NOV/DEC 2019 - The Belfast Empire Music Hall

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NOV/DEC 2019 - The Belfast Empire Music Hall
NOV/DEC 2019
NOV/DEC 2019 - The Belfast Empire Music Hall
Dear all,
                                                               Winter is coming, and with it a whole raft of amazing gigs
                                                                 in The Empire Music Hall. It’ll be cold outside, but with
                                                                 the crew behind PLEASUREDOME and NOW THE 90S
                                                               playing an unprecedented three Saturday nights in a row,
                                                               the dancefloor will be on fire! It’s the ultimate festive party

BOOKING INFORMATION                                           experience, with two decades worth of Christmas hits in one
                                                                                      explosive set.

                                                              We’ve the best of touring bands Super Furry Animal GRUFF
                                                               RHYS and DUKE SPECIAL on the bill. Indie Ledge LLOYD
            TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM
                                                               COLE has sold out, (again) and Beta Band alumnus STEVE
          THE EMPIRE BAR (no booking fees)
                                                               MASON joins us with Pictish Trail. MADE IN LIVERPOOL
           ALL TICKETMASTER OUTLETS
                                                              celebrate 50 years of Abbey Road on their Empire debut and
            24 hr booking line 0844 277 445
                                                              THE GROOVE LINE pay tribute to the Genius of Nile Rogers.
                 www.ticketmaster.ie
                                                              The Empire Basement is always heaving with entertainment;
  Should you or any member of your party require any            free live music Tuesday to Sunday, and our ever-popular
  special assistance, our staff will be delighted to help.        pub quiz thriving in its new Monday night slot. KEN
     We recommend that when possible, you notify               HADDOCK'S Christmas parties move to the Music Hall for
          The Belfast Empire prior to your visit.               Boxing Day and SANTA will of course call by on the last
                                                                               Thursday before Christmas!
      Please note that some performances may use
special effects, such as strobe lighting and smoke effects.          Wishing joy to you from me this festive season.
                                                                               As always, I remain yours,
          All patrons must be aged 18 or over.
                                                                                     Kitty xx
                    FOLLOW US ON
             Twitter, Facebook & Instagram

  42 Botanic Avenue, Belfast BT7 1JQ | 028 9024 9276
                                                                                                                        30
                                                                                                                        YEARS
          WWW.THEBELFASTEMPIRE.COM
                                                                                                                        1987 - 201 7
NOV/DEC 2019 - The Belfast Empire Music Hall
FRIDAYS | 10.30PM

 EVERY NIGHT IN THE BAR
               ENTERTAINMENT
     10PM - BELFAST'S BEST SUNDAY NIGHT

SUN KEN HADDOCK SUPPERCLUB
     10PM - THE ULTIMATE ALTERNATIVE PUB CHALLENGE
moN the BIG EMPIRE QUIZ                                               100%

                                                              N ALL
                                                               EW
     11PM - HIP, HAPPY AND HAIRY
tue discobeard                                                        fresh
                                                                      Roots
     9.30PM - SINGER-SONGWRITER NIGHT
WED IN THE ROUND
     10.30PM - EMPIRE BLUES
thu rab mccullough & BAnD
     5.30PM - SWEET BEATS
fri jackie rainey                                                     original artists playing their own music & more!

     10.30PM
fri 100% FRESH roots                             SEE
                                                 OVERLEAF
                                                                      1 NOV   UNHOLY GOSPEL BAND 6 DEC      UNHOLY GOSPEL BAND

                                                                      8 NOV THE HANDSOME             13 DEC THE MOONSHINES
                     2 NOV ............ STRICTLY NO BALLROOM
sat live
     10.30PM
                     9 NOV ............ PAUL DEAN BAND
                     16 NOV ........... BLACK MARKET ICONS
                                                                              PRINCES
                                                                                                     20 DEC THE MOONSHINES
                     23 NOV .......... ARMS OF VENUS DE MILO
     rock            30 NOV.......... BLACK MARKET ICONS              15 NOV THE PEACE PROCESS
     & Soul          7 DEC ............. THE PRETTY BOY TOUGH GUYS                                   27 DEC ILLEGAL SMILE
                     14 DEC ........... ARMS OF VENUS DE MILO
                     21 DEC............ KATMANDU                      22 NOV CROW BLACK CHICKEN
                     28 DEC ........... MIDLIFE CRISIS
                                                                      29 NOV LONESOME GEORGE
      DRINK OFFERS | LATE BAR | FREE ADMISSION
             FOOD SERVED MON-SAT 12-9PM
                                                                                                 5
NOV/DEC 2019 - The Belfast Empire Music Hall
SHINE

