As thousands of music fans prepare to descend on Boucher Road Playing Fields in Belfast this weekend, transport authorities are advising concertgoers to plan ahead to avoid travel disruption.
Liam Gallagher, the iconic frontman of Oasis, will headline Belfast Vital on Friday 17th August, with support from Kasabian and Esmerelda Road. The gig is part of Gallagher's "Definitely Maybe 30 Years" arena tour, marking the anniversary of the band's groundbreaking debut album. Fans can expect to hear Oasis classics, including "Rock 'n' Roll Star", "Live Forever" and "Supersonic", as well as some rarely-performed tracks from the era.
The following evening, Saturday 18th August, sees American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan take the stage, supported by rising star Maisie Peters. Kahan's melancholic folk track "Stick Season", originally released in 2022, has become a chart-topping anthem, spending seven weeks at the top of the charts earlier this year.
With an estimated 80,000 attendees over the two nights, event organiser MCD has issued key information for concertgoers:
Gates open at 4pm on both days, with shows beginning at 5:30pm (subject to change).
Early queuing is strictly prohibited and will be enforced by security and police.
Camping and collapsible chairs are not permitted.
Strict security checks will be in place, and attendees are advised not to bring large bags as they may be refused entry.
Glass, cans, umbrellas, alcohol, garden furniture, selfie sticks, flares, professional cameras and audio recording equipment are not permitted.
Re-entry to the concerts is not allowed.
Up to two under-16s can be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 25, who must take full responsibility for them at all times.
The PSNI has warned of significant traffic disruption between 3pm and midnight on both concert days. A lane closure will be in place on Boucher Road from 3pm, and Lislea Drive will be closed from 5pm.
Between 9pm and midnight, a number of road closures will be enforced, including:
Boucher Road will be closed between Tates Avenue and the junction with Stockmans Lane.
Stockmans Lane will be 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 coach parking is available at Balmoral Road and Balmoral Link. There will be no pick-up and drop-off points within the road closure area.
Superintendent Gavin Kirkpatrick of the PSNI urged concertgoers to: "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."
Transport provider Translink has advised that due to the ongoing closure of the railway line between Belfast and Lisburn, a bus substitution service will be in operation for passengers 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.
Those travelling from other lines should go to Belfast Lanyon Place station and connect with bus services to the city centre.
Translink's Metro 9B services will be enhanced, offering increased capacity for both Belfast Vital and Emerge Festivals. Passengers returning by rail must present their pre-paid tickets to Translink event staff to board the bus transfer service due to limited availability. Additional Metro 9B services will operate between Belfast City Centre and Lisburn Road/Kingâs Hall from 10:50pm to 11:46pm.
Coach services are also operating from Londonderry and cross-border train and bus services are available. Translink encourages all passengers to plan their journey in advance, using information on their website [www.translink.co.uk/events](https://www.translink.co.uk/special-events/event-travel), and to allow extra time for their journey.