Belfast, the city of rock and the capital of Northern Ireland, has been declared a UNESCO Music City.

Belfast is the third city in the United Kingdom to receive this honor, after Liverpool and Glasgow. Only 59 cities in the world are part of the UNESCO Pride of Music Cities.

Belfast is also the first city on the island of Ireland to receive the City of Music status, a recognition of the city’s rich musical heritage and its outstanding contribution to music.

Belfast has created many big names in music

Various local musicians were involved in the success of the UNESCO nomination, including Gary Lightbody, the lead singer and guitarist on the Snow Patrol, and Emmy-nominated lyricist Hannah Peel.

As a title holder and part of the UNESCO City of Music Program and the extensive Creative Cities Network, the city of Belfast will host a number of major concerts over the next few years.

The program aims to create an infrastructure to further support music creators, and to include music in public spaces so that more people, city dwellers and tourists can experience it on a daily basis.

Belfast and music, a long history!

Music has long been recognized as the hallmark of Belfast’s cultural profile. The sister city of Nashville, the world country music capital of the world, Belfast has nurtured a wide variety of musicians and performers, from harpists and counter-cultural figures to rock legends, ravers and great traditional musicians.

The musical roots of the city are deeply rooted and more and more talents are emerging.

The capital of Northern Ireland is packed with venues suitable for small intimate concerts and large shows by international celebrities. The city regularly hosts major music festivals, and even won the MTV European Music Awards in 2011.

One must-see on a musical trip to Belfast is the O Yeh Music Center, a three-story whiskey warehouse turned into a creative venue for musicians.

It showcases the depth and breadth of creative talent from Belfast and Northern Ireland, including a modern scene featuring world-class bands such as top DJs, Snow Patrol, Thin Lizzie, The Undertones, and legendary Sir Van Morrison. Artists such as Foy Vance, Ryan McMullen and Two Door Cinema Club.

Another great way to experience the music city of Belfast is to join the Belfast Traditional Music Path, which starts at The Dirty Onion Pub in the busy Cathedral Quarter.

Or, head to the Eastside Visitor Center, not far from Van Morrison’s childhood home, or pick up a self – guided Van Morrison Trial, a collection of information about his life and relationships with the city.