        JOSHUA BURNSIDE                                                                              DIRTY DC
                       FRI 1 NOV | 7PM | £14                                                       SAT 2 NOV | 8.30PM | £14
Sparkling local talent and Northern Ireland Music Prize winner JOSHUA         We can’t get enough of AC/DC here in The Empire. That’s why we LOVE
BURNSIDE is kicking off a massive UK and Ireland tour in The Belfast          DIRTY DC – simply the best tribute to Australia’s biggest band about. And
Empire this Autumn.                                                           guess what? Sean Mulvihill, 'World Bon Scott impersonator competition
                                                                              winner', returns for their October date!
Described as “Rumbling, brooding, powerful, (and) magnetic” by the Irish
Times, Burnside and his 6-piece band will be dipping into an enviable         Still going strong after 45 years AC/DC are responsible for some of the
back catalogue of leftfield acoustica and twisted folk; combination that      seminal albums of the whole genre of rock and roll. Dirty DC bring the love,
has already bewitched audiences from Glastonbury to the Cambridge Folk        that only true fans of the band have, to a high-octane hell-ride through the
Festival. “There’s an indefinable quality and charm to Joshua Burnside” The   antipodean outfit’s back catalogue.
Sunday Times.
                                                                              From Thunderstruck to Rock and Roll Train, Dirty DC never fail to entertain.

                                     6                                                                             7
NOV/DEC 2019 - The Belfast Empire Music Hall
PETERMARKATHON:
STORIES OF STYLE & FASHION                                                                      LLOYD COLE
                      SUN 3 NOV | 7PM | £10                                                  MON 4 NOV | 7.30PM | SOLD OUT
Peter Mark Belfast welcome two of the legends of the style scene, with       Don the turtleneck and pour yourself a cider and black; LLOYD COLE is
the world-renowned Session Hairstylist Keith Harris and famed style          back in town! Not only will Cole be performing tracks from this year’s new
consultant BILLY DIXON in conversation, with your enchanting compere         album Guesswork, he’ll also be dipping into a back catalogue of happy/sad
SABRINA BEWITCHED tying the night together. Not one, but two                 classics like Perfect Skin, Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken and My Bag.
standing ovations, was how KEITH HARRIS was revered by generations
                                                                             Absorbing the German influences of Bowie’s Low or Iggy Pop’s the Idiot,
of hairdressers and industry figures at his recent No Limits presentation
                                                                             Cole’s new album is the sound of an artist growing old disgracefully, lifting
in London; a very personal look at the history of hair. A history of which
                                                                             some of the brutalism of those classic works and adding his signature dry
Harris, points out, he has been part of for some 40 years. Billy Dixon,
                                                                             wit and grace.
Ireland’s only professional Male Image consultant, has styled some of the
world’s most powerful people. All proceeds on the night to ALZHEIMER’S
SOCIETY NI.
                                    8                                                                              9
NOV/DEC 2019 - The Belfast Empire Music Hall
THU 7 NOV | 9PM | £3
WYNonA BLEACH
NEALO
VALIUM
NICKCANTSLEEP
WYNONA BLEACH got their name from an
argument about how Wynona Ryder spells her
name and Nirvana’s Bleach. And for those old
enough to remember the Drop Nineteens’ greatest
hit there’s more than enough woozy goodness to
invoke the shoegazing gods of pre-Britpop 1990s.
Support comes from NEALO, who dropped a seven-
year law career to become one of the preeminent
names in Irish Hip-Hop. Blues Rock goodness from
VALIUM and rap music from NICKCANTSLEEP.
As always, pay on the door, as always, a bargain
at three quid.

