This weekend sees the return of one of Ireland's premier music festivals to Belfast's Titanic Slipways.
Established international musicians perform alongside up-and-coming local talent at AVA (Audio Visual Arts), which is now in its ninth year.
Performances by OR:LA, Goldie, Ben UFO, Central Cee, DJ EZ, and Peggy Gou are among the list.
Ireland's largest music conference, held in conjunction with Output Belfast, was held prior to the two-day multi-stage event.
Over 30 workshops, masterclasses, and panels on creative and business skills in the music industry took place in Belfast on Thursday, with over 800 delegates taking part.
After working for organizations like Glastonbury and Warehouse Project, Belfast native Sarah McBriar, 24, founded AVA.
With numerous satellite events and conferences around the globe, she created an event that leading club guide Resident Advisor calls "one of Europe's smartest young festivals" in just a few short years.
Ms. McBriar, a self-described supporter of artistic events, told BBC News NI that she was thrilled with this year's production because it places a strong emphasis on developing local talent.
This year, we've added six additional screens to the main stage, which is also slightly curved. ".
Ms. McBriar, who has recently introduced urban music acts to the festival's soundscape, said she wanted to broaden the musical selection with "a bit of variation.".
It's going to be really special because Central Cee and Dave are dropping a new song, she continued.
We're bringing together internationally renowned powerhouses, local legends, and up-and-coming artists. ".
AVA, billed as "an annual union for music heads in Ireland and beyond," features rap, techno, grime, and house music performed along the length of Titanic Belfast's renowned slipways.
The 2023 festival will feature a brand-new Pump House, an enclosed warehouse with a focus on "audio-visual-alchemy," which the festival's organizers hope will produce a "harder, darker space.".
Attendees can also catch local, up-and-coming talent at The Grasses stage, which was created in partnership with BBC's Radio Ulster. Performances at The Nomadic stage will be streamed globally by industry powerhouse Boiler Room TV.
Belfast DJ PAÜDE, who made his AVA debut on The Grasses, said he was "absolutely buzzing and slightly nervous" about the opportunity.
'I didn't expect to be on the line-up at all this year, it was a nice surprise to hear about a few months ago,' the DJ Padraig McKeown said.
It's nice to have the opportunity to play this year even though I usually work on the festival production. ".
The techno musician PAÜDÉ expressed his astonishment at being on a lineup with SPFDJ, Blawan, and Héctor Oaks, three of the genre's biggest names.
In addition, he said, "I also can't wait to share the stage with some incredible local talent that I've watched here every year.".
He added that the festival brought a good buzz to Belfast with AVA standing out as the best weekend of his summer.
That's because it provides a different option from Belfast's "rinse and repeat" music scene, which can be constrained by venue space.
One of this year's international headliners, South Korean deep house producer Peggy Gou, will perform on the main stage on Friday night, following the lead of Northern Ireland dance act Bicep.
Goldie, a well-known drum and bass artist who released his first single more than 30 years ago, is the headlining act for the event on Saturday. He is best known for being one of the early electro music pioneers.
The English DJ was announced to the line-up last month, replacing a slot previously held by UK rapper Slowthai - whose name has also been removed from the official line-up poster for this year's Glastonbury Festival, as well Reading and Leeds, after he was charged with rape.
Rapper categorically rejects the accusations.
Since Slowthai's replacement is subject to legal restrictions, AVA declined to comment.
