You’d never guess by looking at me but it’s my third Hit The North birthday this issue and I thought I’d use the opportunity to trumpet some good news. So here goes:

Despite the hassles, there has never been a better time to be a musician in Belfast than now.

Of course the percentage of venues prepared to put on bands or challenging club nights are still far outnumbered by those looking to attract the trade of off-duty Belfast Giants, but those that do take the plunge are reporting an unprecedented level of interest.

Which isn’t a surprise because what’s been most striking about the last three years is that local music has never actually been more productively local.

At Christmas the Dance Show On Radio Ulster’s Across The Line devoted an entire evening to home based talent. On Easter Monday, its sister Indie show repeated the trick. Record a single of broadcasting quality and these people will play it. And who are these people? Check a listings mag – they can usually be found on their days off gigging with bands, spinning records in clubs, or booking guests and colouring-in fanzines for their own nights. Getting their hands dirty, basically. Getting involved.

If BBC Northern Ireland can sometimes appear to be beaming from another planet, take heart – there are those in their number who come in peace.

It’s much the same story with our daily newspapers. Do your homework – it isn’t difficult to tell who goes to The Menagerie…

If someone is serious about what they do (or even if they’re not, but have a gift for self-publicity) chances are they’ll be given some level of exposure in the mainstream media.

And if they don’t? Well, no need to panic because Northern Irish music has benefited enormously from its embracing of message board culture. If no one is paying heed, get on line and type in capitals. Roger Herbert, the founder of Fastfude, claimed that he originally envisaged the site as providing a forum in cyber space for the kind of conversations that go on while buying pints at a gig. At their worst (if most entertaining) some of these boards – with their loose-tongue posturing and casual braggadocio – replicate the environs of a public house all too well. But mostly, they are places that allow like(ish) minds to get together and attempt to set the world to rights. Bands form (some of whom never actually write, record or play), bands break up, villains are slain, heroes emerge and, along the way, much mundane, and utterly precious, advice gets dispensed. The Internet can take credit for a great many things: I’d like to thank it for giving Northern Irish music somewhere to go 24/7.

Also deserving of praise are the manifold labels, collectives, promoters and individual fanatics who are all contributing to a nascent (almost unspoken) sense of optimism. Think of Bright Star, just about to release the barnstorming debut album from Corrigan, and Shine, who – as Mark Kavanagh recently pointed out – appear to be in an almost uniquely healthy position in the world of Irish mega clubs. Is there a more welcome sight than that of Phil Kieran continually outflanking the supposed big boys when they dare step on his manor? Or what about those behind Belfest and Digital T, Slide, Schism, Fortune Cookie, Movin On Music, Apache, Liberty Blue, Digital Boogie, Warzone, Bloop City, Alternative Ulster? I’ve missed names out. That’s a good sign.

Whilst all of the above parties are susceptible to the inevitable growing pains and attendant mistakes, what is clear is that a culture of self-sufficiency and guerrilla inventiveness is now starting to move out of the shadows with some confidence. If you don’t believe me have a look at the fabulous programme of this year’s Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival – the scene’s aesthetic strongly informs the whole event.

It’s been a fun three years at a time when the city has been spinning some weird and unexpected patterns. Here’s to more tangled webs.