Music City: BBC returns to Derry next week

The airwaves will be alive with the sound of music on Saturday 21 June when BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle broadcasts six hours of live music from Music City! Day in Derry.

Having celebrated Music City! Day last year as part of the Derry~Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013, BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle will return to Derry to take part in Music City! Day 2014 for three very special live events, to be broadcast from 6pm-midnight.

This evening of events highlights BBC Radio Ulster’s commitment to specialist music and will commence with a Caschlár special with Brian Mullen at Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin at 6pm, followed by the special BBC Radio Ulster concerts – Ulster Orchestra At Music City, hosted by John Toal in The Guildhall at 8pm and an Electric Mainline Special with Stephen McAuley in the Playhouse at 10pm.

Starting the evening is Caschlár at 6pm when Brian Mullen will welcome a range of musical guests into Derry’s Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin for an eclectic multi-genre live event which will bring together everything from world music roots and trad to pop, soul and blues. Already confirmed for this Caschlár special are Paddy Nash and the Happy Enchiladas and John Leighton, with further acts yet to be announced.

Brian Mullen says: “The programme will be the usual exciting heady mix with the added buzz of live performance.”

The live music will then move to Derry’s iconic Guildhall for the two hour BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle concert Ulster Orchestra At Music City. Broadcast live from 8pm, this unique concert will see presenter John Toal welcome some of Derry’s finest performers to the stage to perform alongside the Ulster Orchestra, conducted by Stephen Bell.

This stellar line-up of singer-songwriters Eoin O’Callaghan [Best Boy Grip] and Paul Casey, pianist Ruth McGinley and saxophonist Gerard McChrystal will make for a midsummer’s night of vibrant and varied music.

John Toal says: “Looking forward to being back in Derry which, for me, always has been and always will be a city of culture. The rich tapestry of talent we have performing at this unique concert reminds us of the diverse and amazing musicians this city has produced. Seeing each of these acts perform individually is a treat, to see them perform with the might of the Ulster Orchestra behind them should be nothing short of spectacular.”

Providing the grand finale to BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle at Music City! Day is an Electric Mainline Special with Stephen McCauley live from The Playhouse from 10pm.

This two hour concert and live radio broadcast will feature performances from some of Electric Mainline’s favourite musicians including SOAK, SlowPlaceLikeHome, Ego the Jackal, Gaze Is Ghost and The Wood Burning Savages, with more acts still to be announced.

Stephen McCauley says: “Last year we celebrated Music City! Day with an amazing Electric Mainline concert in the Glassworks in Derry. For this year’s event, we’ve relocated to the stunning surroundings of the Playhouse Theatre. It’ll be the same format as last year with intimate and incredible performances from some very dear friends of the show including SOAK, Ego The Jackal and SlowPlaceLikeHome. My challenge will be to remember to actually present the show while being blown away by the music! I couldn’t be more excited!”

Tickets for the Ulster Orchestra at Music City are available from bbc.co.uk/tickets and can be applied for until 5pm on Friday 13 June. Audiences can apply for a maximum of two tickets and tickets will be allocated on the basis of a random draw.

Tickets for the Electric Mainline Special are available from bbc.co.uk/tickets from 7.30pm on Thursday 12 June at 7.30pm and can be applied for until noon on Tuesday 17 June. Tickets are limited and audiences can apply for a maximum of two tickets. Tickets will be allocated on the basis of a random draw.

Music City! Day on BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle starts at 6pm. 92–95FM & DAB digital radio, digital TV and online at bbc.co.uk/radioulster