The stage is set for weeks of gigs at Belsonic 2024, as the festival returns to Belfast’s Ormeau Park this weekend.
What acts will be performing at Belsonic?
The series of concerts kicks off with Friday June 7’s sold-out Farmers’ Bash evening, featuring a line-up of country music with acts including Cork’s Meadhbh Walsh, All Folk’d Up, and headliner Derek Ryan.
Dublin pop rockers Picture This headline Saturday evening, before the gigs resume on Wednesday June 12 with a line-up headlined by 90s and noughties nu-metal stars Limp Bizkit.
Other headline acts to perform at Belsonic throughout June include former Police frontman Sting, boyband legends Take That, Canadian country-pop queen Shania Twain, and German rave veterans Scooter.
Full line-up
7 June - Farner’s Bash: Derek Ryan (Headline act), The Whistlin’ Donkeys, The Tumblin’ Paddies, All Folk’d Up, MeadhbhWalsh (other acts TBA) - SOLD OUT
8 June - Picture This (Support: Callum Scott & Amble) - SOLD OUT
12 June - Limp Biskit (Support: Tom Morello & Nova Twins)
14 June - Belters Only (Support: D.O.D, Multunes & Carminwatsin)
15 June - Becky Hill (Support: Jazzy)
19 June - Sting (Support: Blondie & Germein)
22 June - Take That (Support: Olly Murs & St Lundi) - SOLD OUT
27 June - Shania Twain (Support: Rage ‘n’ Bone Man) - SOLD OUT
29 June - Scooter/Ben Nicky (Support: DAIRE) - SOLD OUT
How am I getting to Belfast’s Ormeau Park?
Translink is putting on rail specials for all of the above events and bus specials for Take That, Shania Twain and Scooter.
Translink Metro will also operate a special shuttle bus between Belfast City Centre and Ormeau Park on all concert dates plus Nightmover services for the greater Belfast area each night.
An event shuttle bus (Service 678) will travel to and from all Belsonic events at Ormeau Park from 5.30pm to 11.48pm
- Service 678, departing Howard Street and Great Northern Mall (Great Victoria Street) will run every four minutes from 5.30pm at peak times and every 30 minutes off-peak.
- The first journey is timed to arrive at Ormeau Park just before the gates open at 6pm.
- Return journeys after the event will run every four minutes at peak times.
- Last journeys are timed to arrive in City Centre for 2400 hrs.
Road closures in and around Ormeau Park at the time of the concert
Ormeau Embankment will be closed from Ravenhill Road to Ormeau Road between 4pm and midnight.
The road will remain closed for a period after the concert so bear this in mind if you are arranging a safe collection location with friends or relatives.
What time will the concert start and end?
Gates open at 6pm with the gates closing for the concerts at 9.45pm and the curfew for the event to end is usually around 11pm but times will be posted on the event’s social media the day of the event.
Is Belsonic accessible?
Security will direct you to the accessible entrance at gate one, this is also the most direct gate to the accessible facilities at Belsonic.
There is also accessible parking for those who register for it.
Registered accessible car parking holders can park directly across from gate one on Ormeau Embankment.
During the shows, the organisers enforce a road closure on the Ormeau Embankment, which is closed to unauthorised vehicles from 4pm until midnight.
When turning into the embankment from Ormeau Road, you will encounter security staff.
Registered users must show their blue badge and event tickets and the staff can check your car license plate against the list of registrations.
The parking area is large enough for wheelchair-accessible vehicles to fully open doors and for backloading.
The deadline for registering for use of the accessible car park was no later than 12pm on May 15, with those wanting to register asked to get in contact via email at accessibility@belsonic.com
What can I take into the gig?
- There are no cloakroom facilities on site. No bags bigger than A4 size are permitted.
- Food is not generally permitted into the venue as catering and bar facilities will be available in the concert site, however, should you need to bring food for medical reasons, people are urged to get in touch with the promoter at info@belsonic.com
- In order to allow easy access, and cause minimal delays, all guests are discouraged from bringing bags to the event, and no luggage or large electronic devices will be permitted.
- Small personal cameras will be permitted, though guests will not be able to bring professional photography equipment into the venue.
What if lose something at Belsonic?
There is a lost property booth at Belsonic which will be operational each show night from 5pm-11pm. If something is lost and not collected on the night, contact lostproperty@belsonic.com
What can I wear to Belsonic?
- Football tops of any kind are not permitted at Belsonic
- Attendees are urged to dress appropriately and always be prepared for the weather
How old do I need to be to attend?
For every event except Scooter and Belters Only, under 16s can attend provided they are accompanied by a parent or guardian who is also a ticket holder.
They will be issued with a wristband containing the parent or guardian’s contact details. A parent or guardian can only sign in a maximum of two under 16s.
The Scooter/DAIRE and Belters Only events are strictly for people over the age of 16.
How can I stay safe at the concert?
All bar and security staff at the Belsonic events are trained in the Ask for Angela safeguarding initiative. If you feel unsafe approach a member of bar or security staff and ask for Angela and they will know how to help you.
PSNI Chief Inspector Claire Hamilton said: “Police have been working in partnership with the event organisers and various agencies in planning for Belsonic. We want to see everyone attending these shows enjoy themselves while also obeying the law, acting responsibly and staying safe.
“Everybody should be able to attend events this summer and feel safe. 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.”
There will also be increased police patrols in and around the event, she added.
