ALTER YOUR NATIVE LAND Punk in the North: 1976-2026 A photo exhibition by Stuart Bailie

Punk music in Northern Ireland takes centre stage this week as part of Sound of Belfast, with acclaimed music journalist, author and Oh Yeah Music Centre co-founder Stuart Bailie launching a major new photography exhibition celebrating five decades of punk culture across the region.

ALTER YOUR NATIVE LAND: Punk in the North 1976–2026 opens at the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast on Thursday 5th November 2026, bringing together 50 years of rebellious spirit, influential artists and unforgettable moments in Northern Ireland's music history.

Featuring photographs shot on film and hand-printed in Stuart Bailie's own darkroom, the exhibition captures the alternative faces and voices that have helped make punk such a vital cultural force in the North.

From early pioneers including RUDI, The Undertones, Stiff Little Fingers and The Outcasts, through to later torchbearers Therapy? and Ash, the exhibition also celebrates a new generation of punk and alternative talent, including Chalk, Problem Patterns, Tramp, Mucker and Éabha.

Described as a rebellious family album, the collection offers a unique visual journey through the people, places and attitudes that have shaped Northern Ireland's punk scene since 1976.

And the celebrations don't stop at the exhibition.

To mark the launch, a special evening of live local music will take place from 8pm to 11pm, featuring performances from Brian Young, Tramp and Éabha, alongside DJ sets from legendary music figure Terri Hooley and Stuart Bailie himself, with surprise guests also promised.

The evening will also see the release of a special exhibition fanzine, Alter Your Native Land, celebrating the stories and spirit behind the project.

For Bailie, a music journalist, author and co-founder of Oh Yeah Music Centre, this is his fourth solo photography exhibition and a fitting tribute to the artists and communities who have kept punk alive and evolving across Northern Ireland for half a century.

With Sound of Belfast kicking off this week, ALTER YOUR NATIVE LAND promises to be a celebration of musical heritage, independence and the continuing power of punk.

EVENT DETAILS

📍 Oh Yeah Music Centre, Belfast
📅 Thursday 5th November 2026
🕗 Live show: 8pm–11pm

🎟️ Tickets for the live launch event are available now:

https://soundofbelfast.com/events/051126-6