Excitement is building for thousands of music fans ahead of this year’s Belfast Vital gigs which begin later in the south of the city. Sam Fender is the headline act at the Boucher Road playing fields on Thursday night, supported by Irish singer-songwriter CMAT. It is among a number of ticketed events which are expected to attract large crowds of music and sports fans, close some roads and increase traffic. Just over a mile away from the concert venue, crowds of football supporters will be gathering at Windsor Park stadium for a Linfield match.
But Sam Fender fan Grace McKenna will have no issues getting to Boucher – she works just across the road. “I will take me 30 seconds to cross the road,” she said. “I will not be joining any early queues but I will be going straight over once I finish work.” She has seen Fender three times – would have been four had it not been for the Covid pandemic – and she is just hoping it stays dry for him. “The last time he played here, the weather was atrocious,” she said. “The heavens opened in the middle of his set.”
Grace is a serial concert goer and went to see Oasis in Croke Park earlier this month. She admitted the energy and excitement of that concert will be hard to beat, but Fender is still her favourite. Belfast Vital is a two-day event this year with the Boucher Road venue playing host to a sold-out show by Dublin band Fontaines DC on Friday night. They will be supported by Belfast rap group Kneecap, who recently cancelled their US tour due to a court case involving band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh.
The 27-year-old rapper, who uses the stage name Mo Chara, was charged in May, after allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a London gig last year. Belfast Vital’s gates open at 16:00 on Thursday and Friday, but organisers have advised ticket holders that they cannot camp overnight or start queuing outside before it opens. “If patrons do turn up early, security and the PSNI will be on patrol in advance and will turn away anyone arriving early at the venue,” they said.
The show begins at 18:15, kicking off with Dublin singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, according to provisional timings. CMAT is set to take to the Vital stage at 19:20, followed by Sam Fender at 20:45. On Friday, Dead Dads Club are scheduled to perform at 17:05, followed by Chalk at 18:00. Kneecap’s set will begin at 19:00, followed by Fontaines DC at 20:35. Belfast Vital has advised that all timings are subject to change.
The promoters added: “Signs/flags bigger than A3, flag poles, flares, glass or cans, umbrellas, alcohol, garden furniture, selfie sticks, professional cameras and audio recording equipment will not be permitted inside the event site.” Linfield are taking on Dublin side Shelbourne FC for the second leg of their UEFA Conference League play off at 19:45 BST. Fifteen minutes later, Van Morrison will take to the stage at the Waterfront Hall in the city centre for a sold-out show, three days before celebrating his 80th birthday.
And prior to that, ice hockey fans will be travelling to the nearby SSE Arena to watch the Belfast Giants play Finnish side, KalPa Kuopio. The doors open at 18:00 BST and the match begins an hour later. The city-bound lane one of Boucher Road, between its junction with Shane Retail Park and Balmoral Road, will be closed between 15:00 and 12:00. The Boucher Road will be closed between its junctions with Tates Avenue and Stockman’s Lane between 21:00 and midnight.
Stockman’s Lane will be closed between its junction with Kennedy Way roundabout and Lisburn Road between 21:00 and midnight. The M1 off-slips – northbound at Kennedy Way and southbound at Stockmans Lane – will be closed from 21:00. Police have asked that motorists seek an alternative route at these times. They are also reminding those attending the festival that it is “illegal to stop, park or walk on the hard shoulder of motorways,” and the hard shoulder is for emergency use only.
“Last year, officers issued a number of penalty tickets to motorists after attendees at similar events were dropped off from vehicles queuing on the motorway, and making their way to the event by walking down the hard shoulder,” the PSNI said. “Please be aware that fixed penalty tickets can also be issued to pedestrians.”
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