets at the weekend. The Garrick is the perfect venue: intimate but laidback, perfect to sit or dance to great music. Be prepared for anything from paradise garage classics to dark post punk.

David Lyttle Three Jazz

Weekly Wednesday, Starts 9pm

Music Policy: Jazz

Black Box, Hill Street, Belfast

www.davidlyttle.com

Hosted by internationally acclaimed drummer and composer David Lyttle; the David Lyttle Three, featuring guitarist Mark McKnight and bassist Conor McCreanor and regular guests play one of the only jazz nights in Belfast. Expect original music and standards combining swinging straight-ahead jazz, latin and hip hop.

Funkarama

Weekly Wednesday, Starts 9pm

Music Policy: Hip Hop

Thompsons, 3 Patterson Place, Belfast, BT1 4HW

www.clubthompsons.com

Weekly Hip Hop event featuring the UK’s finest turntablists including The Nextmen, Dan Greenpeace and Jaguar Skills. Guest Breakdance routines from the Belfast City Breaks and Live Graffiti displays make this night must for all budding B-Boys.

Free The Noise

Weekly Wednesday, Starts 10pm

Music Policy: Eclectic

The Rotterdam Bar, Pilot Street, Belfast

www.bruisedfruitpromotions.com

This night provides an opportunity for new bands to gain a foothold in the local music scene. 2 or 3 bands perform per night, the music policy is eclectic and promises something different every week. Be sure and come early to ensure getting a seat. There are no pretensions at this night and everyone is welcome.

Trashed

Weekly Wednesdays, Starts 10pm

Music Policy: Alternative music policy

The Limelight, 17 Ormeau Avenue Belfast

www.myspace.com/trashed_club

Trashed is a weekly club night in the famous Limelight venue, playing the best in alternative indie, rock, dance, soul and anything else that will get you moving. Expect sweaty, packed dance floors, drinks promos, regular big-name and guest DJs. Trashed does exactly what it says on the tin….

Snatch

Weekly Wednesday, Starts 10pm

Music Policy: Alternative

Basement Bar, The Empire Music Hall, Botanic Avenue, Belfast

www.myspace.com/clubsnatch

Snatch is a weekly club residing in the Belfast Empire, an intimate venue with an amazing sound system. Snatch DJs play classic indie, funk, soul, electro, rock, and hip-hop. Guests have included Olympic Lifts and Jim Harte.

WEEKLY - THURSDAY

Independance

Weekly Thursday, Starts 9pm

Music Policy: Indie Rock Dance Fusion

Lavery’s, 12 -16 Bradbury Place, Belfast, BT7 1RS

www.laverysbelfast.com

DJs Gregz McCann or Alternative Ulster Magazine’s Jonny Tiernan serve up a request-driven DJ set featuring all the best student friendly tracks from this year and back, combined with some rocking sounds from the underground that sit beside modern music made for moving. Expect head bangers and foot stompers a plenty.

Sketchy

Weekly Thursday, Starts 10pm

Music Policy: Indie, Alternative, Hip hop, Dance

The Stiff Kitten, 1 Bankmore Square, Belfast BT1

www.myspace.com/stiffkittensketchy

In existence from 2000, Sketchy has recently found a new home at The Stiff Kitten. The night has grown from 40-50 party goers to some 800 every Thursday thanks to promoter and DJ Rigsy of BBC Across The Line, who regularly brings in guests including Mark Ronson, Daniel Merriweather, Gary Lightbody and recently Razorlight to name but a few. 

Switch

Weekly Thursday, Starts 9pm

Music Policy: Urban

Thompsons, 3 Patterson Place, Belfast, BT1 4HW

www.clubthompsons.com

One of the city’s busiest Urban music showcases, Switch’s soundtrack of street soul, R’n’B and funk features the cream of the UK and Ireland’s leading DJs and MCs. Monthly release parties from Def Jam Recordings and Sony BMG plus regular sessions from Belfast’s Hip City and Dublin’s Full Flava have helped cemented the night’s reputation as Belfast leading urban event.

Electric Ballroom

Weekly Thursday, Starts 10pm

Music Policy: Electro, Indie and House

The Sugar Room @ The Potthouse, 1 Hill Street Belfast

www.potthouse.co.uk

A weekly Thursday night that celebrates electro, indie and house.  Think D Ramirez, Paul Woolford, Sebastian Leger, The Drill, Specktrum, Freaks, Calvin Harris, Fedde Le Grand and many others.  Guest DJs every month.

WEEKLY - FRIDAY

Vintage Friday

Weekly Friday, Starts 6pm

Music Policy: Vintage and Alternative

Lavery’s, 12 -16 Bradbury Place, Belfast, BT7 1RS

www.laverysbelfast.com

Using only music that has been aged at least 15 years, Vintage Friday is somewhat unusual amongst clubs. The full spectrum of classic musical movements including rhythm & blues and rock & roll, through beat groups, soul and mod, classic rock, funk and disco, punk, new wave and two tone into 80s pop, goth, old school hip hop and early indie are all aired in this extensive set.

The Mother Love Club

Weekly Friday, Various Venues (see website for further details)

Music Policy: Soul, 50s Rock n Roll, Funk and Rocksteady

Bar Bacca, Franklin Street, Belfast

www.hydroponicmusic.com

The Mother Love Club is the latest incarnation of Hydroponic Music. Still going strong after 9 years, their chameleon-like existence has seen them running a conveyor belt of underground dance, reggae, soul, funk & rock n roll clubs. The Mother Love Club showcases seminal soul, 50s rock n roll, flute fluttering funk and Jamaican Rocksteady and two handpicked DJs from the Hydro stable spin sweets from the streets. The result is a deep fried hot plate of classic tunes, from Eddie Cochrane to James Brown, The Four Tops to Bo Diddley and Funkadelic to Toots and The Maytals – classic cuts from the true pioneers.  