WED 4 DEC | 9PM | £3
SONs OF BURLAP
ANDREW MCGIBBON
ANJA                                                                        PEARL JEM
AN AULD LAD                                                               SAT 9 NOV | 8.30PM | £13.50
Tapping into an ancient music tradition that marries
the rhythmic and primal, and taking it to a place at   Survivors sounds like damnation by faint praise, but when the band is
once celebratory and mournful. Strings and flute       Pearl Jam, and the context is the Seattle Grunge scene, it’s a miracle that
combine to take you to a common ground of pan-         they can still stand the sight of each other, never mind continue to release
European folk music that is unmistakably SONS OF
                                                       globally acclaimed records!
BURLAP. Few recordings are known, and video
evidence is mysterious.                                PEARL JEM are Pearl Jam fans that play Pearl Jam songs for Pearl Jam fans,
Support comes from Bonnevilles mastermind              with an intimate knowledge of the back catalogue you can be guaranteed
ANDREW MCGIBBON, who is promising a                    the greatest hits, the deep cuts and fan favourites to boot! Don the plaid...
side project that’s nothing like the Bonnevilles.      the spirit of Seattle is still Alive.
Psychedelically inspired jazz vocalist ANJA and the
appropriately named AN AULD LAD.

          10                                                                                11
NOV/DEC 2019 - The Belfast Empire Music Hall
NEXT ROUND ENTERTAINMENT

            LUCY SPRAGGAN                                                               STEVE HOFSTETTER
                      SUN 10 NOV | 7PM | £16                                                         THU 14 NOV | 8PM | £16+BKG
Lucy was always too good for the X-Factor. Sailing through the process in        STEVE HOFSTETTER is the hardest working man in showbusiness, with
style, she brought her own songs to the table, competing with the other          the possible exception of the late, great James Brown.
singers on her own terms. Forced to pull out, she nevertheless managed
                                                                                 The original writer for collegehumour.com, he’s written for sports, culture
to release her own album hijacking the Top 40 with the well-received Join
                                                                                 and comedy outlets, as well as releasing 6 albums and, if that wasn’t
the Club.
                                                                                 enough, plays hundreds upon hundreds of gigs annually on the US circuit.
Not content to rest on her laurels, 2019 has seen her release her fifth studio
                                                                                 Join him on his biggest UK and Ireland tour to date, as he tells it like it is. If
album ‘Today Was A Good Day’, play Glastonbury and SXSW, tour Europe
                                                                                 that’s alright with you, of course.
and Scandinavia with Melissa Etheridge, and complete her own US and UK
headline tours before this autumnal runout.

                                      12                                                                                13
NOV/DEC 2019 - The Belfast Empire Music Hall
A NIGHT FOR CULL                                                                         SPRINGBREAK
                   FRI 15 NOV | 8PM | £15+BKG                                                     SAT 16 NOV | 8.30PM | £12

It's been nearly two years since the Belfast music scene lost a star in      Grab the keys to the Lamborghini, roll up your sports jacket sleeves and hit
Michael 'Cull' Cullen. On Friday 15th November, the Music Hall will          the marina – it’s time for SPRINGBREAK!
play host to an incredible line up of music and comedy, hosted by local
                                                                             The fashion, the tunes, the Keytars – SPRINGBREAK have all you need for
comedian DAVID ELLIOT. Irish folk legends and Empire Music Hall
                                                                             the ultimate trip down Memory Lane.
regulars THE RAPPAREES will feature on the bill and BT9’d PADDY RAFF
will be making a guest appearance, alongside other acts to be announced.     Imagine all your favourite 80s soundtrack classics in the one place. Dance
                                                                             All Night Long with Lionel Richie, let Toto take you to Africa, and Have the
All proceeds will go on to raise money for TAHMI (Tackling Awareness of
                                                                             Time of Your Life with Jennifer Warner.
Mental Health Issues), Northern Ireland’s only activity and sports focused
mental health charity.

