The Gig Rig – the beating heart of the Fleadh
Free. No ticket or booking required.
The Fleadh’s main outdoor stage will be located outside Belfast City Hall. With an impressive mix of big-name acts and emerging talent, the Gig Rig offers free live performances throughout the day and into the evenings every day. Discover a space where tradition meets innovation, communities come together, and music fills the city from morning to night.
The Fleadh’s Gig Rig daytime programme brings the energy and atmosphere of the fleadh right into the heart of Belfast city centre. Set against the iconic backdrop of Belfast City Hall, this free outdoor concert series showcases an exciting mix of national and international performers, featuring traditional music, song, dance, céilí bands and large ensembles.
Throughout the week, audiences can enjoy performances from Comhaltas branches and visiting artists from across Ireland and around the world, alongside youth orchestras, community collaborations and outstanding local talent. With a packed programme running daily, the Gig Rig offers a welcoming and accessible way for everyone to experience the richness, creativity and infectious spirit of Ireland’s living traditional arts.
Sunday 2 August 12pm – 11pm
Opening Ceremony
From 12pm the opening ceremony will strike a powerful first chord thanks to a special collaborative showcase that brings together Ards CCÉ, Belfast Bands Forum and South Asian Dance Academy. The ‘Shared Traditions’ performance will present a dazzling blend of music, dance and cultures, alongside a 100‑strong local school choir and champion Irish dancers led by Riverdance’s Lauren Smyth.
From 4pm the energy will surge further into the evening with electrifying performances from Goitse, Blackwater Céilí Band, Shaer, Moss and Warnock Trio and legendary accordion virtuoso Sharon Shannon and her Big Band.
Monday 3rd August 12pm – 11pm
From 12pm on Monday 3rd August, the Gig Rig will present a host of Comhaltas Branches including Dunloy CCÉ, Dublin County and Athy CCÉ as well as Innova Irish Dance Company and Áirdan.
From 6pm taking to the stage to kick off the evening is Aisling School of Irish Dance, Ronan McEvoy, Flute Church Band Portadown, Filidh, Ballynacargy CCE and headliner Auris.
Auris’ sound starts with a rich foundation of jigs and reels from a low whistle. Add a handful of funky basslines and a pinch of groovy beats. Heat on high temperature and get ready to dance. As it simmers, add three spoonfuls of jazzy keyboard lines and stir. Finish with a generous sprinkle of saxophone improvisation and electric guitar.
For the full schedule details for Monday 3rd August visit here.
Tuesday 4th Augusts 12pm – 11pm
From 12pm on Tuesday 4th August, the Gig Rig will present a host of musical ensembles including St Louis Irish Arts, Cuimsiú and McClean Family.
From 6pm taking to the stage is Bangor Ukes, Nigel Black, Tunes Translated, Oriel Traditional Orchestra, The Cedar Dobson Band, Ruciteme Club and headliners from 10pm is Macalla: Irish-Iraqi Musical Ensemble.
Macalla is a critically acclaimed, cross-cultural musical collaboration that features artists from the North West Folk Collective in Derry/Londonderry and the Mshakht Collective from Iraq. Directed by bouzouki player Martin Coyle, this 8-piece ensemble masterfully blends traditional Irish instruments like the bouzouki and uilleann pipes with Middle Eastern instruments like the qanun, oud, and local percussion.
For the full schedule details for Tuesday 4th August visit here.
Wednesday 5 August from 11am – 11pm
The Gig Rig will open from 11am on Wednesday 5th with the Four Corners Flute Orchestra followed by Scotstown CCÉ, throughout the day you can enjoy a range of performances including Nós Nua Folk Orchestra, Derry and Inishowen Harp ensemble as well as international Comhaltas branch Singapore CCÉ.
The evening performances will include highlights such as Drinagh Mummers and Pedal & Lever Society. Headliners begin at 8.45pm with two boundary‑pushing quartets, Tempest Ceol and NxNW.
