Chili Peppers spice up opening day of Tennent's Vital

Legendary US rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers kicked off this year's Tennent's Vital in typically funky style, delighting more than 30,000 screaming fans with a sensational mix of new tracks, instrumental jams and crowd pleasing classics.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Aug 2016, 13:30 BST
Updated 26th Aug 2016, 17:36 BST
Red Hot Chili Peppers lead singer Anthony Kiedis and guitarist Josh Klinghoffer on stage at Tennent's Vital. Pic by Freddie Parkinson, PressEyeRed Hot Chili Peppers lead singer Anthony Kiedis and guitarist Josh Klinghoffer on stage at Tennent's Vital. Pic by Freddie Parkinson, PressEye
Red Hot Chili Peppers lead singer Anthony Kiedis and guitarist Josh Klinghoffer on stage at Tennent's Vital. Pic by Freddie Parkinson, PressEye

The Los Angeles-based four-piece - Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith and Josh Klinghoffer - were supported on the opening day of the annual music festival by several other top acts including Fall Out Boy and Labrinth.

As darkness fell over Boucher Road Playing Fields, the Chili Peppers came on stage to a rapturous welcome, opening up with a three-way intro jam before launching into a setlist peppered with some of their biggest hits, including Can’t Stop, Dani California, Scar Tissue, Californication and By the Way.

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The multi-award winning rockers played several tracks from their 2016 album The Getaway, as well a number of classic crowd pleasers that got fans singing along. Chad and Josh even struck up an impromptu rendition of Joan Jett’s ‘I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll’, which also went down well with the huge crowd of all ages.

Bass player Flea rocking out at Tennent's Vital. Pic by Freddie Parkinson, PressEyeBass player Flea rocking out at Tennent's Vital. Pic by Freddie Parkinson, PressEye
Bass player Flea rocking out at Tennent's Vital. Pic by Freddie Parkinson, PressEye

As expected, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famers’ biggest hits really got the place rocking, with Suck My Kiss, Under the Bridge and the band’s final song of the night, Give It Away, among the highlights.

Having last performed in Belfast at the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards, local Chili Peppers fans will be hoping they don’t have to wait another five years for their musical heroes to return to Northern Ireland.