BBC Blast Northern Ireland

BBC Blast on Tour in Guildhall Square

2007-09-25T18:37:00.000+01:00

The truck returns, and yes it does transform, into a multi-media village rather than optimus prime but it still is impressive. Filled to the brim with all kinds of tools to enable your creativity. Everything from Apples (Macs) to Z1s (Video Cameras), digital recorders, a TV studio, dance mats and more..

When this is combined with the creative talent of the staff and facilitators you are in for an amazing experience.

We are offering loads of free workshops in art, film, media, performance and music, across our four days in Guildhall Square.

So if you're interested in the arts or media, want to learn new skills, fancy yourself as a radio DJ or indeed, just want to have a go, then register for one or more of our
FREE workshops.

moira ritchie youth worker seelb

2007-07-01T12:35:00.000+01:00

BBC Blast has been an exciting and challenging 5 days for the young people who have travelled each day from Portaferry to Belfast to partake in various types of workshops.

The experience, skills new friends they have met is phenomenal an opportunity more young people should have taken the advantage to try. The weather has not put us off in fact only more determined to attend. The workshops my young people are participating in are, sound of music, stage combat, it's showtime, music production, digital animation, amazing animation, tuned in, BBC blast News, busking, behind the lens and artwall.

My job as a youth worker has been very full-filling this week watching the young people develop and literally having a blast!!!! It has been a pleasure and well worth the early morning rise to transport Conor R, Julie-Ann, Conor B, John, Clare, Helen, Brian, Brid, Aaron, Joshua, Thane, Bronagh, Hannah Louisa, Gerard and Conor Young they have been a credit to seelb "TRASH" (teenagers rural ards shout health) and as most are peer educators will bring their new found skills back to the community

A very special thank you to the BBC Blast team, crew and tutors for providing this fun filled week and a special thanks to Caroline Cooper and Emma Dunseith without their support we would not have been able to attend.

Look forward to next year and any other projects or programmes happening throughout the year, thank you BBC.

BBC Blast

2007-07-01T12:28:00.002+01:00

Well i have been to blast on the Saturday and the sunday doing various workshops on the saturday i done a performance in the Big Telly Theatre and it was great fun and i enjoyed working with other people. And today were doing stage combat which is very exciting and the only thing to try and spoil the day is the rain which is clearing up now. But im still having a BLAST.

Stage Combat

2007-07-01T12:28:00.001+01:00

Beat up people, and you don't actually hurt them! No violence, but it looks like there is, so its fun, but no one gets hurt!

Sunday 1st july

2007-07-01T12:27:00.001+01:00

Today i took part in stage combat and we learned how to fight on stage without hurting the other actor. And on saturday we did theatre and we done a final show in the portable telly theatre which holds 4 people an dits the smallest portable theatre in northen ireland!!!

Stage Combat - Beat Up Your Best Friend!!!

2007-07-01T12:27:00.000+01:00

Stage combat is not what i thought it would be. There is little actual violence involved, it's more about acting and it's very safe. Our tutor was very experienced in stage combat and he made each hit look so lethal but the victim was fine, not a mark was left on them. But with violence, accidents do happen and i actually kicked my friend in the ribs.

Earlier in the week i was doing animation and in 6 hours we made a 3 minute film which for the time we had was quite an achievement. We had no time for editing so it was a little jumpy in places but still was a short comedy piece.

BBC Blast has been an amazing experience and i would definetly do it again!!

John Gilliland

Crutches and Coffee

2007-07-01T11:59:00.001+01:00

To be honest, I only arrived at Blast 2007 about an hour ago on this rainy sunday morning, hobbling around in crutches! But what I came across apart from very slippery surfaces was a lot of people making a lot of noise and appearing to be having a great time doing it. I popped into the drumming workshop tent for a moment and had some fun contributing to that noise, although it was quite sore on the hands. I've been told there were a lot more people earlier in the week but it would seem that a few preferred to stay in out of the rain today, however, the very important folks in charge seem to be keeping their spirits up with determination and even seem glad at the opportunity for an extra coffee break or two. Basically, great atmosphere despite the rain and recommended coffee from the McDonalds across the road.