                                    14                                                                            15
NOV/DEC 2019 - The Belfast Empire Music Hall
AIKEN

                                                                               SO:NI
                                                                                sounds of northern ireland

                                                                                     THU 21 NOV | 8.30PM | £5
                                                                                       CLASS OF '19 - PART IV
                                                                                       SWALL MONKEY
                                                                                   THE FAKE FLIRTATIONS
                                                                               DIAMIR (WINNERS OF THE HOP HOUSE BOTB)
THE SLOW READERS CLUB                                                                      SHOCKS
                    SUN 17 NOV | 7PM | £17.50
                                                                                     FRI 20 DEC | 8.30PM | £5
Here are the young men, the weight on their shoulders – Manchester has               XMAS PARTY - BEST OF '19!
so much to answer for, but we’ll happily take anthemic synthpop of this
                                                                                          GIN PALACE
quality from THE SLOW READERS CLUB.
                                                                                          RED HOUSE
With influences as diverse as Nirvana, The Smiths and the Rocky                          TRUE KOLOURS
Soundtrack, they’ve been acclaimed as the best band you’ve never heard                      & SUPPORT
of; regularly selling out Manchester venues like the Ritz and the Apollo.

Come and see them on their biggest tour yet – If you liked the Twilight Sad
earlier this year, they’re right down your street.                            LIVE LOUD LOCAL
                                    16                                                           17
NOV/DEC 2019 - The Belfast Empire Music Hall
CABEYTU SHOWS EUROPE

                                                                                                  HATS OFF TO
THE CABEYTU BROTHERS                                                                              LED ZEPPELIN
                     FRI 22 NOV | 8.30PM | £18                                                     SAT 23 NOV | 8.30PM | £13.50

Following last year’s monster, 'I saw them in Benidorm Tour', the Argentine      It’s one of the finer titbits of Rock History. Led Zeppelin debuted the
duo have booked another massive jaunt, taking their little slice of the          greatest rock song of all time, Stairway to Heaven, in 1970s Belfast. Hearsay
Costas to the clubs and theatres of the UK and Ireland.                          records that it did not go down particularly well, with a bit of an exodus to
                                                                                 the bar, but still.
CRISTIAN and DIEGO CABEYTU are legends on the Benidorm coast.
People flock to their residency, drawn by tales of the two classically trained   HATS OFF TO LED ZEPPELIN seek to recreate that classic run of
musicians who between them have mastered 15 different instruments and            unstoppable albums that made Page, Plant and Co. the undisputed biggest
interpret the classics in their own unique way.                                  band in the world. With authentic instruments, a Marshall sponsorship and
                                                                                 the son of Peter Grant managing, you’ll see how they won the official title of
It’s an unashamed party night and guaranteed to brighten up the dullest          'UK’s Number 1 Zep Tribute'.
day!
                                      18                                                                               19
DUKE SPECIAL                                                             BAND OF SKULLS
                   SUN 24 NOV | 7PM | £22.50                                                     MON 25 NOV | 7.30PM | £20

The Duke and The Empire go hand in hand, with a long-shared history           It’s been ten years since the release of BAND OF SKULL’s pounding
dating back to the days when Peter Wilson’s Vaudevillian art-rocker was       debut Baby Darling Dollface Honey, which established the English outfit
little more than some eyeshadow and a dream.                                  a reputation of hard partying and harder blues – coming as it did in a post
                                                                              White Stripes/Black Keys environment, where Robert Johnson was as
DUKE SPECIAL will be mining a particularly rich seam of songwriting gold
                                                                              much an influence as The Stooges.
for this very special retrospective concert, drawing from his well-received
studio albums, works for theatre and poetry put to music.                     Tunes like I Know What I Am, Patterns and Light of the Morning hit the
                                                                              listener like a sucker punch from the woman that gone and done you
It wouldn’t be a night with the Duke without some surprises as well –
                                                                              wrong, and with Band of Skulls playing the album in its entirety we’re
watch this space for some very special guests.
                                                                              going to party like its 2009!

