Shania Twain among acts set to rock Belsonic
Canadian singer-songwriter Shania Twain will aim to impress the Belfast audience on 27 June
- Published
Belfast is set to rock over the next three weeks as a host of international headline acts take to the stage at Belsonic.
The annual outdoor music festival kicks off in the city's Ormeau Park on Friday night and runs for the next three weeks.
Thousands are expected to descend on the venue, for the event which has become a staple of the festival scene.
Who is playing at Belsonic 2024?
Sting, Blondie, Shania Twain, Take That, Olly Murs, Scooter and Ben Nicky are among the big-name acts set to perform at Belsonic gigs this month.
First up on Friday night is The Farmers' Bash, featuring the cream of Irish traditional and country music.
Derek Ryan, The Whistlin' Donkeys, The Tumbling Paddies and All Folk'd Up are among the main acts on the night.
County Kildare's Picture This is the main attraction on Saturday, with the US rap rock band Limp Bizkit topping the bill on Wednesday (12 June).
The Tumbling Paddies from County Fermanagh will be performing on Friday night
What time will the concerts begin and end?
The gates at Ormeau Park will open at 18:00 BST and close for the concerts at 21:45 BST.
Belsonic says the curfew is usually about 23:00 BST but times will be posted on social media on the day of the event.
How can I get to the gigs by public transport?
Take That are among the big-name acts taking to the stage in Belfast this month
Translink will have rail specials for all of the gigs and bus specials for Take That, Shania Twain and Scooter/Ben Nicky.
Translink Metro will also operate a special shuttle bus between Belfast city centre and Ormeau Park on all concert dates as well as Nightmover services for the greater Belfast area on each gig night.
It says an event shuttle bus (Service 678) will travel to and from all Belsonic events at Ormeau Park from 17:30 to 23:48 BST.
Further information is available here, external.
Will there be road closures near Ormeau Park during Belsonic?
Sting is on the same bill as Blondie at Belsonic on 19 June
Ormeau Embankment is set to be closed from Ravenhill Road to Ormeau Road between 16:00 BST and midnight on the dates of the gigs.
It will remain closed for a period after each concert, so the public is asked to be aware of this if arranging a safe collection location.
Details about accessibility parking and facilities during Belsonic are available here, external.
Fred Durst of Florida band Limp Bizkit, who top the bill on 12 June
What is police advice about the Belsonic concerts?
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Ch Insp Claire Hamilton says it wants "to see everyone attending these shows to enjoy themselves while also obeying the law, acting responsibly and staying safe".
The PSNI has asked people to ensure their "mobile phone is fully charged, or you have a portable charger - especially if you need to contact friends or those collecting you at the end of the night".
Ch Insp Hamilton said that for the second year running, "all bar and security staff at the Belsonic events are trained in the Ask for Angela safeguarding initiative".
"Everybody should be able to attend events this summer and feel safe," she added.
"Unfortunately we know that that is not always the case due to a small minority of those who target vulnerable people with predatory behaviours.
"Now, if someone does feel unsafe they can ask for 'Angela' and the security and bar staff around them will be equipped with the training to intervene.
"They can then help reunite them with a person they trust, make sure they get into a taxi safely, call security to remove who is causing distress, or contact police."