Fairy Liquid, Wimbledon and time for lunch.

2007-07-01T11:56:00.000+01:00

Blast 2007. It's been longer and more interesting than 2006. For me anyway. But then last year I only popped in for about an hour. This time around I have been here 10-4, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and now Sunday. Unfortunatley I've not been participating, more observing. I've brought some young people up from Far Far Away. (Yeah, I saw Shrek the Third last night). They participated in DJ workshops, Physical theatre, Circus Skills, Drumming and Art Cart activities. I however have been drinking coffee, watching, eating buns, watching, eating buscuits, drinking coffee, distracting the staff, getting the staff coffee, but mostly complaining about the time I had to get up in the morning to get the folks from the hills here on time. That having been said, it's better than working for a living. Today the bus station (local coffee supplier) is closed, so I have time on my hands. (Does anybody know how to wash it off... I've tried soap, fairy liquid, carex, daz, domestos and several other products all to no avail). Ha ha, stick to the day job eh? Anyways, the weather... don't get me started. Rain. Actually there was some sunshine yesterday, and it was good for the gig last night. (The bit I wasn't here for). But mostly it's been raining. Rain is probably the most boring weather there is. Sunshine gives you options. You can go places, do things, or quite pleasantly just sit there. Wind - things blow past windows and it makes things swirl about in a very pretty way. Snow speaks for itself. For goodness sake snow has it's own Olympics. But rain. You can get flooded. Bad. You feel damp a lot. Bad. You can't see out of your glasses. Bad. You can't get the clothes dried. (Bad influence from my mother there for some reason). Still bad though. Oh yeah and Wimbledon is scheduled to be on TV all day every day. Good weather this is great (I love tennis). Rain... we get last year's tennis and pictures of tents over tennis courts with rain falling on them all day. Every day. I've been told this is a very long post, and reminded that lunch is soon, so I'm going to abandon this highly interesting and enlightening blog unfinished. You poor deprived reader. However, if this remains the only sheltered spot on the whole site, I may be back. Adios amigo.

BBC Blast Drums

2007-07-01T11:19:00.000+01:00

The sound of drumming filled the air on this still Sunday morning.

2007-06-30T13:43:00.000+01:00

Well today I was involved in the bbc blast project up in belfast, where I was trying to get a taste for life involved in the radio. I was introduced to many different people and found out many interesting facts about the radio both behind the scenes and also through the eyes of those who present on it also.
As a student of media studies and english I have always been interested in the media both in film, music and radio. The opportunity to be involved with the blast ni team really appealed to me and so far it has been a very enjoyable experience.
I have met new people, who, like me are also very interested in radio and with them I have been able to share my passion for music and the radio and found it interesting to find out what their views where on music and radio also.
I really am enjoying this experience and hope to perhaps pursue a career in radio in later life.
Jordan (i.e. "the doctor"):)

Tuned In...

2007-06-30T13:42:00.000+01:00

Today I was apart of the Tuned In workshop as part of the BBC Blast Festival. With the grand total of three of us, Chris, The Doctor (Doctor Who? Ha ha) and I spent the morning finding out from Denise Watson about the life of radio.

We learned a ton of things... Speak Slowly, never talk while the lyrics of a song are playing and never ever ever... put an accent on!

Despite the rubbishy weather, (a lovely Irish summer) today has been class and really helpful in my insight to radio presenting!

Thanks to all the guys who showed us the "biz"

Hannah xo

Radio Production

2007-06-30T12:26:00.000+01:00

Today I was taking part in the Radio Production course. We had an hour in order to collect quotes and interviews from different young people about their experience at BBC Blast and from some of the bands that will be preforming tonight at the BBC Blast Festival. We were even allowed to follow the organiser of BBC Blast aka "Mrs Blast" and see exactly what it is like to organise such a major event and let me tell you it is hard work. We were briefed on the different workshops taking place that day and decided what everyone was going to do so the only think left was to gear up and start talking. With our high spirits, headphones, microphones and mini disk recorders we went out in the pouring rain in search for some people to talk to.

