THE NORTH’S BIGGEST MUSIC FESTIVALS YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THIS SUMMER

THERE have never been more music-based mass gatherings taking place in Northern Ireland - so many, in fact, that it can be hard to keep track of them all.

That’s why your friends here at Scene - or, more specifically, me - have condensed them all down into one handy double-page spread.

Read on to remind yourself which events you meant to get tickets for this summer...

Read on to remind yourself which events you meant to get tickets for this summer

MAY

Eclectic Love

May 24, Custom House Square, Belfast

The first of several 90s/00s-themed music festivals taking place this year, Eclectic Love brings the clubbing sounds of yesteryear to Custom House Square for a marathon session of repetitive beats and big vocals featuring the likes of Sash!, N-Trance and Dave Pearce.

Tickets: universe.com/embed2/events/eclectic-love-festival

Age restrictions: See eclecticlovebelfast.com

AVA Belfast

May 30-31, Titanic Slipways, Belfast

Underworld and Overmono head up the usual mix of homegrown and touring electronic music talent at this year’s AVA, the latest instalment of the event which claims it was “the first ever grassroots electronic music and visual art festival in Belfast”.

Tickets: avafestival.com

Age restrictions: 18-and-over with valid passport or driving licence

JUNE

Belsonic: Stereophonics, James Bay

June 5, Ormeau Park, Belfast

Welsh rockers Stereophonics are joined by Gen Z singer-songwriter favourite James Bay for the first of this year’s Belsonic shows, part of the Stereophonics’ ‘play the radio hits’ Stadium Anthems tour.

Tickets: ticketmaster.ie

Age restrictions: Under 16s can attend provided they are accompanied by an 18-or-over parent/guardian who is also a ticket holder

Belsonic: Lush Classical

June 7, Ormeau Park, Belfast

All hands in the air for this reimagining of classic 90s club hits with the Ulster Orchestra, plus DJ sets from veteran danceheads Armand Van Helden, Seb Fontaine and Col Hamilton.

Tickets: ticketmaster.ie

Age restrictions: Strictly over 16s with valid ID

Belsonic: Charli XCX, The Japanese House

June 18, Ormeau Park, Belfast

Belfast is already bracing itself for a brat summer show in the company of English alt-pop sensation Charli XCX, with support from indiepop fave The Japanese House.

Tickets: SOLD OUT

Belsonic: Madness, Ocean Colour Scene, Silent Running

June 19, Ormeau Park, Belfast

Perennial nutty boys Madness return to Belfast with support from Midlands Britpop veterans Ocean Colour Scene and reactivated Belfast rockers Silent Running.

Tickets: ticketmaster.ie

Age restrictions: Under 16s must be accompanied by a parent/guardian aged 18-or-over

Belsonic: Snow Patrol

June 21, Ormeau Park, Belfast

Local heroes Snow Patrol play their biggest ever Belfast show this summer at Belsonic, with support yet to be announced.

Tickets: SOLD OUT

Belsonic: Justin Timberlake, Jesse Glynne

June 21, Ormeau Park, Belfast

Mr Trousersnake puts his lasting pop appeal to the test with a big outdoor show which will have to lean heavily on his early 2000s hits, plus a supporting turn from your sister’s best friend’s favourite artist, Jess Glynne.

Tickets: ticketmaster.ie

Age restrictions: Under 16s must be accompanied by a parent/guardian aged 18-or-over

Belsonic: blk

June 27, Ormeau Park, Belfast

Irish techno kingpin blk, AKA Tipperary native Zack Coughlan, will have Ormeau Park in the palms of his heavily tattooed hands this June when he takes to the decks for this already sold-out Belsonic show.

Tickets: SOLD OUT

Belsonic: Boiler Room

June 28, Ormeau Park, Belfast

Yet more dance music-centric fun hits Ormeau Park with this big Boiler Room-curated rave up featuring Chris Stussy back-to-back with Kettama, Effy back-to-back with Special Request, plus Holly Lester and Surf To Glory.

Tickets: boilerroom.tv

Age restrictions: Strictly over 16s, valid ID required

Belsonic: Alanis Morissette, Liz Phair

June 30, Ormeau Park, Belfast

Post-grunge alt rocker Alanis headlines the final Belsonic 2025 concert, with value adding support from one-time indie rock goddess Liz Phair.

Tickets: ticketmaster.ie

Age restrictions: Under 16s must be accompanied by a parent/guardian aged 18-or-over

JULY

Stendhal Festival

July 4-6, Ballymully Cottage Farm, Limavady

Line-up: The Orb, The Lightning Seeds and Kate Nash head up the 2025 line-up, which also features comedian Ed Byrne and a ton of homegrown musical talents including The Bonnevilles, Problem Patterns, Wynona Bleach, Duke Special and more.

