2022 was an amazing year for music across Northern Ireland and 2023 is shaping up to be the same.
With festivals like AVA, Belsonic and newcomer EMERGE having the city alive with singing and dancing last summer, it is no surprise that some of the world's biggest stars are looking to Northern Ireland when they plan their tours.
We are only breaking into the new year but already some major names are preparing to come to Belfast this month to wow fans.
Read more: The Killers announced as first headliners for Belfast Vital
Here are some of the upcoming gigs to look out for in 2023:
Lewis Capaldi - January 29
Where: SSE Arena Belfast
Singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi is coming back to NI as part of his 2023 tour.
After making his eagerly-awaited return last year and rocketing straight to the top of the UK singles chart with "Forget Me" Lewis Capaldi announced his brand new album 'Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent' will be released this year.
The 1975 - January 30
Where: SSE Arena Belfast
The 1975 are returning to Belfast this January in support of their fifth studio album ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’.
The band made their long-awaited live comeback last year, headlining Japan’s biggest rock festival Summer Sonic 2022 in Tokyo and fans are keen to see them back in Belfast after performing at Belsonic in 2017.
Snoop Dogg - March 14
Where: SSE Arena
American rapper Snoop Dogg is coming to Belfast as part of his rescheduled tour.
Celebrating over 25 years at the pinnacle of hip hop, the 'Doggfather' will enlist a selection of his key collaborators from the breadth of his music career including further West Coast hip hop royalty; Warren G, Tha Dogg Pound, Obie Trice and D12.
Sam Ryder - March 17
Where: Ulster Hall
The 'Space Man' singer will be showing Northern Irish fans just how he managed to turn the UK's Eurovision favour around last year.
Back in 2020, Sam uploaded the first of his now infamous covers. They quickly caught the attention of some famous fans, think Justin Bieber, Sia, Alicia Keys and Elton John.
Elton John - March 31
Where: SSE Arena
Singing superstar Elton John is finally back in Belfast after having to reschedule his concert date in 2021.
His 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour, a reference to his 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, is intended to be Sir Elton's last and will consist of over 300 gigs.
Razorlight - April 4
Where: The Telegraph Building
English indie rock band Razorlight are set to play a major gig in Belfast in 2023.
For the first time in a decade with their original line-up, the group have recently released Razorwhat? The Best Of Razorlight, which collates 11 of their finest moments plus two thrilling new tracks, ‘You Are Entering The Human Heart’ and Violence Forever?’.
Mimi Webb - April 6
Where: Ulster Hall
Breakout singer-songwriter Mimi Webb is coming to Belfast as part of her 2023 headline tour.
Inspired by the likes of Amy Winehouse, Emelie Sandé, and Sam Smith, she started writing songs of her own at 13-years-old in diaries before eventually learning guitar.
Kip Moore - May 27
Where: Live at Botanic Gardens
Known as “one of country’s more thoughtful artists”, singer/songwriter Kip Moore has toured the world earning acclaim and a rabid fanbase as an all-in performer in each setting, consistently selling out headlining shows internationally.
Praised by Noisey as “an uncompromising, genre-defying artist firing on all cylinders”, Moore has blazed his own trail, with “a bit more Southern rock than traditional country".
AVA Festival - June 2 and 3
Where: TBA
AVA Festival, which is now into its eighth year, began as a one-day dance festival and conference in Belfast in 2015.
It has since grown into a weekend event, with as many as 10,000 people attending the September 2021 festival in Boucher Road Playing Fields.
The Classical - June 3
Where: Live at Botanic Gardens
Following this year’s sold-out show last year, it’s back for 2023!
Lush! Co-founder and resident DJ Col Hamilton will once again curate a phenomenal, breath-taking event performed by the world-renowned Ulster Orchestra, Guest DJs and live vocalists playing floor fillers from the past 25 years all produced in conjunction with Kylie Minogue’s musical director.
Lionel Richie - June 3
Where: Belsonic
American popstar Lionel Richie is coming to Belfast's Ormeau Park this summer.
The international star will be joined by The Human League for his show at Belsonic and is known for his hits 'Endless Love', 'Lady', 'Truly', 'All Night Long', 'Penny Lover', 'Hello' and 'Dancing on the Ceiling'.
Aitch - June 8
Where: Live at Botanic Gardens
Mancunian rapper Aitch is set to play both Belfast and Cork this summer.
First blowing up with 'Straight Rhymez' to the cover of The Face, Aitch has had six top 10 smashes, a string of collaborations including Stormzy, Young T and Bugsey, Russ and Tion Wayne, Ed Sheeran’s worldwide hit ‘Take Me Back To London’.
The Frames - June 9
Where: Live at Botanic Gardens
Acknowledged as one of Ireland’s most successful music acts of their generation, The Frames' career already spans over three decades.
The Frames released their first album Another Love Song in 1992 and, over nearly a decade, bounced through various well-documented record deals and band line-ups releasing Fitzcarraldo and Dance The Devil along the way in spite of it.