When we got our recordings and our jeans had enough water soaked up them it was time to edit our recordings in the BBC Bus, which was a lot of fun but it was werid hearing your voice on the radio but i was able to take out all the 'emms' and 'likes'. I had to turn a 2minute recording into a 15seconds recording. Once everything is recorded it is then taxied off to BBC Ulster to go on the John Daly Show this afternoon.

It has been a great experience and i have learnt a lot. It was just a shame that the weather was so dull but it didn't dampen our spirits. I was nervous at the start trying to think of questions but gradually it became easier to talk to different young people and i eventually got used to avoiding the 'emms' and 'ahs' when trying to think of and ask questions.

Amy Kerr

Panaromic View Of the Blast Festival

2007-06-30T12:16:00.000+01:00

Tara The Floor Manager

2007-06-30T11:12:00.000+01:00

Tara gives us an insight into the rigging of the stage in prepartion for the 8 LIVE band concert tonight.

Another Day...Another Wet Morning

2007-06-30T10:40:00.000+01:00

Well, its the 4th day of Blast...and its raining. Seems we are having traditional summer weather again this year. oh Joy.

Anyhow, things are still happening at the Blast Festival no matter what the weather.

We have some Radio Workshops happening this morning.

We have Alison Finch and Etta Haliday working with some students on how to make a package for Radio.

The package they are working on today will be broadcast on the John Daly show on BBC Radio Ulster today.

Tara Stewart called in to see what we were doing. She seemed to be quite interested in the blog.

we photographed this singer

2007-06-29T15:26:00.001+01:00

This singer was at the BBC blast festival he has a very good voice and me and my friend enjoyed listening to his music.

dancers

2007-06-29T15:26:00.000+01:00

we were at BBC blast and we saw dancers they were ok like me and my friends could do better than them i think they could have done a bit better

BMX bikers

2007-06-29T14:41:00.001+01:00

The bmx bikers were tearing it up on the ramps... i think.

while I was there I saw no mistakes....

these guys are serious.

Hip-Hop

2007-06-29T14:41:00.000+01:00

Hip-hop dancers

Fun dancing and really cool dancing.

Stomp dance workshop

2007-06-29T14:23:00.000+01:00

I have come along today to be part of the BBC blast stomp dance workshop at custom house square. It has been absolutely great and i have had so much fun. Me and my friend interviewed Gillian, a stomp dance teacher. It was a good experience because we had never interviewed anyone before. It was great!!!!

Radio Talent

2007-06-29T13:02:00.000+01:00

We have had a huge number of people on the bus for the Radio Talent workshop today. At the moment we have Lynette Fay taking working with 3 young people, having a go at presenting their own radio programme.

John From BBC Blast

2007-06-29T12:10:00.000+01:00

Here's John from BBC Blast. We asked him to explain what activities are talking place at BBC Blast.

Glenn From Belfast Urban Sports

2007-06-29T11:33:00.001+01:00

We have been out and about meeting people taking part in the Blast Festival. We have an interview here with Glenn from Belfast Urban Sports

2007-06-29T11:02:00.000+01:00

Well, its another day at the Blast Festival at Custom House Square. So far the sun is shining...well...its shining sometimes. We just hope that the the rain stays away...

Anyway, bumped into Caroline. She is the Producer of the Blast Festival here this week. She's been a busy girl - running round keeping everyone happy and making sure all is going according to plan and so far she seems to have managed it - the only thing Caroline doesn't have any control over is the weather...

Rain Wot Rain

2007-06-28T15:11:00.000+01:00

On a beautiful day like this some people said it was raining. I went for a little stroll around the Blast site (oop's wrong wording) the BBC Blast Festival location (that's better) but there was no rain to be seen as you can see in this photo of Emma.

Sure it all great craic and there are three days left so if you've logged onto this website page to see whats happening, I can tell you it is all happening here at the Blast Festival, come down and see it for yourself.