AVA 2025: 5 Key Performances
Few festivals nail the vibe, the line-up and the location quite like . Year on year, they showcase the best of the UK’s underground talent, rooted in platforming Northern Irish artists. AVA 2025 was no exception.
Known worldwide as a celebration of electronic music and visual arts, AVA has become renowned for its immersive experiences, community focus, and innovative programming.
Ever since its inception in 2015, the line-up has always showcased a dynamic blend of established and up-and-coming artists, with this year's line-up boasting headliners like Underworld and Overmono, alongside rising stars such as Kessler, DJ Fuckoff and Hannah.
Located at the historic Titanic Slipways, AVA hosts multiple stages, art installations, panel discussions, industry talks, workshops and one helluva secret (unofficial) after-party.
Let’s take a look at the stand-out performances from this year’s edition, and the artists behind the decks.
Chalk
Chalk is a post-punk techno trio that emerged from the streets of Belfast. They cemented their reputation as one of the world’s most energising live acts at this year’s AVA, with a raucous and electrifying set that blew everyone’s minds. It’s no surprise this 3 piece band won Best Live Act at the NI Music Prize in 2023. If you missed them, don’t worry – you can catch them on tour in Europe with Fontaines D.C. this summer, and a highly anticipated set at Glastonbury too.
DJ Python
No one blends genres and bends rhythms quite like DJ Python. His AVA set was hailed as one of the highlights of the festival, full of bass-heavy reggaeton, ambient textures and broken house beats. DJ Python is the alias of Brian Piñeyro, a New York-based producer renowned for his innovative approach to contemporary electronic music. He's collaborated with artists like Ela Minus on the 2022 EP Corazón and Ana Roxanne on Natural Wonder Beauty Concept, where he blends downtempo jazz with classical influences. He treated the AVA crowd to all this and more, making his set one of the most immersive, creative and surprising of the festival.
Kessler & EMBY
Rotterdam-based, Belfast-born DJ and producer Kessler teamed up with London-born, Belfast-based rapper EMBY on Saturday night on the RA stage for a killer set that will go down in AVA history. Soundtracked by Kessler’s face-melting bass selections, EMBY rapped about identity, self-expression, cultural displacement, and the realities of growing up between different worlds.
EMBY’s music touches on themes of race, belonging, mental health, and the struggles of youth in contemporary Ireland and the UK. He blends elements of grime, R&B and neo-soul into his performances, while Kessler’s best known for his distinctive production style that fuses electro, breaks, jungle, garage, and techno. Together, these two are dynamite.
Hannah
Originally from Belfast and now living in London, Hannah has grown into an underground icon, known for blowing the roof off various warehouse parties and winning the nickname Bass Queen. Her performance at AVA in 2024 went down in history as one of the most explosive of the festival, so her 2025 set was highly anticipated to say the least. She truly did not disappoint, delivering two hours of unforgettable low-end energy at The Dock, AVA’s brand-new stage in collaboration with RA. To get an idea for the vibe, check out her 2024 AVA set here.
Swoose
One of the most beautiful things about AVA is seeing all the locals who left return to their hometown. Swoose is one of them – he’s lived in London for several years but returned to Belfast to deliver an absolute belter of a set for his friends, family and fans. Swoose is best known for his emotive and genre-blending approach to production, drawing inspiration from the golden era of machine-driven house and techno, as well as contemporary dance music. His AVA set fused sun-kissed house, 90s IDM, and warm soul to create one of the stand out moments of the festival.
Beyond the Music
As well as ground-breaking music, AVA 2025 hosted a ton of extracurricular activities, like the not-so-secret warehouse afterparty, and the AVA Talks Programme, where key voices from Belfast’s cultural and nightlife sectors came together to discuss the city's late-night economy. Highlights included a candid fireside chat with Sally C and a lively Nightlife Industry Forum featuring over 20 industry leaders. A strong consensus emerged: Belfast urgently needs a sustainable weekend late-night transport system.
Night Czar Michael Stewart stressed safe travel should be tied to license renewals, while AVA Founder Sarah McBriar emphasized that a thriving night-time scene depends on reliable transport.
The programme concluded with an emotional evening at AVA x Seanchoíche’s My Love for Belfast — an intimate night of storytelling that reflected the city’s essence through the voices of those who shape it.
