Top DJs set to rock Ormeau Park in free concert promoting Covid vaccinations

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Danielle McElroy gets her jab in Belfast. Pic: Alan Lewis.

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Health Minister Robin Swann and Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey have welcomed the announcement of Emerge, a special music event at Ormeau Park on Friday week, September 17.

The event, from the team behind Belsonic and Shine, will feature an all-star line-up of internationally renowned DJs.

It will help promote awareness around the importance of COVID-19 vaccination.

This month will see a concerted drive to encourage vaccination of young people – including students in higher and further education. More than 70% of 18-29-year-olds in NI have now had at least one vaccine jab.

The Emerge event is also an acknowledgement of the impact of the pandemic on younger people and the sacrifices they have made.

The Department of Health and Department for Communities have supported the event through the provision of £75k.

Admission to Emerge will depend on your vaccination status – you will need to have been fully vaccinated with both vaccine jabs – or have had one jab plus a negative lateral flow test.

Tickets to the event are free - with a £2 booking fee, £1 of which will go to Vaccinaid, the UNICEF charity which improves access to vaccinations in the developing world.


Stormont health minister Robin Swann

Health Minister Robin Swann said: “I very much welcome this initiative by a leading concert promoter to stage this special event.

“Intensive efforts are continuing to encourage more of our younger people to get vaccinated. I have no hesitation in supporting the raising of awareness through a high profile event of this nature.”

Walk-in vaccination clinics are continuing at different locations across NI.

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey said: “We have asked an awful lot of our younger people over the last 18 months. A live gig is a fantastic way to acknowledge their immense contribution.

“I also welcome the co-operation between my Department and the Department of Health to help make this happen.

“We all want to get normality back – including a full return of live music and other arts events. Vaccination is vital to that.”

Danielle McElroy gets her jab in Belfast. Pic: Alan Lewis

Organisers say it's a free thank you event for music fans. They've issued this statement:

EMERGE is a one-off free “Thank You” event for Northern Ireland music fans, brought to you by the team behind Belsonic and Shine. Featuring an all-star line-up of internationally renowned DJs, including Alan Fitzpatrick, Eats Everything & Mella Dee, the event takes place at Ormeau Park in Belfast, on the Belsonic concert site, on Friday 17th September 2021. 

Tickets will be available on Wednesday from 10am on Ticketmaster. 

All concert tickets will be free and administered by Ticketmaster. All tickets will be subject to a £2 booking fee, £1 of which will be donated to UNICEF’s Vaccinaid campaign for access to vaccinations in the developed world, whilst the remaining £1 will cover transaction and booking fees. 

The event will help encourage awareness around the importance of Covid-19 vaccination. This month will see a concerted vaccination push for students in FE colleges and universities across NI.

EMERGE also acknowledges the impact of the pandemic on younger people and is a thank you for all the sacrifices they have made in the battle against Covid.

A total of £75k from the Department of Health and Department for Communities has been provided to help make the event happen, with the remainder of the costs being covered by the organisers of Belsonic. 

Patrons must all have had a minimum of one dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccination as part of the Northern Ireland Vaccination Programme to be eligible to attend, ***(this can be done anytime up until the day of the event)***  full ticketing and entrance criteria can be found below, or at www.belsonic.com/emerge.php 

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