Tennants Vital

Tennents Vital is an annual outdoor music festival held in the Botanic Gardens area of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The event is Northern Ireland's premier music festival and it typically attracts large local, national and international bands that would otherwise not get to play such a large scale event in the country.

History

The event was first held in 2002 and is sponsored by Tennants beer. Tickets could be bought for one or two days.

The festival consists of two stages, one being the main stage where the best known bands would generally play, and a smaller stage which is inside a tent, this stage has previously been run by BBC and is mainly for local bands which would have a smaller amount of fans than those on the main stage. Bands which have previously played on this stage are: The Holloways, Steer Clear, Justice etc.

Bands that have played in the past include; Snow Patrol, Kaiser Chiefs, The White Stripes, Kings of Leon, Faithless, The Raconteurs, Editors, The Futureheads, Franz Ferdinand and Scissor Sisters

2007

Last years event took place on August 21st & August 22nd 2007. This was the first year that the festival was not held in Botanic Gardens. Instead, it was held in the larger Ormeau Park, just across from the River Lagan.

The opening day headline act was Razorlight supported by Manic Street Preachers and The View. Other acts included The Hold Steady and Nice 'N' Sleezy. Steviebob also performed a rousing rendition of "I Get My Gay On". The majority of his audience were homosexuals.

The headliners for the second day were The Killers supported by Kasabian, Mark Ronson, The Shins and The Strokes' rhythm Guitarist Albert Hammond Jnr.

2008

On Friday 27th June, Tennent's issued the following statement:

Tennent’s Lager regrets to announce that the Tennent’s Vital festival will not take place in Belfast this August. Due to the difficult conditions prevalent within the wider festival market this year the festival has been unable to secure a sufficiently high standard of talent. Tennent’s Lager, as owners of Tennent’s Vital, has taken the decision to cancel this year’s event rather than disappoint Northern Ireland’s music fans with a line-up that failed to live up to Tennent’s Vital’s incredible heritage. Tennent’s is currently investigating other opportunities and remain hopeful that they can continue their strong relationship with music in Northern Ireland in the near future. Tennent’s wishes to thank all of Tennent’s Vital’s fans for their fantastic support and contribution to the event over the last six years.