Kaiser Chiefs kick off city festival

Snow Patrol are headlining Wednesday's gig

Belfast's biggest outdoor music event has kicked off in Botanic Park.

The Kaiser Chiefs headlined Tuesday's gig which was attended by thousands of fans.

Snow Patrol were top of the bill on Wednesday at the two-day Tennents Vital urban music festival, now in its fifth year.

Bands also performed in the BBC Radio One tent.

Speaking to BBC Newsline, the Kaiser Chiefs said they were going to showcase material from their forthcoming album.

Nick Hodgson of the group said: "We have songs from the next record written, but not recorded yet, and we are going to road test them."

Fellow member Ricky Wilson said: "The excitement of playing a new song - and when I think it is at the best bit - the audience really move and get into it.

"At that point you think: 'Yes, we are doing our job properly'.

"I have seen people singing along to the new ones and by the time the second chorus comes, they are all singing along - they may not know the precise words, but they are giving it a go."

Also on stage on Tuesday night were the Raconteurs, a US band with a huge UK following.

Their album Broken Boy Soldiers went straight to number one in the UK charts.

Snow Patrol headlined Wednesday's gig, which was expected to attract about 20,000 fans. Editors were also on the bill.