Armagh and the surrounding area has been benchmarked as the Food Heartland of Northern Ireland due to the significance of food and drink production and high quality places to eat and drink in the area. Take this opportunity to taste some of our delicious produce at one of the bespoke food events hosted especially during the festival.
Blues Food & Drink Walking Tour
Sat 11 Aug | 3.00pm-5.30pm| £30
New to the annual “7 Hills Blues Fest” is a Food & Drink Tour which will begin at the Marketplace Theatre Armagh @ 3pm with a Blue Lagoon Cocktail, Hilden Beer or a McIvor’s Cider from the heart of the Orchard County. After your refreshments you will be treated to a 90-minute guided walk through the atmospheric streets of Armagh, the narrative will be a mixture of historical and current facts on this city peppered with humorous stories and information on notable buildings. After walking up an appetite the tour will culminate with a “Simply Blues” platter served in the Charlemont Arms Hotel which includes selection of – hot & spicy wings, loaded potato skins, BBQ ribs, slow cooked pork shoulder, Ragin Cajun chicken, hand cut fries and mini burgers all served with tastings of local craft Cider. This is an opportunity not to be missed so book yourself on this fun filled tour which will guarantee your seat at the end of the tour in Turner’s Bar for the live music.
Tickets available online here
Allen’s of Armagh | Thurs 9th – Sat 11th Aug | 9.00am-5.30pm
Special 7 Hills Blues Festival themed menu with dishes inspired by the Deep South.
Armagh City Hotel | Thurs 9th – Sun 12th Aug
Enjoy our BBQ & Blues themed menu during the festival in The Callan Lounge; complimented by the best craft beers, locally produced ciders, American bourbon and local whiskeys. And come along and enjoy our local craft cider and cocktail tasting on Sunday 12th August from 3-5pm in the Callan Lounge.
Charlemont Arms Hotel | Thurs 9th – Sun 12th Aug
Charlemont Arms Hotel will be serving a selection of mouth-watering ‘Simply Blues” platters which includes selection of – hot & spicy wings, loaded potato skins, BBQ ribs, slow cooked pork shoulder, Ragin Cajun chicken, hand cut fries and mini burgers all served with tastings of local craft Cider.
Market Place Theatre Bar | Thurs 9th – Sat 11th Aug
The Market Place Theatre Bar will be offering 2 bottles of the locally produced McIvors Cider for £6 and a Signature Blue Lagoon Cocktail for £5.00 throughout the duration of the 7 Hills Blues Festival. They will also be offering a range of Premium Gin & Tonic Mixers.
SHAMBLES YARD
Street Food Market
Shambles Yard | Fri 10 Aug | 11.30am-2.30pm
Straight from the producer, shoppers can purchase some of Armagh’s finest grown ingredients in the historic Shambles Yard. With street food, ice cream and great blues music provided by the students from MD Rafferty Music School, where else would you want to be?
BBQ N’ Blues
The Shambles Yard | Sun 12 Aug | 1.00pm – 5.00pm
This family fun, BBQ & local cider event will be filled with good food, great craic and blistering summer blues. Music by Armagh’s own Courtnay & the Dukes and Dublin’s The Watery Hill Boys. For you budding blues stars (aged 7+years), there’ll be an opportunity to pick up an instrument and play with the talented musicians from MD Rafferty Music School at the blues jam session.
FRINGE EVENTS
BLUES MOVIE
Abbey Lane Theatre | Fri 10 Aug | 8pm FREE
The Amma Centre will showcase a short bespoke animation, created by the young people attending their Summer Workshop Programme. The animation will be based around a piece of music and will be the perfect introduction to the Blues Brothers movie screening which will be shown at 8pm at Abbey Lane Theatre, Armagh.
MUSIC WORKSHOPS
The Shambles Yard | Sun 12 Aug | 1.30pm; 2.30pm; 3.30pm
Whilst parents sit back and enjoy good food, great craic and blistering summer blues their budding young blues stars (aged 7+ years), will be given an opportunity to pick up an instrument and play with the talented musicians and school students from MD Rafferty Music School at the blues jam session. Tutors and music school students will interact with the audience, demonstrating and encouraging as many novices to participate either through vocals, movements, percussion or to learn blues progression on guitars and ukuleles.
