Snow Patrol frontman to perform home city gig with a difference
The event discussing his new book, The Forest Is The Path, is expected to be one of the star attractions of this summer's Open House Festival in Bangor, Co Down.
The annual festival includes almost 100 events throughout August, and is expected to attract about 50,000 people to the city, with Bangor Castle Walled Garden and the Court House on the seafront as the focal venues.
Lightbody will be talking to Irish author and broadcaster Sinead Gleeson about his book The Forest Is The Path, which was published in March, in what has been billed as a 'very different and incredibly personal hometown appearance', on August 26-27.
Among the other stars to appear at the Walled Garden are singers Lisa O'Neill and Mary Coughlan, folk duo Ye Vagabonds, and comedians Paddy Raff, Chris Kent and Neil Delamere.
From an interview with Gary Lightbody about his new book, to a conversation between Declan Lawn, Bafta-winning writer of Blue Lights, and local author Colin Bateman, to an intimate launch of a new EP by King Cedar, we're bringing around 100 events across a whole range of art forms Open House director Kieran Gilmore
Events at the Court House include The Ocelots, twin brothers from Wexford now based in Germany, and a special festival performance by Northern Ireland Opera.
Among the other author events scheduled, former Labour cabinet member Alan Johnson will talk about his new book, Harold Wilson, Chris Whitaker will be discussing his international best-selling novel All The Colours Of The Dark, and American writer Karen Hao will be talking about her new book Empire Of AI.
Open House director Kieran Gilmore said the festival puts a spotlight on Bangor's creative talent.
'This year's festival has some of our finest local artists performing in iconic venues throughout the city,' he said.
'From an interview with Gary Lightbody about his new book, to a conversation between Declan Lawn, Bafta-winning writer of Blue Lights, and local author Colin Bateman, to an intimate launch of a new EP by King Cedar, we're bringing around 100 events across a whole range of art forms.'
The Open House summer season gets under way on Friday July 4, with the annual Pickie to Pier swimming race, although the Seaside Revival Vintage Festival will not take place this year because of development work on the sea front.
Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday June 6 at www.openhousefestival.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Watch the moment overwhelmed husband wipes away tears after partner romps with another woman in Open House threesome
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN OVERWHELMED husband wiped away his tears after his partner romped with another woman in an Open House threesome. Alana and Alex are one of the pairs taking part in the programme, which sees couples explore the idea of an open relationship. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 6 An overwhelmed husband wiped away his tears after his partner romped with another woman in an Open House threesome 6 Alex felt overwhelmed by the intensity between the two women 6 The couple dreamed of having a couple swap in the future Last night on the show, the couple were in their bedroom preparing to be visited by a female resident, Georgie. The couple hoped that they could take the next step towards their ultimate dream of a couple swap by having a threesome first. Alana confessed: "I don't know how this is going to go seeing Alex with another woman." But she said although it was a huge step for her - it was for him too because he might be with another woman. Alex then opened up to the camera and said he was worried about how Alana might feel to see him with someone else. However, he hoped that they had an amazing experience. While Alana stated that it would be devastating if anything went wrong with the threesome. Once, Georgie arrived the three started to fondle each other and Alex appeared to be have joined in. But it wasn't long before Alex felt excluded by the intensity between the two women. And as the lovemaking between the two women escalated, Alex retreated to the side line. Opening up our relationship saved it, now I don't have to worry about my man cheating on me Alex explained: "I think i felt overwhelmed because it went from a zero to a hundred. "And it caught me off guard really. "I can't quite match that just now." Later, after Georgie left, his wife said that she had loved every single minute. What is an open relationship? An open relationship means having more than one sexual partner at the same time. Both parties in the relationship agree to be non-exclusive and one or both parties engages in sexual activities outside the relationship. If one or both parties engage in sexual relationships without an agreement, this would be classed as cheating. Other names for an open relationship are polyamory and consensual non-monogamy. She then asked Alex if he enjoyed it to which he replied: "I loved seeing you enjoy it." After his wife then snuggled up under the duvets to go to sleep, Alex was left musing. And as he sat up in bed tears fell from his eyes as he admitted he was unsure if an open relationship was what he wanted. 6 The couple decided to test out a threesome in a step towards their dream 6 Alex felt unsure about continuing with the idea of an open relationship
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Crass' cops slammed for playing ‘snog, marry, kill' with mugshots of local call girls and felons
Read on to find out how playing the popular game could land you in trouble COP QUIZ FURY 'Crass' cops slammed for playing 'snog, marry, kill' with mugshots of local call girls and felons Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LAYING 'snog, marry, avoid' with colleagues at work could be sexual harassment, a tribunal has ruled. The 'crass' and 'inappropriate' game may breach the Equality Act, an Employment judge said. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up The risqué quiz involves naming three people and then asking a person to pick which one you would like to kiss, which one you would get married to and which one you would steer clear of altogether. In the BBC hit comedy Gavin and Stacey, Pam, Mick, Gavin and Smithy played a version of it featuring celebrities during a car ride from Essex to Wales. However, the tribunal found it may break workplace laws. The ruling came in the case of a police officer who sued Derbyshire Police after a female colleague involved him in the game — using mugshots of sex workers. The officer candidly admitted to the tribunal that she had 'jokingly' played the game with co-workers and included PC Shafarat Mohammed in their discussion. PC Mohammed claimed that during the discussion in May or June 2022 he was only shown images of black women and was asked what he liked about one of them. He said he was 'embarrassed' and 'offended' by the questioning and felt it was inappropriate. The tribunal judge said: 'We agree that the questions were inappropriate.' However, the tribunal found there was no racial or religious element to it as the sex workers were of varying ethnicities. PC Mohammed lost his case for racial and religious discrimination and harassment. Two top cops accused of mocking a colleague's Irish accent in 'grossly offensive' leaving video
Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside story of Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham sacking with Daniel Levy rift that worsened during Europa League run
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SO, Daniel Levy did kill off his main character in the second season finale of the Ange Postecoglou show. Postecoglou himself warned that could be the case just a day after teasing fans at Spurs' Europa League-winning parade that he could stay on for a third campaign with a prestige-telly analogy. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Ange Postecoglou has left Spurs Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 6 It comes despite him ending the club's 17 year trophy drought Credit: PA 6 Postecoglou does not get the chance to deliver on his third season promise Credit: Reuters The 59-year-old had told hundreds of thousands of delirious supporters lining the streets outside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium that in 'all the best television series, season three is better than season two'. It went down a storm, with many of those who had wanted the Aussie out for the woeful league form now fully behind him after he had ended the club's 17-year trophy drought. Their hope had been that Levy would perform a similarly emotional U-turn, and NOT go through with his pre-final plan of wielding the axe whatever the outcome in Bilbao. How can he possibly ditch the guy who has delivered our first piece of silverware since the League Cup in 2008, and the first European trophy in 41 years, they asked themselves. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL NOW WE'RE BOTH POSH! David Beckham to be awarded knighthood after string of near misses In fairness, Levy did pause for thought, albeit briefly. But Postecoglou always knew the chances of the long-serving Spurs supremo doing an about-face were slim, given how their relationship had frayed in the previous months. So it will have come as no surprise to the former Celtic treble-winner - even if it did to millions of Tottenham fans across the globe. Levy turned to Postecoglou in the summer of 2023, after being snubbed by Arne Slot who had decided to stay at Feyenoord for one more season ahead of his switch to Liverpool. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Postecoglou even described himself as 'the last man standing' in the race to succeed Antonio Conte. But the Athens-born Aussie, who had never previously managed in Europe's top five major leagues before, got off to a stunning start by taking 26 points from his first 30 available. That was despite the club selling their record goal-scorer Harry Kane to Bayern Munich on the eve of the season. After an unbeaten first ten Prem games, Spurs were five points clear at the top of the table and anything seemed possible under Postecoglou. Fans took to singing a version of Robbie Williams' Angels regularly after matches, with the key lyrics altered to 'I'm loving Big Ange instead'. Levy seemed giddy with excitement too, proudly declaring at a fans' forum in September 2023 that 'we've got our Tottenham back' in reference to Postecoglou's thrilling style of play. 6 Daniel Levy has wielded his axe again Credit: GETTY 6 Fans and players appeared with him after the Europa League success Credit: Getty But then came THAT 4-1 home defeat to Chelsea in November 2023 - the bonkers game Postecoglou may be best remembered for, even more so than the Europa final win over Manchester United. Having had two men sent off and having lost James Maddison and Micky van de Ven to serious injuries, Spurs, amazingly, continued to attack and almost nicked a 2-2 draw. But then Nicolas Jackson completed what was dubbed the worst hat-trick ever in injury-time - before Spurs were treated to a standing ovation by their fans as they left the pitch. It was unprecedented - yet after that game, things were never the same. Teams started to wise up to Spurs' style of inverted full-backs and clever cut-backs - as well as exposing the gaps they left at the back. Eric Dier, who left to join Kane at Bayern Munich in January, later claimed that Postecoglou 'really doesn't do barely any tactical work, what he does is every single training drill from Monday to Friday is drawn up to represent the way he wants to play.' Van de Ven and Maddison being sidelined disrupted the team's rhythm and they ended up being pipped by Aston Villa to fourth spot and Champions League qualification. Injuries decimated Postecoglou's squad in his second season - with the Aussie's intense pressing style accused of being a contributing factor - and the league campaign began to unravel. Raw teenage talent had mainly been added in the summer - although £65million was spent on striker Dominic Solanke - and it told. Postecoglou hoped for more experience to be added in January but out of the three arrivals, only Kevin Danso fitted that description. Spurs went on to finish 17th after losing 22 league games - the most a Prem team has ever managed and NOT been relegated - including embarrassing defeats to Ipswich and Leicester who both went down. The AngeOut army grew among the fanbase, who had been irked by his misreading the previous season of their desire to lose against Manchester City to deny rivals Arsenal the title. In another clash, Postecoglou mockingly cupped his ear in the direction of Spurs away fans at Chelsea in April. 6 Postecoglou appeared to cup his ears at fans against Chelsea Credit: Getty But all was forgiven when he ended the trophy curse in Bilbao. Ironically, it was done in a defensive style akin to predecessor Jose Mourinho, with the team having just 27 per cent possession and completing just 184 passes. It was more Ange Wall than Ange Ball, which suggested Postecoglou was capable of adapting when many pundits suggested he could not. That feat was not enough though to convince the higher-ups, who had not agreed with Postecoglou's decision to prioritise the Europa League from February onwards. It is understood the club began talking to representatives of other managers from the start of the year, underlining the shaky ground Postecoglou has been on for some time. Now it has collapsed from underneath him, to his disappointment as he felt the job in N17 was not done. But at least he walks away a hero, having finally changed the narrative to one of rare trophy success during the silverware-starved Levy story of the last 25 years.
