It is no secret that the Ulster Hall is a legend in the history of Belfast. Located in the heart of Belfast, the Ulster Hall has been the pulse of Belfast’s live entertainment scene for over 150 years.
First opened in 1862 is one of the oldest purpose-built concert halls in the UK and Ireland. The Ulster Hall itself has been through the wars, quite literally, having survived two World Wars, as well as welcoming some of globally diverse and famous names through its doors. From Charles Dickens to Snow Patrol, if they’re anybody, they’ll have played at the Ulster Hall.
We truly believe that the Ulster Hall is #WhereLegendsAreMade. However, who or what defines a legend or legendary status? For venues like the Ulster Hall, it’s the calibre of acts that visit and the audience’s reaction that define how legendary it is. In the 1960’s, the Ulster Hall was Northern Ireland’s spiritual home of rock music, hosting an almost endless list of famous names that has included U2, Coldplay, Thin Lizzy, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, Muse, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Snow Patrol, Johnny Cash, Jim Reeves, The Who, AC/DC and many more.
Easily our most promiment #WhereLegendsAreMade moment, is from Led Zeppelin. Described as “the rock concert of the decade”, Led Zeppelin debuted their rock-anthem, Stairway to Heaven, during the 1971 gig at the Ulster Hall.
Not only was this moment legendary due to the debut of Stairway to Heaven, but Led Zeppelin also played in the Ulster Hall during the height of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. After other popular rock acts such as Marc Bolan and T-Rex pulled out of their gigs just weeks earlier, Northern Irish rock fans were starved of their need for live music, so Led Zeppelin delivered.
And before you say we're telling fibs, we asked rock legend Robert Plant himself who confirmed our age-old tale! Robert Plant has become a firm Belfast favourite with two solo gigs under his belt with us.
Flash-forward to the 21st century and the Ulster Hall is still creating #WhereLegendsAreMade moments for rock bands and various artists alike. From Muse madness back in 2015 when they rocked out the Ulster Hall with a spontaneous, intimate gig billed as the “Psycho UK Tour” to up and coming home-grown talent like Ryan McMullan and Sam Fender playing to audiences in the Ulster Hall, to global superstars like Snow Patrol returning to their roots to a string of sold-out performances.
However, its just not rock legends made at the Ulster Hall. The Ulster Hall plays host to the Ulster Orchestra’s string of subscription concerts From classical favourites Beethoven’s symphonies to themed lunchtime concerts, the Ulster Orchestra’s calibre of musical style has established them as classical legends.
Likewise, the Ulster Hall is home to some absolute sporting legends. The Ulster Hall is where boxing legends are made as many home-grown champions lit up our boxing ring, while international boxing legends like World Heavyweight Champion, Sonny Liston, traded blows with our local stars. Today, the flame has been relit with the reintroduction of boxing to the hall, with Belfast-born Carl Frampton making his return to the Ulster Hall in 2019, describing the Ulster Hall as a “special place.”
Whether it be rock, pop, classical or sporting - whatever the occasion, the Ulster Hall is the venue of choice for these modern-day legends.
