The Boucher Road Playing Fields – capable of boasting audiences of over 40,000 – has faced issues due to a neighbouring site usually used as an emergency exit point not being available this year.

@northernirelandtraveller Liam Gallagher @Liam Gallagher tonight at Belfast Vital at Boucher Road Playing Fields. Performance form @kasabianofficial #belfastvital #belfast #liamgallagher #northernireland #ireland #norniron #oasis #definitelymaybe #irish #boucherplayingfields #concert #belfastcity #vital #belfasttiktok #northernirelandtiktok #belfasttiktoker #belfastfood ♬ original sound – Northern Ireland Traveller

Belfast City Council, who own the site on Boucher Road, have previously found an agreement to use the neighbouring field which is held by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Services (NIFRS).

However, this year the fire services have not given the Council their consent to use the field as an exit point. Without a clear emergency exit, safety and security matters are thrown into turmoil.

Fans will be hoping the issue is resolved quickly, as Sam Fender takes the stage on August 28 just one day before the highly-anticipated Fontaines DC and Kneecap show on August 29. The fields will also host a couple of festivals – Farmers Bash on the weekend of August 9 and Emerge 2025 kicking off on August 23. Get ticket information for all events here.

 

 

 

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The NIFRS vacated the premises last year after opening a new training facility just outside Cookstown, County Tyrone. Due to them no longer using the site, the fire services are looking for the Belfast City Council to take over the lease in order for the gigs to take place.

In a statement, the NIFRS claimed that the site is “currently going through a process of divestment” and they worry that the use of the field would impact on a rates discount for unoccupied properties.

A spokeswoman said in the statement: “NIFRS has vacated the site and would be supportive of an agreement that would see the lease revert to Belfast City Council control, enabling the necessary health and safety arrangements to be put in place for the summer shows.

“NIFRS continues to engage with Belfast City Council and other stakeholders, around the divestment process and the events scheduled at Boucher Playing Fields.”

With still three months until the shows, hope remains that this issue will be sorted. A Council spokeswoman reiterated the desire to find an agreement, saying: “The council has been engaging with NIFRS with a view to ensuring that the necessary health and safety arrangements can be put in place for these concerts.”

These are not the first music events put at risk due to legal issues this year. South London’s Brockwell Park lost a legal battle against local residents due to the nuisance and impact on the park.

It was found that the park exceeded the maximum allowed 28 days of closure a year for events, however every festival due for the park this summer – including Mighty Hoopla and Field Day – insist that the show will go on.

Wide Awake took place at the South London park this past weekend, where Kneecap rocked the festival with a powerful headline performance despite calls for their performances to be cancelled due to recent controversies.

Keep an eye on mxdwn for any further announcements regarding the big Belfast gigs this summer, as fans pray that the health and safety issues will be resolved by August.

The AVA 2025 Lineup has arrived

Sign-up for first access when tickets go back on sale this Thursday at 10AM.

Remaining tickets will be released in Friday’s general sale at 10AM.

https://t.co/s1H5gmSZ28 pic.twitter.com/eEBPCPG4hz

— AVA Festival (@AVAFestival_) January 28, 2025

Underworld, the British electronic music duo formed in 1987, is renowned for their pioneering contributions to the genre. Consisting of Karl Hyde and Rick Smith, they gained international acclaim with their 1996 hit ‘Born Slippy (NUXX)’ featured in the film ‘Trainspotting’. Over the years, Underworld has released numerous influential albums, including ‘Dubnobasswithmyheadman‘ and ‘Second Toughest in the Infants‘, solidifying their status as electronic music innovators.Over the years, AVA has expanded its footprint beyond Belfast, hosting events in cities like Amsterdam, Glasgow, London, and even Mumbai, reflecting its growing international appeal. The festival is celebrated for its eclectic mix of local talent and globally acclaimed artists. This year, AVA will bring artists such as Overmono, Ewan McVicar, and Sloucho, on stage.

AVA Festival has a history of featuring prominent artists in its programs. For instance, the AVA London 2025 edition, scheduled for March 20-22, includes notable figures such as FKA Twigs, Jarvis Cocker, Munroe Bergdorf, and Annie Mac. Other past line-ups featured names such as Larry Heard, LSDXOXO, Orbital, and Bicep.
The AVA Festival has been instrumental in fostering a “second age of rave” in Northern Ireland, providing a platform for both homegrown and international talent. As it approaches its tenth anniversary, the 2025 edition promises to be a landmark event, celebrating a decade of cultural impact and looking ahead to the future of the electronic music scene.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow, January 30, at 10am. The general sale will be on Friday, January 31 at 10am. For the latest updates and event schedules, fans are encouraged to visit the official AVA Festival website and follow their social media channels.

Gallagher, who performed at the venue more than 20 times, first graced its stage in June 1971 and returned regularly until February 1988. His willingness to play in Belfast during the height of the Troubles earned him a unique place in the hearts of locals. According to fan site Shadowplays, Gallagher’s concerts at the Ulster Hall brought together Protestants and Catholics, offering “a few brief hours of respite” where the music took precedence over the surrounding conflict.