George Ezra - June 9
Where: Belsonic
George Ezra is another headliner set to take to the stage at Ormeau Park for this year's Belsonic festival.
The Brit Award-winner will play June 9 this year in support of his new album 'Gold Rush Kid'.
Olly Murs - June 10
Where: Live at Botanic Gardens
X-Factor superstar Olly Murs is back and taking his new music to Belfast this summer.
After some time off the 'Dance with me Tonight' and 'Heart Skips a Beat' singer is ready to share his new album 'Marry Me' with the world - it will be the first new studio album in over four years, and the seventh of his career.
David Guetta - June 10
Where: Belsonic
David Guetta has announced a return to Belfast with a headline show at Belsonic.
Last year saw him being crowned as The World's No1 DJ, winning DJ Mag's annual Top 100 DJs poll for the second time -almost a decade after he first took the No1 spot in 2011.
Paolo Nutini - June 17
Where: Belsonic
After his sell-out show at Custom House Square last year, the Scottish singer will return to Belfast to play his biggest show to date.
The singer-songwriter released his new album and fourth studio set ‘Last Night In The Bittersweet’ on July 1st via Atlantic Records. and launched the album by sharing two new singles, ‘Lose It’ and ‘Through The Echoes’.
Lizzo - June 22
Where: Belsonic
Global superstar Lizzo has announced a very special outdoor gig this year.
Crowned 2019’s “Entertainer of the Year” by both TIME and Entertainment Weekly, Lizzo has adorned the covers of countless publications around the globe, spanning Rolling Stone, Billboard, Elle, British Vogue, and many more.
Sam Fender - June 23
Where: Belsonic
The singer-songwriter will play his biggest-ever Belfast date at Belsonic in June.
Over the past year, the Geordie has solidified himself as one of the most celebrated and successful British artists of his generation, pulling a huge crowd on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury ahead of his own 45,000 sell-out show at London’s Finsbury Park.
Florence and the Machine - June 28
Where: Belsonic
Florence + the Machine is set to return to Belfast to play at Ormeau Park on June 28, 2023 as part of the famous Belfast music festival.
Florence + the Machine released their fifth studio album, Dance Fever in May to critical acclaim - produced by Florence Welch, Jack Antonoff and Dave Bayley, Dance Fever is the album that brings back the very best of Florence.
The Prodigy - June 20
Where: Belsonic
The band are set to bring 'a very special outdoor performance' to Ormeau Park with special guest Andy C.
Following the band's sell-out tour of the UK last July, their first since Keith Flint passed away in March 2019, the band knew it was the right time for them to bring their live performance back to the outdoor festival stages.
Daniel O'Donnell - August 14
Where: Waterfront Hall
Daniel O’Donnell’s remarkable career has moved on to a new level over the past number of years which is just another facet to his ever-expanding list of entertainment achievements.
The Donegal-based singer is the only artist in the world to score a hit in the UK album charts every year since 1988, an unprecedented and unbroken 34-year span.
N-Dubz - August 26
Where: Custom House Square
English pop-hip-hop band N-Dubz has been announced as the first headliners of CHSq 2023.
N-Dubz kicked off their massive sold-out Back To The Future Tour UK tour this month - one of the largest-selling Arena tours in the UK last year.
EMERGE - August 26 and 27
Where: Boucher Road Playing Fields
The festival will take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, following a sell-out inaugural year. It promises to be bigger, better and bolder.
2023 headliners BICEP [Live], Carl Cox, Camelphat and Charlotte De Witte will be joined by an all-star lineup of international and local acts including Skin on Skin, Alan Fitzpatrick, Rebuke and Irish superstar blk, who will be making his Emerge stage debut this year.
The Killers - September 1
Where: Belfast Vital at Boucher Road Playing Fields
The Killers have been announced as the first headliners for Belfast Vital with special guest Johnny Marr.
The Las Vegas band make their return to the city for the first time since 2019 for the show and since being formed in 2003, have gone on to become one of the biggest bands in the world
blink-182 - September 4
Where: SSE Arena
Multi-platinum, award-winning group blink-182 have announced their biggest tour ever, a colossal global outing with Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker reuniting for the first time in nearly 10 years.
Produced by Live Nation, the worldwide trek includes a show right here in Belfast.
Nathan Carter - September 22
Where: Waterfront Hall
Nathan Carter is back on the road and stopping off in Belfast with special guest up-and-coming folk band Ceol.
To date Nathan has recorded six number-one albums in Ireland and his new album, The Morning After includes the singles ‘This Journey’, ‘Keg Of Brandy’, ‘The Morning After’ and ‘Heave Away’.
READ NEXT:
- Lizzo announces huge outdoor Belfast gig for 2023
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- N-Dubz announced as first headliners for CHSq 2023
- NI rock band ASH reflect on 30-year career
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