Lionel Richie at Belsonic 2023: Everything you need to know before you go
Last updated 2nd Jun 2023
International superstar Lionel Richie will be performing ‘All Night Long’ this weekend in Belfast’s Ormeau Park.
His music is part of the fabric of pop music with more than 125 million albums sold worldwide.
Kicking off a month-long run of shows, Belsonic is back and with one of the biggest names in music.
Also on the bill on Saturday are Human League and Cool FM’s very own Pete Snodden.
It’s going to be a special evening in the heart of the city – if you were lucky to get your hands on tickets, there’s some important thing you need to know before you go.
Check it out 👇
What time do gates open at Belsonic 2023?
Gates open at 6pm.
Curfew is 11pm.
Where can you park at Belsonic?
Organisers are advising those attending the gigs to use public transport as there are NO parking facilities at the site.
Translink are running special bus, coach and rail travel services for Belsonic events - for more info visit translink.co.uk/belsonic
Are there still tickets available for Lionel Richie at Belsonic?
There's a limited amount of tickets left, you can purchase them via ticketmaster.ie
Who will be supporting Lionel Richie at Belsonic?
Pete Snodden
Human League
Lionel Richie
Is there food and drink at Belsonic?
There are a number of food and drinks stations dotted across the site, so there will be plenty to eat and drink throughout the night.
Things you CANNOT bring with you to Belsonic 2023
❌ Alcohol
❌ Food
❌ Fireworks or flags
❌ Umbrellas
❌ Foldable chairs or garden furniture
❌ Professional recording equipment (audio or visual)
What will the weather be like this weekend?
Saturday looks set to be another glorious day, with sunshine and blue skies forecast.
Any mist or fog patches will soon clear during the morning, then bright for most parts with some warm sunshine. Maximum temperature 21 °C.
Take a look back at some of Lionel Richie's biggest career moments:
Early career
Born in Alabama in 1949, Lionel Richie was a talented tennis player which earned him a scholarship to the Tuskegee Institute. While at university, he got involved with several music groups which lead to him co-finding R&B group the Commodores in 1968.
Commodores
After opening for the Jackson 5 on their 1971 tour, the Commodores were signed to Motown Records in 1972, with Lionel Richie as a singer, saxophonist, pianist and songwriter for the band.
They released their debut album 'Machine Gun' in 1974, later releasing their highly popular 'Commodores' album. They enjoyed great success throughout the 70s, and the band is still performing today.
1981 - 'Endless Love'
Lionel Richie wrote 'Endless Love' and recorded the song with Diana Ross in 1981 and it was the theme song for the film of the same name.
This song along with the song 'Lady' which he wrote for Kenny Rodgers in 1980 was the starting point for Lionel Richie's solo career.
1981 - Solo career
After developing his songwriting and musical talents in Commodores, Lionel made the decision to step away from the group and go solo. He brought out his self-titled debut album in 1982, which contained hit songs like 'Truly', 'You Are' and 'My Love'.
1983 - 'Can't Slow Down'
'Can't Slow Down' was Lionel Richie's next solo album which came out in 1983 and received two Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Song of the Year.
It included the track 'All Night Long' which made it to Number 2 in the UK Charts and kickstarted his solo success in the UK.
1984 - Olympic Games Closing Ceremony
Lionel Richie put on a spectacular performance when he sang his hit song 'All Night Long' at the closing ceremony for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
1985 - U.S.A. for Africa
In 1985, Lionel Richie co-wrote the charity single 'We Are The World' with Michael Jackson for U.S.A. for Africa. The track features many big names in music including Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Cyndi Lauper, Diana Ross and Tina Turner, and the single sold more than 20 million copies.
Watch 'We Are The World' on YouTube
1986 - 'Dancing on the Ceiling'
Arguably his best album to date, 'Dancing On The Ceiling' came out in 1986 and included the hit songs 'Ballerina Girl', 'Love Will Conquer All' and of course 'Dancing on the Ceiling'.
The track 'Say You, Say Me' featured in the film White Nights and the song won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.
Taking a break from music
In 1987 Lionel Richie took a break from music and the public eye for to look after his father who was unwell at the time. He sadly passed away in 1990 at the age of 75.
Lionel came back with a greatest-hits collection called 'Back to Front' in 1992, and his fourth studio album 'Louder Than Words' in 1996.
1994 - Songwriters Hall of Fame
Lionel Richie joined the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994, and in 2016 he received the Johnny Mercer Award, which is the organisation's highest honour.
2013 - 'All the Hits, All Night Long' tour
Lionel Richie embarked on his two year 'All the Hits, All Night Long' tour in 2013, followed by a Las Vegas residency of the same name from 2016-2017.
He has now returned for another Las Vegas Residency called Back To Las Vegas taking place throughout 2022.
2017 - Kennedy Center Honoree
Lionel Richie has been honoured with numerous awards and recognitions over the years including becoming a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2017 for his standout career.
American Idol Judge
Using his many years of music knowledge, Lionel Richie turned his talents to helping contestants on the 2018 reboot of American Idol. He has been on the judging panel with Katy Perry and Luke Bryan since.
Awards
Throughout his decade-spanning career, Lionel Richie has won many awards for his contribution to music including winning the People's Choice Award five times, and taking home 18 American Music Awards, an Academy Award, the BET Lifetime Achievement Award and five Grammys, to name a few.
2022 - Lionel Richie is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2022, Lionel Richie was announced as one of the nominees for the next Rock and Roll Hall of Fame intake. In May he was announced as one of the inductees, which he said was: 'An incredible honor'. The induction ceremony will take place on 5th November in Los Angeles.
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