10 Years Of AVA

Born in a Belfast warehouse ten years ago, as a way to celebrate and amplify electronic music & visual arts, AVA (Audio Visual Arts) has become a centre point for the culture globally.

Since its first humble edition, AVA is now a household name for any electronic music lovers, known for their continuous evolution, diverse programming, and unmatchable energy & atmosphere that embodies the Belfast “craic”. To mark a big 10 years young, AVA will deliver an unparalleled edition in their iconic Titanic Slipways home, featuring an all-star bill that includes BICEP, FLOWDAN, NIA ARCHIVES, HELENA HAUFF, KERRI CHANDLER, HORSEGIIRL, SAMMY VIRJI, BARRY CAN’T SWIM, MCR-T, NICK LEÓN, BITTER BABE, + MORE. For this edition, AVA will celebrate their strong past, an exciting present and a bright future. 

Tickets for AVA’s mighty 10th birthday are on sale Friday at 10AM, sign up for our pre-sale to get first-access 

At 10AM on Thursday. Secure yours now for the opportunity to be a part of Belfast history in the making.
 Current weekend tickets prices start from £106, Deposit & Group Tickets are also available all from avafestival.com

AVA will bring together a selection of friends and family, alongside many international debuts for this milestone 10th year. World-class duo BICEP will deliver their experimental CHROMA A/V set, a visionary performance that is part DJ set, part live show, accompanied by lights and visuals designed by David Rudnick that will stun the crowd. BICEP have been a part of AVA since day dot, so this will prove to be a very special show from them. Also on board is junglist producer x vocalist Nia Archives, who has been heading up the jungle revival in past years with her stellar productions and live performances. 

House king, techno pioneer and all-round innovator Kerri Chandler is set to touch down, bringing a blend of classic grooves and bangers to alight the spirits of the AVA crowd. Barry Can’t Swim makes his AVA debut, bringing warm, uplifting and bold house sounds to beautiful Belfast on the back of his mercurial trajectory and sold out tour. Packing in harder sonics, Helena Hauff and KI/KI will both return to AVA for the third time with industrial techno that sits perfectly in the shipyard setting. Making their AVA debut, masked artist and viral sensation HORSEGIIRL will deliver a set flying from hard-dance to heavy techno, whilst UKG, bassline and grime fans can look forward to highly anticipated debuts from Sammy Virji, Flowdan and Neffa T.

Making their debut versus session Bogota’s Bitter Babe and London-based Melbournite Surusinghe will be heating things up at the titanic slipways – these two powerhouses are among the biggest breakthrough artists of 2023. For fans of faster sounds, MCR-T will bring a multidimensional set led by trap and ghetto house, whilst DJ Gigola and TraTraTrax affiliate Nick Léon will bring trance, breaks and Latin-infused electronica to Belfast. This is just the first announcement, more names will be revealed in the coming months. Boiler Room will make a return to AVA Festival, with more details of the line up and wider event to follow in the coming months.

AVA have always stayed true to their initial mission, providing a platform for Irish artists to showcase their talent to the world and share stages with internationally revered artists. At the heart of their programme for 2024, will be Irish talent ranging from headliners BICEP to celebrated MC EMBY, breaks master Kessler, and hometown heroes Cromby, Holly Lester, Jordan Nocturne, Reger, Inside Moves and so many more. Many of these names have grown with AVA across the past 10 years, being part of the festival’s ongoing dedication to nurturing talent both on stage and behind the scenes.

‘AVA represents a lot more than electronic music, it represents a community, a movement that started in Belfast that grew globally, of open minded, creatively curious and adventurous souls uniting in a space where freedom of expression is encouraged. I’m proud of what it has become, and what it symbolises… this year will be special. See you at the docks!’ – Sarah McBriar, Founder, AVA Festival

‘Super excited to be back in Ireland for AVA! We can’t wait to bring our new Chroma show to Belfast!’

Feel my Bicep

Tickets for AVA’s mighty 10th birthday are on sale Friday 26th Jan at 10AM, sign up for our pre-sale to get first-access at 10AM on Thursday, securing your place in Belfast history. Current weekend tickets start from £106 and Deposit & Group Tickets are also available all from avafestival.com

A Decade Of Audio Visual Arts. A Place Of Unity, A Home For Music & Cutting Edge Sound. A Hotbed For Homegrown Talent. An Iconic Dockside Destination. AVA Returns To Titanic Slipways – 31.5 – 1.6.2024.