Belfast Vital

Tennent's Vital Belfast 2016

Genre|

* Indie rock
* alternative
* hip hop

Dates| Mid-late August
Location(s)| Belfast / Bangor
Years active|

* 2002–2007
* 2011–present

Belfast Vital (formerly Tennent's Vital) is an annual music festival in Northern Ireland. It was first held near Botanic Gardens in 2002 then later moved to Ormeau Park in 2007, both of these venues were in Belfast. The festival had taken a noticeable undesired hiatus between 2008–2010 and returned in August 2011 at Ward Park in Bangor due to success of Ward Park as a venue for Snow Patrol's homecoming gig in 2010 which drew in an estimate crowd of 40,000. Sponsored by C&C Group plc and MCD Productions it was confirmed that the festival was set to return both in 2012 and 2013.[1] In March 2017, it was announced via Facebook that the festival would return, with a new lineup, and under a new name as simply Belfast Vital or Vital, it is not yet clear if this is due to a withdrawal in sponsorship from Tennents or not, although there is nothing to suggest this and it is likely just a minor rebrand.

Notable headliners throughout the years have included Green Day, The Killers, Snow Patrol, Kaiser Chiefs, Kings of Leon, Franz Ferdinand, The White Stripes, Ash, The Streets, Primal Scream and Eminem.

## History

[edit]

### 2019

[edit]

Continuing under the name of Belfast Vital, Foo Fighters were announced to return to Belfast after a successful show at Vital 2012. They performed at Boucher Road Playing Fields on Monday, 19 August along with support acts Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Hot Milk and King Nun.

19 August

Headliners

* Foo Fighters

Confirmed Support

* Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes
* Hot Milk
* King Nun

### 2018

[edit]

Continuing under the new name of Belfast Vital, Martin Garrix was announced to return to Belfast after a successful show in Belsonic 2017\. He will play at Boucher Road Playing Fields on Saturday, 25 August along with supporting acts Steve Angello, Zara Larsson and others.[2]

25 August

Headliners

* Martin Garrix
* Steve Angello
* Zara Larsson
* Lööp
* Chasing Abbey

### 2017

[edit]

Under a different name of Belfast Vital, MCD Productions announced in March that Muse and Biffy Clyro would be headlining Day One of the festivals on Wednesday 23 August. Shortly after in April, it was announced Tiësto and Clean Bandit would be headlining Day Two of the festival on Saturday 26 August. This would be the second time Tiësto would headline a show in Belfast after Belsonic 2016 the year before at Titanic Belfast.

23 August  | 26 August

|

Headliners

* Muse
* Biffy Clyro
* Nothing But Thieves
* Fangclub

| Headliners

* Tiësto
* Clean Bandit
* Robin Schulz
* Sigala
* DISCIPLΞS
* John Gibbons

### 2016

[edit]

In March 2016, MCD productions announced Tennent's Vital will return to Boucher Road Playing Fields with the headlining acts of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Avicii on Thursday 25 August and Friday 26 August. This would be the second time Avicii has headlined Tennent's Vital and was also his last weekend of shows before retiring from touring.

25 August  | 26 August

|

Headliners

* Red Hot Chili Peppers
* Fall Out Boy
* Labrinth
* Cage The Elephant
* Otherkin

| Headliners

* Avicii
* Jess Glynne
* Seeb
* Galantis
* Duke Dumont
* Zak Abel

### 2015

[edit]

In early 2015, it was announced that Tennent's Vital would be back for another year at the Boucher Road playing fields with Calvin Harris headlining Day 1 and The Script returning to headline Day 2. This is the second time The Script have headlined the event following a headlining set on Day 2 in 2011.

29 August  | 30 August

|

Headliners

* Calvin Harris

Confirmed Support

* Ellie Goulding
* John Newman
* Disciples
* Burns

Headliners

* The Script

Confirmed Support

* Kodaline
* Annie Mac
* Clean Bandit
* Pixie>Panda

### 2014

[edit]

On 21 March 2014, Tennents Vital released an official statement confirming the festival would return in summer 2014. On 25 March, organisers confirmed via their official website, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat that The Killers would headline the first day of the festival supported by Bastille. This will be The Killer's second time headlining the event following a headlining set in 2007, while Bastille are making their Tennents Vital debut this year.

21 August  | 24 August

|

Headliners

* The Killers

Confirmed Support

* Bastille

Headliners

* David Guetta

Confirmed Support

* Steve Angello
* Klangkarussell
* Robin Schulz

### 2013

[edit]

On 9 April, Vital officially announced its return, playing at the Boucher Road Playing fields again. The first act announced were Kings Of Leon, and on 11 June The Vaccines were announced as the main support act for the first day. On 13 May, Snow Patrol were announced along with singer/songwriter Foy Vance and Irish upstarts Kodaline, following day Jason Mraz was added to the bill. On 11 June, Vital announced its first-ever 3-day festival, with Avicii, Tinie Tempah, Rudimental and Tommy Trash playing on the 3rd day.

