AVA (Audio Visual Arts) Festival and Conference is a first of it’s kind electronic music festival, a pioneering event breaking new ground by shining a light on emerging and established artists in Northern and Southern Ireland. After last year’s massive success, AVA announce their return on Saturday June 4th 2016.

where they’ll takeover T13 Belfast, on the Titanic Docks for a day and night session comprised of conference and festival. Round two sees heavyweight RØDHÅD joining the bill, the debut live show from Bicep, the return of Boiler Room, plus Mano Le Tough, Gerd Janson, Optimo, Phil Kieran, Sunil Sharpe, Timmy Stewart and more local legends. On top of this, AVA’s free daytime conference will expand to help educate and inspire. With the first wave of early bird tickets selling out in less than two hours, and tickets available now from just £22 with flights from London, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester at just £40, AVA 2016 should not be missed.

Bringing a mix of new names with a sprinkling of international icons, the first wave revealed gives a peek at what is in store. A series of firsts are set for AVA 2016, as Dystopian head-honcho RØDHÅD brings his Berlin heat to Belfast for his very first Northern Irish appearance, his usual blend of timeless techno will find it’s perfect home in T13’s industrial space. A special homecoming for the Bicep boys is also on the cards, as the duo prepares to debut their specially curated live show, accompanied by visuals from revered AV artist’s Guerrilla Shout. Known the world over for killer productions and seamless sets, Bicep are flying the flag high for the Belfast movement.

Fresh from hitting #15 in RA’s Top DJs of ’15, the Southern Irish Hometown Hero- Mano Le Tough will add a touch of his signature atmospheric disco-house-techno hybrid, and another global hero joins in the form of Running Back champ and DJ’s DJ Gerd Janson, with his signature blend of disco groovers and classic records. After a thumping set last year, vinyl-explorers Optimo also return for what promises to be soul-searching journey from one of the deepest record bags in music.

Right now, the Belfast underground scene is stronger than ever, with talent bursting from the seams. This is a main focus of the AVA program, with homegrown expertise coming from revered techno duo Psycatron, Shine resident Phil Kieran, Extended Play’s Jordan, plus Swoose & Cromby, fresh from recent shows at infamous Berlin institution Panorama Bar at Berghain. Across the three stages find Jika Jika, Twitch DJ’s, Sunhil Sharpe, JC Williams, OR:LA and Extended Play bossmen T-Bone and JMX doing a B2B set. More live sets on the night come from Misfit (LIVE) and Terriers