Both offer a sound that is bold, fluid and fiercely contemporary, reshaping familiar tunes into something that feels both rooted and thrillingly new. Expect energetic arrangements and musicians who are masters of their craft.
For the full schedule details for Wednesday 5th August visit here.
Thursday 6 August from 11am – late
From 11am on Thursday expect performances from multiple Comhaltas branches including Newcastle CCÉ, Loup CCÉ and Cavan Town CCÉ. As well as Orchestral groups such as Glór na nÓg Cill Dara - Kildare Youth Folk Orchestra and Clonduff Trad Orchestra.
From 7.30pm headliners take to the stage including Trú, acclaimed uilleann piper Conor Mallon from Keady, who will captivate crowds with his extraordinary skill alongside his band members.
Finishing the evening is Donegal’s all-female supergroup, Sí Fiddlers will create the power of 13 fiddles moving as one, with talent stretching from Glencolumcille to Inishowen and everywhere in between.
For the full schedule details for Thursday 6th August visit here.
Friday 7 August from 11am – late
Kicking off the Gig Rig on Friday at 11am are a number of Comhaltas Branches including Loughbeg CCÉ and Comhaltas UAE. Followed by local group Glengormley School of Traditional Music and Bangor Ukes.
The afternoon highlight is an Open Air Céilí at 3pm, were everyone is invited along to dance and enjoy the traditional Ceílí band.
The evening will start at 7pm with acclaimed Belfast composer Neil Martin’s special multicultural music experience, ‘Connections’. Martin will lead this collaboration with ArtsEkta and a cast of 12 musicians and dancers, blending Irish traditional music with sounds from Africa, South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and beyond.
As the weekend settles over the city, Scottish ensemble TRIP will ignite the stage with their dynamic, cross‑genre sound, born in Glasgow’s vibrant trad scene and sharpened by fearless innovation. They’ll be joined by Irish heavyweights Lúnasa, who have formed the backbone of some of the greatest Irish groups of the decade. Long hailed as the ‘Irish music dream team’, their influence has shaped the very landscape of trad.
For the full schedule details for Friday 7th August visit here.
Saturday 8 August from 11am – late
Kicking off Saturday at the Gig Rig is County Cork Pipes and Drums of NYC, followed by Molly Donnery and a number of Comhaltas branches.
Unity Irish Dance at 2.20pm will get everyone ready for the Open Air Céilí at 3pm for more dancing and music from a traditional céilí band.
Saturday night fever start at 6pm with Rynne, Breen Murray Trio followed by rising group Peter Street, an exciting new force in the world of traditional Irish music, blending youthful energy with exceptional talent whether it's lively reels or soulful ballads. A special live broadcast from Céilí House will begin at 9pm live onstage with the tempo surges further with Mec Lir as the quartet bring foot stomping beats to some classic trad tunes to finish the evening.
For the full schedule details for Saturday 8th August visit here.
Sunday 9 August - from 11am to 12pm
The final day of the Fleadh begins on the Gig Rig from 11am, join us for impressive performances all day from artists such as Adgy & Éiru, Seoid and Celtic Roots. Enjoy an austrialian double bill at 1.30 from Comhaltas Sydney and trio Amaidí, followed by the Shankill Road Defenders Flute Band.
Closing ceremony
The closing ceremony will begin at 6pm with an electric performance from Harpist, Niamh Noade followed by a special pop-up performance from Bangor born singer‑songwriter Foy Vance.
The evening will continue with performances from The Bow Brother, Knockmore Céilí Band, Campbell College Bugles Pipes and Drums and John, Zoe, Louise & Michelle Mulcahy, Edwina Guckian.
The finale will finish with a special performance from the newly crowned Senior Céilí Band Competition winners. Witness the passion, power, and unrivalled talent of the very best in traditional Irish music and dance.
For the full schedule details for Sunday 9th August visit here.