Fealty’s Sessions with Stephen Macartney

Perhaps best known for his work with Farriers, Stephen Macartney shares the spotlight of Fealtys in Bangor with the best of Northern Ireland's songwriting talent.

Fealty’s Bar in Bangor, Co. Down is the stuff of legends. Hyperbolic? Us? Never? This traditional old bar, nestles on a corner on High Street in the seaside town. It’s a stone’s thrown away from the chaos and cacophony of fake tan, spilled kebabs and straight legged jeans of a Bangor Saturday night but once inside you could be in Nashville, you could be in Greenwich Village, you could be in your fifth pint of Guinness… Point is, you could be anywhere but wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

Stephen Macartney has been curating the back-room sessions in Fealty’s of late and while the front bar pumps out classic indie, rock and screens old episodes of Later with Jools, the back bar is an enclave of sublime folk, story-telling and that infamous might craic we pride ourselves upon.

We caught up with Stephen telling tales of heartbreak and park-lager alongside the formidably talented Ryan McMullan earlier this year. Ryan will be strangers to fans of Foy Vance, having had his music championed by his fellow countryman as well as having joined him on stage throughout his last tour. Macartney and the staff at Fealty’s have also played host to the likes of No Oil Paintings, Goldie Fawn, Son of the Hound and a host of other Northern Irish talents.

This Saturday from 10pm you can have the privilege of catching the former Farriers front man Stephen in the round with Stephen Scullion of Folk and Tumble favourites Malojian. Expect stunning original tunes, tall tales, alternative takes on the songs of others and the best pint of Guinness you’ll have anywhere.

Saturday 10th October 2015. From 10pm. FREE.