Music Unite - an unexpected journey

Shankill Road Defenders, Beyond Skin and CDPB – “Music Unite – An Unexpected Journey”

Music Unite is a project developed by Beyond Skin and Centre for Democracy and Peace Building to engage Loyalist Flute Bands.

 "The project was developed to engage loyalist flute bands to try and see how we can move forward from the issues that have been recurring year after year regarding parades and stereotypes and to reflect the more positive side of loyalist flute bands, such as the music itself. The relationship between one of our musicians from Kurdistan and the band has been quite remarkable. He is Muslim and I think there is a shared empathy of how their identity has been portrayed negatively by the mainstream media. " Darren Ferguson, CEO of Beyond Skin

In January this year the Shankill Road Defenders (SRD) became the first band to take part in the project. Over the past 8 months the SRD band have been working with musicians from Kurdistan, India, Ghana, Ireland, Slovakia & Jamaica. A milestone showcase event took place at the Spectrum Centre earlier this year. A film of the project is currently in production.

Recently despite many voices of concern the SRD band performed with musicians from Kurdistan, Slovakia & Jamaica at Culture Night Belfast which was received extremely well by a diverse audience.

On Monday 21st September members from the SRD band with a musician from Muslim community helped to launch Community Relations & Awareness Week at Crumlin Road Gaol.

This year’s Community Relations and Cultural Awareness Week will see almost 200 events take place across Northern Ireland under the theme of ‘one place – many people’.

The Shankill Road Defenders with Beyond Skin musicians in partnership with CDPB will be facilitating a presentation tour during Community Relations and Cultural Awareness Week.

The presentation will tell of the learning experience between the SRD band and the musicians they worked with from Kurdistan, India, Ghana, Slovakia & Ireland. The session will also explore the empathy the Loyalist members of the band shared with the Kurdish musician regarding the negative stereotype towards their cultures, and how musicians that face negative views towards their culture were able to develop positive outcomes together.

Tour dates

Wednesday 30th September at 7pm - 9pm. Manor Court Hall, Mill Street, Newtownards

Thursday 1st October 6pm - 8pm. Carnegie Library, Bangor 

Ards and North Down’s Good Relations Officers would welcome your attendance at this event  and ask that you register your interest by Monday 28 September with either:

Donna Mackey 079 7084 7772 or [email protected]

Beverley Skillen 077 9549 4931 or [email protected]

Friday 2nd October 7.30pm - 9pm. Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre, Limavady.
We are inviting bands from across the Causeway Coast and Glens area to attend the Limavady event on Friday 02 October. If you plan to attend, please contact your local Good
Relations Officer by Friday 18 September 2015 and provide approximate numbers attending from your band or forum:
Patricia Cameron Limavady area
Joy Wisener Coleraine area
Jonny Donaghy Ballymoney area
Lisa Harris Ballycastle area

Tuesday 6th October 7pm - 9pm The Braid Arts Centre, 1-29 Bridge Street, Ballymena
We are inviting bands from across Mid & East Antrim Borough to attend the event on Tuesday 6th October , kindly confirm your attendance by contacting Ivy Goddard on 07525 142 205 or by emailing [email protected]

 

For more information about the project contact Beyond Skin office  07877756987  [email protected]