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music · Thursday 30 July 2026 · 8:00pm 
The Bonny Men with Brid Harper and Sylvain Barou - Belfast TradFest
At The Belfast Empire Music Hall · 42 Botanic Avenue, Belfast, Co. Antrim
At The Belfast Empire Music Hall · 42 Botanic Avenue, Belfast, Co. Antrim
Four of the finest names in contemporary traditional music share the same stage for one night at the Belfast Empire Music Hall on Thursday 30 July, as part of Belfast TradFest 2026. The Bonny Men have been building a devoted following since 2011, known for the kind of live sets that pull you in from the first bar and keep you there. Alongside them: Bríd Harper, one of Ireland’s most respected fiddle players in the Donegal tradition; Breton multi-instrumentalist Sylvain Barou, who weaves Irish and Breton sounds together with genuine ease; and Libby McCrohan on Greek bouzouki, adding rhythmic depth to a line-up that has real range. This is a proper night out for anyone who takes traditional music seriously, or is ready to be converted.
The Empire Music Hall has three floors and a capacity of around 450 to 500, so it’s an intimate enough setting to feel connected to what’s happening on stage. The venue is a former church - a solid Victorian building that has been hosting live music for decades - and the acoustics suit this kind of performance well. Belfast TradFest runs from 26 July to 2 August 2026, bringing over 1,000 artists to 40 venues across the city; this show on the 30th is part of the headline concert series. The Bonny Men set the pace with their bold, contemporary take on Irish roots music, while Harper’s Donegal fiddle style and Barou’s Breton influence push the evening into genuinely cross-border territory. McCrohan on bouzouki holds it all together rhythmically. Expect a full concert programme rather than a session - this is ticketed, seated or standing, and it tends to sell quickly.
The Empire Music Hall is at 42 Botanic Avenue in south Belfast, a short walk from Queen’s University and the Botanic Gardens. From Belfast city centre, Botanic Avenue is easily reached on foot in around 20 minutes, or by Metro bus - several routes run along the Lisburn Road and University Road corridor. The nearest train station is Botanic, on the cross-city Lanyon Place to Great Victoria Street line. If you’re driving from Dublin, Belfast is roughly two hours north on the M1. Parking in the Botanic and Queen’s Quarter area can be tight on event nights; the Shaftesbury Square multi-storey on nearby Adelaide Street is a reliable option a few minutes’ walk away.
The Botanic Quarter is one of the most enjoyable parts of the city to spend time in before or after a show - pubs, restaurants and the Ulster Museum are all close by. There is more to see in Belfast and across Co. Antrim.
Heading to The Belfast Empire Music Hall in Belfast? Antrim has plenty more to see. Read the Belfast area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.