Féile an Phobail has outgrown - though not shed - its republican roots. The 16th event, starting today, promises an eclectic lineup, writes Paul McNamee
When Tim Westwood stands up on August 8th and shouts "westside", it will be a statement of fact rather than a white boy longing for south-central LA. The veteran hip-hop überlord will be appearing at the annual Féile an Phobail West Belfast, now in its 16th year - one of the more intriguing acts on a curious, picaresque programme.
It might have started in 1988 as a republican pride parade, a backlash against the shooting of three IRA members in Gibraltar, but in 2004 Féile has grown into the biggest community-led festival in Europe.
Organisers say 230,000 people, amongst them many, many tourists, visited over its 10-day run last year.That's a stunning amount, equal to roughly half the population of Belfast. Shelve preconceived ideas of the Féile being a talking shop for earnest young men fiercely debating the wrongs of imperial rule, followed by some grand hooleys and a few nights of rebel songs. This is a show that has grown well beyond its nationalist and republican roots.
"The Féile reflects the culture of this community," says Carol Jackson, the busy but proud director. "It's not exclusive. We celebrate cultural diversity. We try to bring people from different communities together to showcase west Belfast, economically regenerate it and bring tourists in."
There is a large degree of multi-ethnic inclusivity at the festival, particularly timely considering the growing problem of racism in other parts of the city. "Society is always changing and communities are always changing," says Jackson. "We have big ethnic minorities growing in west Belfast and you try and reflect that as well. There are Chinese, Filipinos and others. We have an international food fair, international music day, there are exhibitions, anti-racism seminars. We are trying to reflect all the community in west Belfast."
With growing demand for the festival, the parameters of west Belfast are starting to look very narrow. There are 100 shows in the main programme this year and many more community-based events. The long-term aim is expansion, and that means taking it beyond the west.
"We have outgrown the 10 days and we are bursting at the seams," says Jackson. "At this stage we only have 10 staff and we can't do anymore - we're stretched to capacity. So we do need to branch out, to go citywide. This year we're sticking our toe in the water with one event, Loudon Wainwright III, at the Lyric Theatre.
"We are trying to attract people to west Belfast still, but we want to reach out to everybody and have other people involved and show everybody just how good the festival is."
Of course, some of the old-style festival remains; it might be forward-looking, but Féile isn't about to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Veteran republican Danny Morrison will launch his new book at the Felon's Club during the August event. There's also the Bobby Sands Finals, an under-21 football competition, and a plastic bullet vigil remembering all those killed or injured by baton rounds. But you can also find DUP maverick Jeffrey Donaldson sharing a debating platform with Eamon Dunphy. You can catch comedian Rich Hall and you can watch the Irish Chamber Orchestra or south London r 'n' b chart heroes Big Brovaz.
Jackson knows the Féile still lacks the sheen or acceptance of the Belfast Festival at Queens. "Some people have a certain perception of the festival and we're trying to overcome it and say 'have you looked at the programme?'" But she says the festival can sit proudly amongst the big boys.
"I think it compares favourably to many other European events. The music compares to the Cambridge Festival, some of the stuff that happens at Edinburgh happens in west Belfast. And it lifts the whole community - there's something for everybody here.
"It's big and diverse and will grow again in the future."
• Féile an Phobail West Belfast opens today and runs until August 8th.
www.feilebelfast.com
