A Photography Exhibition by Graham Smith | Belfast

Secret Belfast is very excited about Graham Smith’s upcoming exhibition, "I Like The Way This Is Going" in the Oh Yeah Music Centre running from the 2^nd – 9^th November.

Graham Smith is a photographer and tour manager, based in Belfast, who’s obsession with music has had him travel all over Europe photographing bands and music fans. Smith uses minimum equipment and minimum fuss to capture moods, moments and life on the road.

Don’t expect poses, set-ups or try hard cool. Smith’s aim is to create interesting documentary style images, avoiding the typical and avoiding the obvious.

The past few years have seen the release of Smith’s first solo book, which sold out within 4 weeks, exhibitions across Europe and the coveted Lex Van Rossen award for European Music Photography.

Photographs courtesy of Graham Smith

Live music on the launch night will come from the much respected Oliver Cole, who has played with the likes of Wilco and Ray Lamontagne. The DJ will be Chris Wee from ASIWYFA.

If you are interested in attending the launch you can RSVP on Facebook or visit Graham Smith's website.

Mercury Music Nominees to play Belfast

Secret Belfast is happy to help out our friends at Moving on Music in spreading the word about the brilliant Kit Downes Trio upcoming performance in Belfast.

The trio’s debut album ‘Golden’ was one of only twelve UK and Irish records to be selected for the prestigious 2010 Mercury Music Prize ‘Album of the Year’ title.

Some more information about KDT from the Moving on Music press release:

“Featuring phenomenal jazz pianist Kit Downes, award-winning bassist Calum Gourlay and rising drum star James Maddren, this terrific trio perform original music inspired by a range of influences, from Bela Bartok, to Keith Jarrett, to Rufus Wainwright.”

“A student of the Purcell School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, pianist/composer Kit Downes exploded onto the British jazz scene playing with acts such as Empirical, Troyka, Fraud and Acoustic Ladyland. He then went on to win the BBC Jazz Award for Rising Star in 2008, as well as a prestigious Yamaha Scholarship in 2009.

“Now, Kit has moved on to his own trio project, which sees him link up with his two Royal Academy colleagues - Calum Gourlay on bass and James Maddren on drums. Playing together since 2005, Downes, Gourlay and Maddren display a level of understanding and intelligence that can only come from working closely together for a number of years.”

The performance will take place at the Sonic Arts Research Centre, Belfast on Saturday 25th September. Doors open at 8.00pm and tickets priced £10 and £7 are on sale now from www.movingonmusic.co.uk and Belfast Welcome Centre (028 9024 6609).

Thought this might be of interest...

Thanks to Paul Beattie for the following post:

"...this is my grandfather whom I never met. He played the organ in the cinemas of Belfast. I haven't been able to track down which cinemas, and my mother is now unable to remember...well...anything. I do remember her mentioning the Astoria, though.

If anyone else has any similar stories leave a comment or email me at joel@secretbelfast.co.uk.

Old secret Belfast cinemas

Emma's first post...

"Finally I get a chance to talk about the interesting people of our great city.I thought I would start with Gary Cosby.An aficionado of Belfast cinemas. Gary was one of the projectionists at the Curzon cinema which is sadly no longer with us now. A world i never really thought about until i spied miniture cardboard buildings in a local bar called Bittles (a Belfast secret to some, go and check out the political amusing art by Joe Okane) after a brief chat with Gary who happened to be standing at the bar as i marveled at what i now knew to be ten mini replicas of old cinemas, The Park,The Windsor, The Picturedrome, Alpha, Lido, Mayfair, Majestic, Odeon and ABC. You can now come and view these truly curious little cinemas at Craftworkshop 29 Wellington Place, I hope you find them interesting as much as i do. Our curiousitea corner has many old Belfast memories we are so pleased to be able to open up for view Garys archive of unseen cinema photographs. As owner of Craftworkshop i would be sad to see the cinemas go as the amount of people that smile and reminisce whilst huddled around the cinemas chatting about days gone by I find it hard to put a price on them. Dare I say I have been offered nearly £1000 for the collection. I may just buy them myself for the shop to keep the curiousitea going!

Introducing Emma Gilles

Emma Gilles is now taking the reins at Secret Belfast. She owns and runs the Craftworkshop which houses an eclectic mix of very cool craft from around the world and work from local artists.

Here is Miriam Rodgers take on Emma and the Craftworkshop

More from Emma soon....