Tickets: stendhalfestival.com

Age restrictions: stendhalfestival.com

AUGUST

CHSq Belfast: Kingfishr

August 7, Custom House Square, Belfast

Following their sold-out Telegraph Building show, Limerick-based trio Kingfishr return for their largest Belfast headline show to date at CHSq.

Tickets: ticketmaster.ie

Age restrictions: Under 16s must be accompanied by a parent/guardian ticket-holder

Under The Drum

August 8-9, Breckenhill, Co Antrim

Back for its second year, this family-run festival specialises in the best homegrown alternative sounds, plus art, yoga and falconry (no, really).

This year’s musical acts include Silverbacks, Skinner, Problem Patterns, Arborist and Junk Drawer.

Tickets: Underthedrum.co.uk

Age restrictions: Children under 12 welcome when accompanied by a guardian aged 25-and-over. No kids aged 12 to 18 allowed on site.

CHSq Belfast: Looking for Trouble with Mall Grab, DJ boring, Jennifer Cardini, Derv

August 8, Custom House Square, Belfast

Aussie dancehead Mall Grab is back in Belfast and showcasing some of his favourite fellow artists at this specially curated Looking for Trouble CHSq show.

Tickets: ticketmaster.co.uk

Age restrictions: See customhousesquare.com

CHSq Belfast: The Darkness, Ash, Bad Nerves

August 9, Custom House Square, Belfast

Rockers The Darkness return to Belfast for a CHSq show with support from local heroes Ash and an opening turn by Essex powerpop/punk crew Bad Nerves.

Tickets: ticketmaster.ie

Age Restrictions: Under 16s must be accompanied by a parent/guardian ticket-holder

Farmer’s Bash Weekender

August 9-10, Boucher Playing Fields, Belfast

Kaiser Chiefs, B-Witched and Nathan Carter - together at last...

Tickets: ticketmaster.ie

Age restrictions: Under 16s must be accompanied by a parent/guardian ticket-holder.

CHSq Belfast: Stiff Little Fingers, PiL, Sham 69, Cherym

August 16, Custom House Square, Belfast

Belfast punks Stiff Little Fingers stage their annual Putting The ‘fast’ in Belfast mini festival, this time with quality support from Public Image Limited, Sham 69 and Cherym.

Tickets: ticketmaster.ie

Age restrictions: Under 16s must be accompanied by a parent/guardian ticket-holder

CHSq Belfast: Texas, Silent Running

August 17, Custom House Square, Belfast

Sharleen Spiteri and co bring their chart-bothering inoffensive pop rock to Custom House Square, with support from re-activated local rockers Silent Running.

Tickets: SOLD OUT

CHSq Belfast: Amble

August 22, Custom House Square, Belfast

Being cursed with perhaps the blandest band name ever doesn’t seem to have hurt homegrown folk unit Amble’s ticket sales for this one...

Tickets: SOLD OUT

CHSq Belfast: Marti Pellow

August 23, Custom House Square, Belfast

I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes... this one is unlikely to sell out.

Tickets: ticketmaster.ie

Age restrictions: Under 16s must be accompanied by a parent/guardian ticket-holder

Emerge 25

August 23, Boucher Road Playing Fields, Belfast

Belfast’s late-summer dancefest is back at Boucher Road Playing Fields with headliners Fat Boy Slim and local heroes Bicep.

Tickets: ticketmaster.ie

Age restrictions: See ticketmaster.ie/emerge-tickets

Vital Belfast: Sam Fender, CMAT

August 28, Boucher Playing Fields, Belfast

English singer-songwriter star Sam Fender is backed up by Irish pop maverick CMAT for this big summer show worth braving Boucher Avenue for.

Tickets: ticketmaster.ie

Age restrictions: See mcd.ie/artists/belfast-vital

CHSq Belfast: David Gray

August 30, Custom House Square, Belfast

Sale-born troubadour David Grey brings past hits and favourites from his new album Dear Life to his Belfast fans.

Tickets: ticketmaster.ie

Age restrictions: Under 16s must be accompanied by a parent/guardian ticket-holder

CHSq Belfast: Nile Rodgers & Chic

August 31, Custom House Square, Belfast

Chic man Nile Rodgers will take audiences on a potted tour of his considerable arsenal of hits for this end-of-August show at CHSq.

Check out his collaboration with Daft Punk and Pharrell Williams if you get the chance. Sound of the summer...

Tickets: ticketmaster.ie

Age restrictions: Under 16s must be accompanied by a parent/guardian ticket-holder

CHSq Belfast: Midland

September 5, Custom House Square, Belfast

Texas country act Midland bring this year’s CHSq events to a close, preceded by a full supporting bill yet to be anounced.

Tickets: ticketmaster.ie

Age restrictions: Under 16s must be accompanied by a parent/guardian ticket-holder

2025-03-14T06:06:27Z