14 August  | 15 August  | 16 August

|
|

Headliners

* Kings Of Leon

Confirmed Support

* The Vaccines
* The Undertones
* The Minutes

Headliners

* Snow Patrol

Confirmed Support

* Jason Mraz
* Foy Vance
* Kodaline

Headliners

* Avicii

Confirmed Support

* Tinie Tempah
* Rudimental
* Tommy Trash
* Naughty Boy

### 2012

[edit]

On 8 February, Vital announced that they would be running "Tennent's Untapped", a platform to give rising bands an opportunity to make themselves known, with the winners securing a set on the Main Stage of the 2012 Vital concert. On 5 March, Tennents Vital confirmed via Facebook that the lineup for its 2012 concert would be revealed live on Tuesday 20 March at its live launch party at a secret location, and also via its official website. On 16 March via their official Facebook page, Tennents Vital announced that the venue for the 2012 concert had been moved from Ward Park Bangor to Boucher Playing Fields, Belfast. On 20 March, The Stone Roses and Florence and the Machine were confirmed to be playing Wednesday 22 August, as confirmed via the official Tennents Vital Facebook page. The Foo Fighters and the Black Keys were also announced through MCD's official site. The Stone Roses leaked their announcement early via their Twitter page.

21 August  | 22 August

|

Headliners

* Foo Fighters

Confirmed Support

* The Black Keys
* The Cribs
* The Minutes
* Trucker Diablo

Confirmed

* The Stone Roses

Confirmed Support

* Florence And The Machine
* Rodrigo y Gabriela
* Maverick Sabre
* Gerard i2

### 2011

[edit]

BBC News reported that MCD Productions paid the previous debt in April while requesting permission for future events at Ormeau Park suggesting a strong possibility that Tennent's Vital would be back.[3] This previous debt was due to gaining permissions to hold the concerts in 2010.

It was later announced on 12 May 2011 that Tennent's Vital will be held on 23 and 24 August in Ward Park, Bangor despite rumours of it being held in Ormeau Park. The official line up is due to be announced on Wednesday 25 May.[1]

An advertising campaign began immediately. Power hosed advertisements appeared outside University of Ulster Belfast and Queen's University Belfast while Translink Metro services were used for regular advertisements with online banners on selected music-related websites. On 25 May Eminem was formally announced to headline on 24 August.[4] The remainder of the line up; both for support and the other day have yet to be announced. Script and Two Door Cinema Club were confirmed as headliners for Day 1 of Tennents Vital(23 August). On 16 June, Vital confirmed on Facebook that Ellie Goulding and The Wombats will also be on the bill of Day 1.

23 August  | 24 August

|

Headliners

* The Script

Confirmed Support

* Two Door Cinema Club
* Ellie Goulding
* Ryan Sheridan
* The Wombats

Confirmed

* Eminem

Confirmed Support

* Kaiser Chiefs
* Jimmy Eat World
* D12
* OFWGKTA

### 2007

[edit]

Moving Tennent's Vital to Ormeau Park allowed for the event to grow. Razorlight headlined the main stage on Tuesday 21 August while The Killers headlined on Wednesday 22nd. There was a combined audience of 45,000 across two days.[5] BBC Northern Ireland featured the events live on air. The weather during the festival was fitting and there were no reports of serious crime except noise pollution calls within the nearby student housing area after the festival ended.

Tuesday 21 August  | Wednesday 22 August

|

* Razorlight
* Manic Street Preachers
* The View
* The Hold Steady
* Nice N Sleezy

Radio 1 Stage

* Justice[6]
* The Rumble Strips
* Oppenheimer
* Steer Cleer
* General Fiasco

* The Killers
* Kasabian
* Mark Ronson
* The Shins
* Albert Hammond Jr

Radio 1 Stage

* The Holloways
* Alloy Mental
* I Was A Cub Scout
* Kharma 45
* Black Alley Screens

### 2006

[edit]

* Snow Patrol
* Kaiser Chiefs
* The Raconteurs
* ¡Forward, Russia!
* Be your own PET
* Duke Special
* Ed Harcourt
* Editors
* Mumm-Ra
* The Pigeon Detectives
* Iain Archer
* Oceansize
* Republic Of Loose
* The Crimea
* Cursive
* Rivals
* Panda Kopanda
* The Dangerfields
* The View
* Eamonn McNamee and the Holy Innocents
* The Tides

### 2005

[edit]

* Kings Of Leon
* Faithless
* Franz Ferdinand
* Maroon 5
* Scissor Sisters
* Jem
* The Coral
* The Futureheads
* Driving By Night
* The Cribs
* The Brakes
* Goldie Lookin Chain
* Patiosounds
* Dutch Schultz
* Alloy Mental
* Leya
* the subtitles

### 2004

[edit]

The Main Stage in 2004

* The White Stripes
* The Darkness
* Ash
* New York Dolls
* Jurassic 5
* Peaches
* Goldie Lookin Chain
* The Answer
* Acidtone
* Blanche

### 2003

[edit]

* Zero 7
* The Streets
* Roger Sanchez
* Death in Vegas
* Richard Fearless
* Roots Manuva
* Nightmares On Wax
* Jon Carter

### 2002

[edit]

2002 was the first year of Tennents Vital and was located nearby Queen's University Belfast's PEC centre beside Belfast Botanic Gardens.