                                    20                                                                            21
at a glance...
EVERY TUE | 8PM | £ 10 / £ 8 PAY AT THE DOOR                 SAT 30 NOV | 8.30PM | £ 12
EMPIRE LAUGHS BACK                   COMEDY CLUB             BON JOVI EXPERIENCE
FRI 1 NOV | 7PM | £ 14                                       WED 4 DEC | 9PM | £ 3
JOSHUA BURNSIDE                                              GIFTED SONs OF BURLAP | ANDREW MCGIBBON | ANJA | AN AULD LAD
SAT 2 NOV | 8.30PM | £ 14                                    FRI 6 DEC | 8.30PM | £ 12
DIRTY DC                                                     THE BJORN IDENTITY
SUN 3 NOV | 7PM | £ 10                                       SAT 7 DEC | 8.30PM | £ 12
                                                                                        CHRISTMAS
PETERMARKATHON: stories of style & fashion                   PLEASUREDOME / NOW THE 90S CRACKER 1
MON 4 NOV | 7.30PM | SOLD OUT                                WED 11 DEC | 7.30PM | £ 20
LLOYD COLE                                                   GRUFF RHYS
THU 7 NOV | 9PM | £ 3 PAY AT THE DOOR                        THU 12 DEC | MOVED TO ULSTER HALL | ALL TICKETS STILL VALID
GIFTED      WYNonA BLEACH | NEALO | VALIUM | NICKCANTSLEEP   FONTAINES DC
SAT 9 NOV | 8.30PM | £ 13.50                                 FRI 13 DEC | 8.30PM | £ 10
PEARL JEM                                                    RAISED ON ROCK
SUN 10 NOV | 7PM | £ 16                                      SAT 14 DEC | 8.30PM | £ 12
                                                                                                                 CHRISTMAS
LUCY SPRAGGAN                                                PLEASUREDOME / NOW THE 90S CRACKER 2
THU 14 NOV | 8PM | £ 16                                      WED 18 DEC | 7.30PM | £ 26.50
STEVE HOFSTETTER                                             MARK LANEGAN
FRI 15 NOV | 8PM | £ 15                                      THU 19 DEC | 8PM | £ 12 +BKG
A NIGHT FOR CULL                                             ALL FOLK'D UP
SAT 16 NOV | 8.30PM | £ 12                                   FRI 20 DEC | 8.30PM | £ 5
SPRINGBREAK                                                  SOUNDS OF NORTHERN IRELAND
SUN 17 NOV | 7PM | £ 17.50                                   SAT 21 DEC | 8.30PM | £ 12
                                                                                                                 CHRISTMAS
THE SLOW READERS CLUB                                        PLEASUREDOME / NOW THE 90S CRACKER 3
THU 21 NOV | 8.30PM | £ 5 PAY AT THE DOOR                    SUN 22 DEC | 7PM | FREE
SOUNDS OF NORTHERN IRELAND                                   KEN HADDOCK'S           CHRISTMAS JUMPER PARTY WITH CONOR SCOTT
FRI 22 NOV | 7.30PM | £ 18 +BKG                              MON 23 DEC | 9PM | ON SALE SOON
CABEYTU BROTHERS                                             INSIDE MOVES         CHRISTMAS PARTY
SAT 23 NOV | 8.30PM | £ 13.50                                THU 26 DEC | 7PM | FREE
HATS OFF TO LED ZEPPELLIN                                    KEN HADDOCK'S BOXING NIGHT WHISKEY & SHORTBREAD SUPPER
SUN 24 NOV | 7PM | £ 22.50                                   FRI 27 DEC | 8.30PM | £ 15
DUKE SPECIAL                                                 TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT ROD STEWART TRIBUTE
MON 25 NOV | 7.30PM | £ 20                                   SAT 28 DEC | 9PM | £1 1.50 +BKG
BAND OF SKULLS                                               THE GROOVE LINE
WED 27 NOV | 7PM | £ 10.50 +BKG                              SUN 29 DEC | 5.45/7PM | £ 60 M&G/ £ 30
REBEKAH FITCH                                                UNITED QUEENDOM
THU 28 NOV | 7.30PM | £ 22.50                                TUE 31 DEC | 8.30PM | £ 15
                                                                                                  THE VIBES | AMY MONTGOMERY
STEVE MASON                                                  NYE SUITED & BOOTED THE SKALLIONS | JORDAN ADENTUNJI
FRI 29 NOV | 8.30PM | £ 14
MADE IN LIVERPOOL THE BEATLES TRIBUTE                           Check out THEBELFASTEMPIRE.COM for more shows and info!
SHINE

