Belfast has long been a special place for memorable gigs, with legendary events like The Beatles visit in 1963 and Snow Patrol’s homecoming 2010.
The pandemic has made it difficult for the place to get back its famous buzz, but 2022 promises a welcome return to normality. It’s a special year for the city: it was recently crowned UNESCO’s ‘City of Music’ and there are several big events to look out for.
Here are five special concerts to check out as next year rolls around.
Ed Sheeran – Boucher Road Playing Fields – 12th May
If you’re a fan of Ed Sheeran and maths, then his ‘+ – = ÷ x’ Tour will be perfect for you. Having started in September, it takes in 12 capital cities on its whistle-stop tour around Europe, and Belfast is one of them.
Boucher Road has seen a host of superstars over the years, with the likes of Eminem, The Killers and Green Day all playing there at the Belfast Vital festival. Ed Sheeran possibly tops the lot, though, in terms of sheer pulling power. His 150 million sold records put him at the same level as U2 less than a decade into his career, and his previous tour broke three Guiness World Records, including highest grossing music tour and the biggest attendance at a single event – 8.1 million people attended his show in Lyon, France.
Boucher Road won’t have as many people there, but the atmosphere will be just as electric.
The Script – The SSE Arena – 14-15th May
The Script have enjoyed global success since they formed back in 2007. Having sold over 20 million records in that time, their fanbase is enormous, which explains why the Belfast gig was sold out within minutes of going on sale.
However, some options do remain. VIP tickets starting at €113 aren’t cheap, but many fans won’t need to get the winning lottery numbers to afford one. The package through Ticketmaster includes a complimentary two-course meal and drink before the show, as well as a special VIP entrance.
The Script will play two Belfast shows on consecutive nights next May, their first gigs after a 12-date North American tour. They should be refreshed, though, after a month’s break in between, so fans at the SSE Arena should get ready for a treat.
Billie Eilish – The SSE Arena – 3rd June
It’s hard to believe that Billie Eilish is still a teenager, yet she’s already won seven Grammys (becoming the youngest winner in history in the process), and had two albums that have reached number 1 albums – her first When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? achieving platinum status in the USA.
Her tour arrives at the SSE Arena in June, when a capacity crowd will welcome her with welcome arms. It will be the first time that the Californian has played in the city, and the first time on the island of Ireland before moving onto twin Dublin shows a day later.
Eilish announced her show in May, in partnership with sustainability partner REVERB, who will help to set up a Billie Eilish Action Village at each show – an initiative focussing on climate action and supporting women-led environmental organisations.
Iron Maiden – Ormeau Park – 13th June
It’s difficult to overstate the importance of Iron Maiden to heavy metal fans. According to some critics, they have elevated the genre to an art form, with their music covering historical, religious and mythical themes.
Fans at Ormeau Park will get the full experience next June, as the band provide one of their trademark two-hour theatrical displays of soaring guitars, pyrotechnics and even a replica Spitfire hoisted above the stage.
The show is part of the Legacy of the Beast tour that never happened in 2020, thanks to the pandemic, and was cancelled once again this year. It will be third time lucky for the band who are still going strong as they approach half a century together.
Snoop Dogg – The SSE Arena – 16th September
Remember the last time Snoop Dogg played in Belfast? Trick question – he’s never played there.
September 2022 sees the ‘I Wanna Thank Me’ show roll into town, with the US rapper at the helm. The tour is named after his 17th solo album and, like with many shows across the world, was cancelled last year due to COVID-19. Key characters from his long career will appear alongside him, including Warren G and D12, plus a possible special treat for hip-hop fans: songs from his brand-new album Algorithm, which he just released a tracklist for.
The SSE’s 11,000 capacity will be sold out for this one as fans hope to enjoy their first full year back to normality since before the pandemic. One thing’s for sure: Belfast is ready and waiting.
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