Belfast Vital concertgoers face rail disruption

Belfast Vital takes place this weekend with performances from Liam Gallagher and Noah Kahan

As Belfast prepares for thousands of concertgoers descending on Boucher Road Playing Fields from this weekend, the PSNI have advised travellers to plan ahead.

Liam Gallagher and Noah Kahan are taking to the stage on Friday and Saturday respectively as part of Belfast Vital, while the Emerge Festival will be held the following week on 24 and 25 August.

But the railway line remains closed between Belfast and Lisburn and Translink has said there will be limited capacity on the bus substitution service, urging concert-goers to book in advance.

David Curry of Translink said the company was working closely with the concert organisers to help get the message out to everyone who had concert tickets.

Who is playing at Belfast Vital and Emerge Festival?

Former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher is the headline act for Belfast Vital on Friday, supported by special guests Kasabian and Esmerelda Road.

The gig is part of Gallagher's Definitely Maybe 30 Years arena tour, which celebrates the anniversary of the release of the band's influential debut album from 1994.

The tour sees Gallagher perform the Definitely Maybe album in full for the first time, along with some select b-sides from the era.

Fans can expect to hear early Oasis classics including Rock 'n' Roll Star, Live Forever, Supersonic and Cigarettes and Alcohol, as well as album tracks that have been rarely performed since the mid-90s.

It is also 30 years since the iconic Oasis gig in the Limelight in Belfast. That same night their aforementioned album went to Number One in the UK Charts.

Noah Kahan headlines Belfast Vital on 17 August

The following night, American singer Noah Kahan will be performing on the same stage, with support from singer-songwriter Maisie Peters.

Kahan's pain-tinged folk track Stick Season, which was originally released back in 2022, became the most popular song of the first three months of this year after spending seven weeks at the top of the charts.

What do I need to know ahead of Belfast Vital?

British rock band Kasabian will support Liam Gallagher at Belfast Vital

With an expected crowd of 80,000 people over the two Belfast Vital nights, event organiser MCD has sent out key information:

• Gates will open at 16:00 BST on both days, with each show scheduled to begin at 17:30 - subject to change

• There is strictly no early queuing permitted and this will be enforced by security and police officers

• No camping or collapsible chairs are permitted at the venue

• There are strict security checks in place and patrons are advised not to bring large bags as they may be refused entry

• Glass or cans, umbrellas, alcohol, garden furniture, selfie sticks, flares, professional cameras and audio recording equipment will not be permitted

• There are no re-admissions to the concerts

Up to two under-16s can be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 25, who accompany, and take responsibility for them at all times. MCD said strict age monitoring would be in place.

Police advice to concertgoers

The PSNI have advised that between 15:00 BST and midnight there will be traffic disruption.

From about 15:00 BST, there will be a lane closure in place between Shane Retail Park junction and Boucher Crescent.

Lislea Drive, from the junction with Lisburn Road, will be closed from 17:00.

Police have also said there will be a number of road closures between 21:00 and 00:00 including:

• Boucher Road will be fully closed to traffic between Tates Avenue and the junction with Stockmans Lane

• Stockmans Lane will be fully closed between Kennedy Way and Lisburn Road

• Slip roads onto the M1 at Kennedy Way (Northbound) and Stockmans Lane (Southbound)

• Kennedy Way city-bound from the Andersonstown Road junction towards the M1

Diversions will be in place and parking for coaches will be at Balmoral Road and Balmoral Link.

There will be no pick up and drop off points within the road closure area.

Superintendent Gavin Kirkpatrick advised: "Please act responsibly, stay with your friends and look after one another - and if you need help during the evening speak with event staff or the police."

How do I get to Boucher Road Playing Fields?

Translink said a bus substitution service from Lisburn to Belfast would be in operation for anyone travelling from stations along the Portadown line.

Trains will run to Lisburn where passengers can transfer to the bus substitution service to Belfast and then connect with scheduled bus services operating along the Lisburn Road to Kings Hall/Balmoral.

Anyone travelling from other lines should go to Belfast Lanyon Place station and make their way to the city centre to connect with bus services.

Metro 9B services will be enhanced, offering additional capacity for both Belfast Vital and Emerge Festivals.

When returning from the events by rail, passengers must present their pre-paid ticket to Translink event staff in order to board the bus transfer service to their respective rail stations due to limited availability.

Translink will operate additional services with increased capacity on Metro 9B between Belfast City Centre and Lisburn Road/King’s Hall from 22:50 – 23:46 BST.

There are also coaches operating from Londonderry and cross-border train and bus services.

Passengers are being encouraged to plan their trip using information on the website www.translink.co.uk/events and allow extra time for their journey.