Counterfeit Fridays

Weekly Friday, Starts 8pm

Music Policy: Commercial

Bambu Beach Club, The Odyssey Pavilion, Belfast

www.bambubeachbelfast.com

Expect a mixture of commercial chart toppers presented by DJ Courty in the Main Room and indie rock in the Aruba Room with DJ Johnny. Occasional tribute nights host the likes of The Backbeat Beatles.

Rotation Fridays

Weekly Friday, Starts 9pm

Music Policy: Varied

Budda, Odyssey Pavilion, Queen’s Quay, Belfast BT3 9QQ

www.buddabelfast.com

Rotation Fridays is Budda’s all request night – you say it, they’ll play it! DJs rotate each week, making sure that the punters stay happy.

Rocket Science

Weekly Friday

Music Policy: House

Thompsons, 3 Patterson Place, Belfast, BT1 4HW

www.clubthompsons.com

Underground House Music combined the best in Electro, Techno & Breakbeat soundtrack Friday’s Rocket Science. Rocket Science features record label showcases from CR2 Records, Azuli, & Toolroom night alongside Belfast DJs and percussionists.

Suburban

Weekly Friday, Starts 9.30pm

Music Policy: Hip Hop

Skye Bar Club, Howard Street, Belfast BT1

www.skyebarclub.com

Join resident Ghost and T.Boogie as they play the freshest blend of booty movin’ bouncing hip hop this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Check the website for upcoming DJs and guest spots. 

Disco A Go-Go

Weekly Friday, Starts 10pm

Music Policy: Classics

The Limelight, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast

www.the-limelight.co.uk

Friday nights in the Limelight sees the best retro sounds at Disco A Go-Go. Expect the Jackson 5, a bit of House of Pain, some Pulp, a smattering of Rose Royce and other hand picked classics from the 60s to the 00s; and the Limelight’s unique visuals with 4 video screens and a range of lamps, lights and lasers.

FAD

Weekly Friday, Starts 10pm

Music Policy: Indie, Old Skool, Hip Hop, Classic & Dance

The Stiff Kiten Club, 1 Bankmore Square, Belfast

www.myspace.com/skfad

An eclectic mash up of new indie, old skool hip hop, classic tracks + quality dance music from resident DJs Joe Dougan (Radio K) and Jim Harte. The club exploded onto the local club scene with a sell out opening night featuring a live performance from nu-electro hipsters New Young Pony Club.

Toast

Weekly Friday, Starts 10pm

Music Policy: Rock, Electronica, Soul, Hip-Hop, Disco and more

Pat's Bar, Clarendon Dock

www.myspace.com/toastclub

Guaranteed late night fun for people who have a discerning ear for music. Rock, funk, soul, pop, hip-hop, electronica, dance and disco tunes played by resident DJs Boma (Olympic Lifts) + Jen (Bruised Fruit) in its new home of Pat's Bar. Anticipate a range of guests, with the likes of David Holmes already being mentioned. It’s all about forgetting about the working week and getting into the party vibe!

Urban

Weekly Friday, Starts 10pm

Music Policy: R 'n' B

The Potthouse, 1 Hill Street, Belfast

www.thepotthouse.co.uk

Three floors of sound. DJs Hix and Slim Jim playing the best of pure RnB. DJ Hix is one of the most exciting DJs in Belfast, is a columnist for Blues and Soul and has worked alongside DJ Cash Money and Trevor Nelson. Slim Jim has been a firm fixture on the Urban scene for over 16 years.

Kaos

Weekly Friday, Starts 10pm

Music Policy: Varied theme nights, LGBT

The Kremlin, 96 Donegall Street, Belfast BT1

www.kremlin-belfast.com

Kaos brings a different theme to the Kremlin every Friday night.  These have included the renowned fetish night Kink, a Hairspray theme night, tributes to various icons, circus nights where the venue is literally transformed into a carnival, and most importantly, the annual Goscars (Gay Oscars). 

Bang!

Weekly Friday, Starts 10pm

Music Policy: Alternative

Auntie Annie’s Porterhouse, Dublin Road, Belfast

www.the-limelight.co.uk

Launched in the upstairs bar of Auntie Annie’s in April 2005 by Patric Baird, Bang!’s playlist features a mish-mash of mostly guitar-based genres including indie, rock and alternative pop, plus a smattering of dancefloor-friendly funked-up beats, 70s soul to what’s hot right now.

Gigantic

Weekly Friday, Starts 11pm

Music Policy: Alternative

Admission £3

Lavery’s Bunker, 12 -16 Bradbury Place, Belfast, BT7 1RS

www.laverysbelfast.com

Resident DJ, Jonny Tiernan (Editor-In-Chief at AU magazine) has a reputation for playing exclusive and unreleased tracks along with remixes and dancefloor favourites. You will find the dance floor filled with a nice mix of art students and music geeks all getting down to songs from the likes of Flaming Lips, Chromeo, Beastie Boys, Bruce Springsteen and a million others. 

Kinetik

Weekly Friday, Starts 11pm

Music Policy: House

Mynt, 2 – 16 Dunbar Street, Belfast BT1 2LH

www.clubkinetik.com

Polysexual late night manoeuvres all nighter in Mynt bar in Belfast’s fashionable Cathedral Quarter. Featuring to