         REBEKAH FITCH                                                                 STEVE MASON
                WED 27 NOV | 7PM | £10.50+BKG                                               THU 28 NOV | 7.30PM | £22.50

No stranger to the Music Hall, we’re thrilled to see REBEKAH FITCH         The Beta Band were doomed from the minute Noel Gallagher called them
return!                                                                    the best band in the world. Until then, they had released the sublime 3 EPs
                                                                           and been quietly carving a reputation as a great live outfit. Then the twin
With the endorsement of Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody, and Hot Press
                                                                           monsters of hype and a poor relationship with the record label saw a split
magazine who said, ‘REBEKAH FITCH has become something of a
                                                                           in 2004.
Northern Irish pop phenomenon’ the incredibly talented singer-songwriter
will be playing her only local show this year in The Empire.               STEVE MASON has never looked back, with his King Biscuit Time project
                                                                           and later solo work. He’s maintained his ear for a hook while maintaining
With full band, and the innovative live looping that’s seen her in great
                                                                           his love of experiment; best seen on the epic Monkey Minds in the Devil’s
demand, Rebekah is sure to mesmerise the audience in this homecoming
                                                                           Time. Support from the amazing PICTISH TRAIL.
gig.
                                   24                                                                          25
MICHELLE MCTERNAN

                                                                                             THE BON JOVI
  MADE IN LIVERPOOL                                                                           EXPERIENCE
                    FRI 29 NOV | 8.30PM | £14                                                       SAT 30 NOV | 8.30PM | £12

It was 50 years ago, oh boy, when The Beatles released Abbey Road,              We keep booking them and you keep coming back for more? Why’s that? Is
which was to be the last album that they recorded before one of the most        it the top end musicianship, authentic outfits and instruments? Well, that
acrimonious splits in music history. Wildly ambitious and with the band         certainly helps. Is it the uncanny Tony, who is the dead spit of the man
falling apart it’s a miracle it was even finished, never mind that it was any   himself? Yep, big factor as well.
good.
                                                                                Is it all the above, with a massive dose of feel good anthems, bags of stage
MADE IN LIVERPOOL will be making their Empire Music Hall debut with             presence and an intimate connection to the songs that saw the BON JOVI
a celebration of what became one of The Beatles’ best regarded albums.          EXPERIENCE play Jon Bon Jovi’s own birthday party? Well, you should
The Cavern Club’s very own resident Beatles tribute will play the album in      come down and find out, dead or alive.
full, followed by a greatest hits set.

                                     26                                                                              27
THE BJORN IDENTITY                                                                           GRUFF RHYS
                     FRI 6 DEC | 8.30PM | £12                                                     WED 11 DEC | 7.30PM | £20

Knowing me, The Empire, knowing you, BJORN IDENTITY! Ahaaa!!!                Fancy a bit of Welsh wizardry this Christmas season? Of course you do,
                                                                             which is why you should secure your tickets for Super Furry Animals front
So who are THE BJORN IDENTITY? Only the UK and Ireland’s finest
                                                                             man and language enthusiast GRUFF RHYS. SFA were a band that could
tribute to the Swedish four piece that helped define disco, soundtrack the
                                                                             only be on Creation Records, combining an innate understanding of the
seventies and possibly pulled your parents together.
                                                                             absurd with a pop sensibility for the ages.
One of the few Abba tributes to play fully live, THE BJORN IDENTITY
                                                                             Pang is Gruff’s latest solo outing combining the Welsh language, some
bring the show to the audience, with singalongs, handmade authentic
                                                                             lines of Zulu and an English title, recorded over a year and a half, under the
costumes and audience interaction designed to put you slap bang in the
                                                                             watchful eye of South African electro type Muzi. It’s a paean to positivity,
middle of the show. Just don’t tell Theresa…
                                                                             inspired in part by a visit to Paisley Park!

