So it’s culture now?

For years, loyalist marching bands have faced the same criticism — “what culture?” or “that’s not culture.”But this year in Belfast, something shifted.

A Protestant marching band took part in the city’s St Patrick’s Day parade, a moment that, for some, signalled progress, and for others, raised serious questions.

Now, that conversation has moved even further, with the Belfast Bands Forum involvement in one of the biggest festivals of traditional music coming to Belfast for the next 2 years.

So where does that leave us?In this episode, we’re joined by: Representatives from the band who took part in the St Patrick’s Day parade, Members of the Belfast Bands Forum, and a sitting City Councillor.

This isn’t a conversation about theory, it’s about real decisions, real leadership, and a changing cultural landscape in Belfast.

We explore:Why bands were included in St Patrick’s DayThe thinking behind potential involvement in the Fleadh

.Why this is seen as progress by some and controversial by othersAnd the bigger question: who gets to define culture in Northern Ireland?

Because if this isn’t culture… what is?Join the conversationThis is a topic that challenges long-held views, so we want to hear from you.

Do you see this as progress?

Should bands be part of events like the Fleadh?

What does shared culture in Belfast look like to you?

Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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Scripture, Sash & Memory - Episode 1: Memory, Why We Refuse to ForgetBecause too often, Protestant marching culture is talked about without being properly understood.It’s reduced to headlines, assumptions or controversy, without exploring the deeper roots that shaped it.Scripture, Sash & Memory is about going beyond that.This series looks at how faith, history and community experience, particularly through the Reformation and the Glorious Revolution, have shaped a culture that still exists today.Not to defend it.Not to preach.But to understand it.Episode 1: Memory, Why We Refuse to ForgetWhy do we remember?Why does remembrance still matter in a world that keeps telling us to move on?In this opening episode, we explore the idea that memory is not about hatred, it’s about identity.This episode sets the foundation for the entire series, looking at how Protestant marching culture in Northern Ireland carries inherited patterns shaped by belief, history and community, even for those who no longer actively practise that belief.We’re not making the case that band culture is biblical.We’re asking a deeper question:What happens to a people when they forget where they’ve come from?Drawing on cultural experience and biblical ideas around remembrance, this episode explores:

• Why forgetting is never neutral• The difference between memory and grievance• How ritual carries identity across generations• Why parades can be understood as commemoration rather than triumphalism• The connection between memory, belonging and place“We don’t march because we hate.We march because we remember.”About the SeriesScripture, Sash & Memory explores the connections between:• The Protestant Reformation• The Glorious Revolution• The development of Loyal Orders• The rise of marching bands in Northern IrelandAnd how these influences continue to shape culture, identity and tradition today.Listen / Follow

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This episode has been in my head for a while.

There are certain melody band recordings that, when they came out, you just knew they mattered. You could hear the work put into it.

That’s what this episode is about.I’m picking my personal Top 5 melody recordings, and for each one I’ll mention a standout track, just as a reference point.

But this isn’t about ranking individual tunes.It’s about the recording as a whole. The overall quality. The consistency across the album. The production.

You might agree. You might think I’ve missed obvious ones.

That’s fine. This isn’t a definitive list, it’s simply the five that, for me, set a standard.

So once you’ve listened, I’d love to know, what are yours?

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