The Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall have been part of the fabric of Belfast’s live entertainment scene for as long as we can remember. Since shutting our doors in March 2020, the entrances and hallways have stood silent for so long. Acting as a stark reminder of the memories of concerts past and reminding us of the emotional connections made over the years in our iconic venues.
From the Grand Old Dame of Bedford Street first opening her doors in 1862, to U2 playing at Belfast’s infamous ‘Yes’ concert in 1997, people have been making memories at the venues ever since.
Welcoming over 350,000 people through our doors every year, delivering world class experiences is at the heart of what we do
Live entertainment has the ability to hold your attention and the memories will not evaporate as you leave the doors of our venues. Experiences and stories spread and grow, you talk about the gig with friends over a pint afterwards and you share your experience with family members, who perhaps tell you about their own #IWasThereWhen moments in the Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall.
An emotional connection begins from the moment you purchase your ticket to an artist or show you love. The excitement of getting the date in the diary, getting your outfit organised the night before to the buzzing atmosphere felt the minute you walk through our doors as fans wait in anticipation for their favourite act to take to the stage.
You are creating your very own #IWasThereWhen moment that will last long after that one night, it will be one night that you will share with others in days, months and years to come.
Last year The Frozen Princess Pantomime saw families across Northern Ireland come to the Waterfront Studio to experience the magic and create lifelong memories that children will remember and cherish. Many children will recall the story of Disney’s Frozen but seeing the characters come to life in an enchanted world, with the glittering sets and amazing costumes is an experience like no other.
A child won’t remember what they ate for dinner or who went to the show with them, what they will remember are those feelings they encounter on that special day out with their family.
That feeling in the pit of the stomach when the Princess waved to them from the stage or when the White Witch ran through the crowd
And when that closing song plays on the radio in six months, they will be reminded of the wonderful memories made in the Waterfront Studio.
Emotional connections don’t stop there, many artists have made an emotional connection to our venues and to the legendary Belfast audience. Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol once said, “I heard live music for the first time ever in the Ulster Hall, it was the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, I just knew that I wanted to perform on the Ulster Hall stage after that.”
Lurgan man Micky Bartlett performed his stand-up show in the Waterfront Studio to an intimate crowd of 300 people. One year later, Bartlett sold out the Ulster Hall to a crowd of 900 people.
Ulster Hall is #WhereLegendsAreMade and acts like Snow Patrol and home-grown comedians now create this emotional connection with the audience when they perform in the venues, a place that tells a story and holds special memories for both the artist and the audience.
The events we host create the deepest of emotional connections. You are the closest you will ever feel to an artist as they perform in an intimate setting.
Music agent Steven Strange even said, “one of my favourite venues in the world is Ulster Hall in Belfast”.
