Aitch Live at Botanic Gardens: Everything you need to know before you go
Last updated 8th Jun 2023
Mancunian rapper Aitch is headlining Live at Botanic Gardens tonight to a sold-out Belfast crowd.
Antslive was recently announced as support!
The rapper's first single 'Taste (Make It Shake)' made its debut in the UK charts back in 2019, and Aitch has enjoyed an incredible career ever since, with huge tracks like 'Rain' with AJ Tracey, 'Baby' and 'Psycho' with Anne-Marie - and he even bagged his first BRIT Award at the 2023 ceremony!
Tickets for tonight’s show sold out in no time, it’s safe to say Aitch has more than a couple of fans here in Belfast.
If you were lucky enough to get your hands on a tickets, we’ve got a helpful guide on everything you need to know before you go…
ENTRY POINTS
GATES OPEN AT 6.30PM ON THURSDAY 8TH JUNE
Entry to the venue is via the following entrances ONLY to the Botanic Gardens:
-Main Gate on University Road (between Queen’s University and Ulster Museum)
Box office for sales and ticket collection located at this entrance.
-Queens Library, Botanic Avenue (Wheelchair Accessible Entrance)
FOOD & DRINKS
It’s important to know that the bars at the venue are CARD ONLY - not cash!
Concessions are cash and card. There will be no ATMs inside the park. Once a patron has exited the venue, re-entry is not possible, so it’s important to be prepared!
Proof of age may be required if you wish to purchase alcohol.
Drinking water fountains will be available at various points throughout the venue.
TRANSPORT
Bus & Rail options can bring you within 5 minutes’ walk to the venue, visit translink.co.uk for further information.
PARKING
Event organisers have asked drivers to use car parks on the outer perimeter and walk to the venue.
Aiken Promotions have advised: “Pay particular attention to on-street parking signs such as pay & display and do not park in restricted or ‘no parking’ areas as a robust parking enforcement operation will be in place.”
TICKET INFORMATION
Ticketmaster is the official ticket seller for this event. Beware of bogus ticket sellers & tour operators. Do not buy tickets from unofficial sources (including websites).
Standing Tickets are the only tickets on sale. No type of seating will be allowed inside the venue as these are prohibited.
Please refrain from bringing any fold up seating, inflatables, or any form of temporary seating as you will not be allowed enter the venue with them.
WHAT WILL THE WEATHER BE LIKE?
Today: A dry mostly sunny and warm day. Cloud in the east will clear during the morning leaving the afternoon sunny but cooler in the onshore easterly breeze. Maximum temperature 19 °C.
Tonight: The night will continue dry with long bright or clear periods. Patchy cloud will thicken across eastern parts at times towards morning. Minimum temperature 5 °C.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
❌ Umbrellas
❌ Cameras in excess of 35mm Lens and video recorders
❌ Flag poles, sticks for banners or selfie sticks
❌ Bottles, glass vessels, cans, flasks, Frisbees, and similar items, dangerous or hazardous, illegal substances
❌ Scooters, skateboards, or other skates
❌ Prams/push chairs
❌ Inflatable and folding chairs
❌ Large suitcases/rucksacks
❌ Alcohol, drinks or food
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT AITCH:
Aitch wasn't always so smooth on Instagram
Aitch is extremely active on social media, but if you scroll back to his very first post, he wasn't as smooth as he comes across now. He also wasn't always so well dressed on Instagram as his first post on the 'gram was a very cheeky video of him covered by just a towel.
Aitch regularly treats his fans
He really loves his fans, no really! In 2021, Aitch treated a fan to a shopping spree at Selfridges for her birthday and documented the whole thing on Tik Tok. Do you think he'll repeat the gesture?
He used to be a labourer
Aitch knows what it's like to do a hard day's graft. Before making the big time in the world of music and rap, he worked with his Grandad as a labourer.
He's known for his freestyles
If you cast your minds back to 2018, Aitch went viral after dropping a freestyle rap, at just 18-years-old. The video catapulted him to fame, and kickstarted a pretty epic career.
He's not afraid to speak his mind
Aitch will tell it how it is! In 2021, the rapper spoke out against criticism surrounding the 'Learning Curve' artwork'. Following negative comments about the diverse models featuring in his 'Learning Curve' music video, he spoke out on Spotify's Who We Be TALKS_ podcast, where he admitted he found it "hard to witness."
He said: "All the negative stuff was mad to see; obviously, rappers get hate all the time, but it was a lot, and it was also s--t to see men hating on girls that much, it's hard to witness."
He’s a Manchester boy
He's often jetting all over the world and enjoying global success, but Aitch still lives in his hometown of New Moston, Manchester. He was born and raised in the major city, and speaking to NME he said: "The Manchester scene is getting bigger and bigger and artists are getting more views online a lot quicker. It feels like it's gradually moving forward."
'Rain' with AJ Tracey is his most viewed music video
With over a whopping 61 million views, Aitch and AJ Tracey's track 'Rain' serves as the rapper's most viewed music video on YouTube at the minute.
His other most viewed videos include 'Taste (Make It Shake)' (48 million), 'Straight Rhymez' (26 million), 'Buss Down' (20 million) and 'Baby' (18 million).
Watch the official music video for 'Rain' here on YouTube.
He has a sister
Aitch likes to keep his personal life private, however touched all of our hearts in August 2022 when he released his track 'My G'. The song is dedicated to his sister, Gracie Armstrong, who has Down Syndrome, with Aitch revealing that all the funds generated from the song were donated to the Down's Syndrome Association.
Introducing the music video, Aitch writes: 'This song is dedicated to Gracie Armstrong. You have the biggest heart in the world! Don't change for no one. Love you kid x'.
Gracie has been spotted regularly on Aitch's TikTok and Instagram Stories - and it's clear the pair are incredibly close!
Watch the official music video for 'My G' here on YouTube.
He's won a BRIT Award for Best Hip Hop/Rap/Grime Act
On 11th February, Aitch won Best Hop/Rap/Grime Act at The BRIT Awards 2023! The rapper gave an inspiring acceptance speech, telling fans: "I just want to say not many people where I'm from, especially my side of Manchester, get the opportunity to stand up here and receive such an amazing gift or reward. I think that's the main reason I do it, to set examples, to make people know that, it's possible no matter where you're from and just because not 5 million people have done it before you, that you can do it. So yeah big up everyone."
He has performed with Coldplay
As 'A Sky Full Of Stars' legends Coldplay brought their 'Music Of The Spheres' world tour to Manchester in June 2023, the band celebrated the city's musical talent by bringing none other than Aitch onto the stage! Standing alongside the band, Aitch performed his hit 'Buss Down', much to the delight of the adoring crowd!