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A post shared by Rory Gallagher (@rorygallagherofficial)

Gallagher already had a commemorative plaque outside the venue, but the new statue, overseen by the Rory Gallagher Statue Project Trust, provides a more visible tribute to the guitarist. Barry McGivern, frontman of Ireland’s longest-running Rory Gallagher tribute band, and Donal Gallagher, Rory’s brother and longtime agent, were among the trust’s members.  

Speaking at the unveiling, fellow trustee Frank Girvan said: “It has been many years in the making, and we are incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received from fans, fellow musicians and all those who continue to show their commitment to keeping Rory’s legacy alive.”

 

 

 

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The statue was created by Bronze Art Ireland, a company renowned for its fine art castings and work on high-profile TV shows such as Vikings and Game of Thrones. The statue’s pose is based on a photograph from a 1972 Melody Maker cover, taken during one of Gallagher’s celebrated performances at the Ulster Hall.

Sorry.. Don’t like this at all. I appreciate the fact that he’s honoured, but come on! The likeness is zilch, and the guitar he loved more than any other wasn’t a Tele. C’mon guys do your homework.

(@dlight2112) January 4, 2025

Hundreds of fans attended the ceremony, joined by members of Gallagher’s family, including his brother Donal and nephews Daniel and Eoin Gallagher. However, some fans expressed disappointment with the statue’s design, pointing out that the guitar depicted is a Fender Telecaster, rather than Gallagher’s more iconic Fender Stratocaster. One social media user wrote: “I appreciate the honour, but the likeness is zilch, and they’ve chosen the wrong guitar.”  

The unveiling was not without logistical hiccups either. Some fans criticised the event on Reddit, citing poor sound and the ceremony starting earlier than advertised, leaving late arrivals unable to witness the unveiling. “This unveiling was a disgrace,” one attendee wrote.

Comment byu/NutzPup from discussion innorthernireland

Despite these criticisms, the statue has been widely welcomed as a fitting tribute to a musician whose influence extended far beyond Belfast. Artists such as Johnny Marr, Phil Lynott, and The Edge have cited Gallagher as an inspiration. Even Jimi Hendrix reportedly once answered the question of who the greatest guitarist in the world was by saying, “I don’t know, ask Rory Gallagher.”

Gallagher’s impact is further commemorated in Dublin, where a replica of his Fender Stratocaster adorns a corner in Temple Bar, alongside a sign in Gaelic and English honouring the musician. He is also honoured with a statue in his hometown of Ballyshannon.

The unveiling coincided with U2 frontman Bono receiving a Presidential Medal of Freedom in the United States for his humanitarian work. Both moments highlight the global impact of two Irish musicians, not only for their artistry but for their broader cultural contributions.

Gallagher’s music continues to inspire fans worldwide, regularly included on lists of the greatest guitar players of all time, and the statue outside Ulster Hall stands as a testament to the unifying power of his performances—both then and now.

Kneecap posted on their Instagram that their cancellation is in direct correlation to the Israel-Gaza conflict, as they are “in solidarity with the people of Palestine.” For this reason, according to BBC,  they cannot perform “in good conscience”. Despite the financial sacrifice it is incomparable to the “unimaginable suffering” occurring in Gaza.

The Northern Ireland trio answer to their stage names: Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí. They are a fresh and politically aware band who use their platform to voice their support for republicanism through their lyrics, in which they sing in both English and Irish. They first released their unique sound in 2017, with a song titled ‘C.E.A.R.T.A,” which translates to “Rights” in Irish. This first song was inspired by the time when Móglaí Bap was spray-painting and wrote “Cearta” on a bustop the day before the Irish Language Act march in Belfast. He managed to escape an arrest, whilst the friend he was spray painting with was caught, and refused to speak English in his cell without a translator. This story inspired their first song, which snowballed into further ambitions to continue developing their sound after their popularity spiked. They clearly had a strong intent to rally for human rights by making it the title of their first song, and it is also clear through another single titled “Get Your Brits Out.” Their first song was banned from Irish radio ‘RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’ (RnaG) for drug references and swearing. Their fans were inspired by their bold defiance and petitioned 700 signatures to get the song back on the radio. Kneecap defended themselves also, and said it’s “a satirical take on life for young people, particularly in west Belfast”, according to the Belfast Telegraph. 

The group are not alone in their protest, as other artists involved in the festival’s line-up have pulled out. These acts include Brighton’s ‘Lambrini Girls,’ who announced to BBC on Saturday March 9th, that their boycott is a way to keep their “moral integrity intact.“ Similarly, other acts silently protesting include Sprints, Scowl, Gel, and Squirrel Flower. ‘Okay Shalom’ shared on Instagram that this sacrifice “cost a dream,” but regardless, refuses to go along with something that is “fundamentally wrong.” All of the acts pulling out of the event have one thing in common, and that is that their moral stances overrule anything else, and this decision to pull out required no hesitation.