                                    28                                                                             29
PLEASUREDOME 80S
            & NOW THE 90S
           CHRISTMAS CRACKER SHOWS
                      SAT 7, 14, 21 DEC | 8.30PM | £12

     Last Christmas, you came to the Empire for the PLEASUREDOME. This
     year, Maurice Jay and crew will give you something special, combining
     sets with NOW THE 90S for one big party extravaganza.

     You heard us, the best festive tunes from both the 80s and 90s in one place,
     over three consecutive Saturdays in the Empire Music Hall.

     From Wham’s Last Christmas, to East 17’s Stay, we’ll be breaking out the
     sleigh bells and mistletoe for what promises to be the ultimate office party.

30                                        31
OPEN HOUSE

       RAISED ON ROCK                                                                  MARK LANEGAN
                     FRI 13 DEC | 8.30PM | £10                                                  WED 18 DEC | 7.30PM | £26.50

RAISED ON ROCK are not your standard tribute band, rather a crack team        From his early days in the proto-grunge legends Screaming Trees through
of elite session musicians, assembled from the finest session musicians the   to collaborations with everyone from Queens of the Stone Age to Isobel
heavy metal scene in Northern Ireland has to offer.                           Campbell, MARK LANEGAN has developed his own niche, with a voice
                                                                              rivalling Tom Waits and songwriting chops up there with Nick Cave’s.
 With live experience that has taken in everyone from T’Pau to Thin Lizzy,
it’s clear from the first chord that these guys know what they’re on about.   This is a rare opportunity to catch the old master in the intimacy of the
                                                                              Empire Music Hall, where he’ll be playing music from his extensive career,
Foreigner, Europe, Ozzy, Guns and Roses – Merry Riffmas, you filthy animal!
                                                                              including this year’s acclaimed Somebody’s Knocking.

                                    32                                                                            33
RISING PR

                                                                                   Ken Haddock's
                                                                                Christmas
                                                                                  Jumper PARTY

            ALL FOLK'D UP
                   THU 19 DEC | 8PM | £12+BKG

Straight out of the Temple Bar, the fightin’ four piece that is ALL FOLK’D
UP have taken trad music from the Cheltenham Gold Cup to Las Vegas,
with an amazing live reputation and musicianship to boot.
                                                                              SUPPORT FROM CONOR SCOTT   |
                                                                                                             FREE SUPPER   |
                                                                                                                               PRIZE FOR BEST JUMPER
Folk’d Up offer fans an eclectic mix of classic sounds from Folk and Rock
music traditions, while still sprinkling their own unique, modern, high-
energy twist.

Folk favourites, classic rock covers and singalongs are all guaranteed when
ALL FOLK’D UP hit the road!                                                                 SUN 22 DEC | 7PM | FREE ADM

                                    34                                                                         35
INSIDE MOVES

Ken Haddock’s
  - Boxing Night -
Whiskey & Shortbread
    Supper Club

                                    CHRISTMAS PARTY
                                     INSIDE MOVES       |   HIGH HOOPS
                                         MIKEY B2B CAMERON

    THU 26 DEC | 7PM | FREE ADM   MON 23 DEC | 8.30PM | ON SALE SOON

                36                                 37
BANDSTAND PROMOTIONS

     TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT:
     ROD STEWART TRIBUTE                                                           THE GROOVE LINE
                    FRI 27 DEC | 8.30PM | £15                                                  SAT 28 DEC | 9PM | £11.50 +BKG

Gentlemen prefer blondes – or do they? Sir Roderick David Stewart            THE GROOVE LINE were formed by Chic drummer Ralph Rolle, and local
continues to pack the crowds in, still on tour at the fresh old age of 74.   musician Phil Duffy with one intent – to get the people of Belfast and
Since his early days as a member of the Jeff Beck Group and Faces, Rod the   beyond up and dancing!
Mod has gone on to sell in excess of 120 million records, and headline the
                                                                             Following an impromptu jam in June ’18 with members of Chic, THE
world’s biggest free concert in Brazil, in front of 3.5 million people.
                                                                             GROOVE LINE have decided to bring you a concert celebrating the music
TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT is a full 7-piece tribute to Rod Stewart, with an        of Nile Rogers, as well as a greatest hits set of disco and funk cuts through
uncanny soundalike in the form of frontman Lee Hedley. With backing          the decades.
dancers, costume changes and the star quality to match, you’ll get all the
                                                                             Madonna and Bowie, Daft Punk and Prince, the message is clear; we’re
razzmatazz you’d expect from a Stewart show!
                                                                             here to party, resistance is futile!
                                    38                                                                            39
JINJER! EVENTS

