Max HeyraudBelfast is about to get its first dedicated listening bar. Music Room brings hi-fi sound, vinyl culture and hospitality together under one roof.
Music Room, a new project from DJ and creative OJ Wilson alongside Janine Kane, is opening soon and is built around a simple idea: put music at the centre of the experience. The space will feature a custom sound system, vinyl culture, design-led interiors and a curated drinks programme, drawing inspiration from listening bars and hi-fi venues in cities such as Paris, Dublin and Ibiza.
“There wasn’t one single venue that inspired the concept,” Wilson says. “It was more the feeling I experienced travelling through those cities.”
“People want places with personality,” he adds. “Spaces where the atmosphere, music and overall experience feel considered and immersive.”
Central to the project is a custom sound system designed by West Cork builder Toby Hatchett. Featuring custom speakers, handmade drivers and twin subwoofers, the setup has been designed to prioritise clarity, warmth and immersion.
Music Room is also partnering with East Belfast record shop Sound Advice on a dedicated vinyl wall, allowing visitors to browse and purchase records on site. Elsewhere, cocktail consultant Gregory Buda has helped shape the drinks offering, while Belfast studio Drinksology has led the interior design.
The aim, Wilson says, is to create “a space where new talent can be discovered alongside respected artists, and where music, design and hospitality work together.”