* Primal Scream
* Badly Drawn Boy
* Idlewild
* Snow Patrol
* Gemma Hayes
* Fatboy Slim
* Stereo MC's
* Pacha Futura

## Organisation

[edit]

The festival was launched in 2002 by Better Days, a Scottish events and promotion agency and sponsored by C&C Group's Tennents lager brand. management of the event moved to MCD in 2004. With the exception of technical and security staff, there were voluntary opportunities for most positions at Tennents Vital. Stewards are organised by charity Oxfam, which receives a donation in return for their work. Catering, and some retail services, are provided by various small companies, typically mobile catering vans. Significant logistical operations take place to bring people into the festival by public transport each year. In addition to extensive private coach hire by festival-goers, Translink implements additional bus and rail services to meet the increased demand.

## See also

[edit]

* Belsonic
* Radio 1's Big Weekend 2013

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Belfast Telegraph Online
2. ^ "Belfast Vital 2018: Martin Garrix, Steve Angello and Zara Larsson among first acts announced". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
3. ^ BBC News
4. ^ Belfast Telegraph
5. ^ "Virtual Festivals". Archived from the original on 28 May 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
6. ^ efestivals.co.uk Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine

* v
* t
* e

Major British music festivals

Current festivals|

* All Points East
* Ashton Court Festival
* BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend
* Belfast Vital
* Boardmasters
* Boomtown
* Bonkersfest
* Bristol Harbour Festival
* British Summer Time
* Cardiff Big Weekend
* Clarence Park Festival
* Creamfields
* Download Festival
* Field Day
* The Free Edinburgh Fringe Festival
* Glastonbury Festival
* Godiva Festival
* Green Man Festival
* Isle of Wight Festival
* Kendal Calling
* Latitude Festival
* Leeds Festival
* Lovebox Festival
* Parklife
* Radio 2 in the Park
* Reading Festival
* Rewind Festival
* Splendour in Nottingham
* Strawberry Fair
* Summertime Ball
* Tramlines Festival
* TRNSMT Festival
* Victorious Festival
* Windsor Free Festival
* Wireless Festival

Country|

* C2C: Country to Country

Traditional, folk and world|

* Celtic Connections
* Sidmouth Folk Festival
* WOMAD

Former festivals|

* Bestival
* Global Gathering
* Homelands
* Sonisphere Festival
* T in the Park
* Underage Festival
* V Festival

* v
* t
* e

Irish musical events and festivals

Benefit concerts|

* ChildLine Concert
* Dublin to Gaza
* Self Aid

Dance|

* Creamfields
* Garden Party
* Lovebox

Indie|

* Castlepalooza
* Hard Working Class Heroes
* Indiependence
* KnockanStockan
* Le Chéile
* Soundtrack

Metal|

* Day of Darkness

Pop/rock|

* ChildLine Concert
* Bare in the Woods
* Belsonic
* Cois Fharraige
* Electric Picnic
* Féile
* Heineken Green Energy
* Live at the Marquee
* Macroom Mountain Dew
* Oxegen (previously Witnness)
* Slane
* Soma Festival
* Tennent's Vital

Others|

* Arthur's Day
* Féile an Phobail
* Flat Lake Festival
* The Music Show
* Midlands

Category

* v
* t
* e

Rock festivals

Subtypes|

* List of folk festivals
* List of gothic festivals
* List of heavy metal festivals
* List of industrial music festivals
* List of jam band music festivals
* List of punk rock festivals

Traveling
(italics = ongoing)|

* Anger Management Tour
* Area Festival
* Big Day Out
* California Jam
* California Jam II
* Crüe Fest
* Deconstruction Tour
* Doomination
* Family Values Tour
* Festival Express
* Fuji Rock Festival
* G3
* Gigantour
* Good Things
* Hard Electric Tour
* H.O.R.D.E.
* Ilosaarirock
* Knotfest
* Kuopiorock
* Lilith Fair
* Mayhem Festival
* Magic Circle Festival
* Monsters of Rock
* Montebello Rock
* Nintendo Fusion Tour
* Provinssirock
* Qstock
* Rock am Ring and Rock im Park
* Rock in Rio
* Rock in Roma
* Rock Boat
* Ruido Fest
* Ruisrock
* Ozzfest
* Projekt Revolution
* Rock Never Stops Tour
* Sauna Open Air Metal Festival
* Sonisphere Festival
* Soundwave
* Summer Sanitarium Tour
* Taste of Chaos
* Tuska Open Air Metal Festival
* The Unholy Alliance Tour
* Uproar Festival
* Vive Latino
* Wacken Open Air
* Warped Tour

Culture|

* Deadheads
* Heavy metal
* Hippies
* La Onda
* Moshing
* Pogo (dance)
* Punk rock
* Headbanging
* Stage diving
* Crowd surfing
* Sign of the horns
* Summer of Love
* Rivethead

Related events|

* Rock concert
* Concert tour

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