                                                                              2019
                                                                              2018
                                                                                     NYE
                                                                                     Strictly
                                                                                     no ballroom
                                                                                        TUE 31 DEC | 9PM | £5
                                                                                      PURCHASE TICKETS AT THE BAR

                                                                                   NOW TAKING
   UNITED QUEENDOM                                                             CHRISTMAS BOOKINGS
       SUN 29 DEC | 5.45PM £60 MEET & GREET | 7PM £30

Spare a thought for those who have to werk over the Christmas Holidays,
as Boombox returns to The Empire Music Hall for another night of fabulous
antics with the stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK
                                                                                     2 Courses £19 | 3 Courses £23
The Vivienne, Cheryl Hole and Belfast’s very own Blu Hydrangea will
bring you on a whistle-stop tour of the United Queendom! There’s a strictly            BOOK NOW 02890 249276
limited amount of special meet and greet tickets available if you want to              info@thebelfastempire.com
get up close and personal with the UK’s finest Queens.

Yas!

                                    40
COMING UP...

      NEW YEAR’S EVE
                                                                             ticketS! great for Christmas
                                                                               gifts or Stocking Fillers

                                                                          THE ADVENTURES                          4 JAN

               SUITED & BOOTED
                   TUE 31 DEC | 8.30PM | £15
                                                                          DAVID KEENAN
                                                                          CHASE RICE
                                                                                                                 11 JAN

                                                                                                                 12 JAN
FEATURING THE VIBES | AMY MONTGOMERY | THE SKALLIONS | JORDAN ADENTUNJI   HARD ROCK COLLECTIVE                   17 JAN

                                                                          SETH LAKEMAN                           22 JAN

                                                                          TURIN BRAKES                           24 JAN

                                                                          THE ILLEGALS                           25 JAN

                                                                          ISOBEL CAMPBELL                        31 JAN

                                                                          PLEASUREDOME                            8 JAN

                                                                          POLYPHIA                                9 FEB

                                                                          ROCK FOR ALZHEIMERS                    15 FEB
                                                                                Check out THEBELFASTEMPIRE.COM
                                                                                      for more shows and info!
12 Days of

mon 16 Dec alternative CHRISTMAS QUIZ
             10pm | Bar | Entry £1

wed 18 Dec CHRISTMAS IN THE ROUND with rory nellis, phil d'alton & guests
             10pm | Bar | Free

thu 19 Dec CHRISTMAS BLUES with rab MCCULLOUGH & A VISIT FROM SANTA
             10pm | Bar | Free

fri 20 Dec   seasonal roots with The moonshines
             10.30pm | Bar | Free

sat 21 Dec   ROCKin' AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE with katmandu
             10.30pm | Bar | Free

sun 22 Dec KEN HADDOCK'S CHRISTMAS JUMPER PARTY
             with conor scott | 9pm | Music Hall | Free

mon 23 Dec A DISCOBEARD christmas
             10pm | Bar | Free

thu 26 Dec KEN HADDOCK'S Whiskey & Shortbread Supper club
             7pm | Music Hall | Free

fri 27 Dec   seasonal Roots with illegal smile
             10.30pm | Bar | Free

sat 28 Dec rock n roll christmas with midlife crisis
             10.30pm | Bar | Free

sun 29 Dec KEN HADDOCK'S supper club Last one of 2019
             10pm | music hall | Free

mon 30 Dec QUIZ special review of the year
             10pm | Bar | free

         STRICTLY NO BALLROOM annual NYE 2019 PARTY
                 tue 31 Dec | 9pm | Bar | £5 Tickets from Bar

                    WWW.THEBELFASTEMPIRE.COM
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