NEWS: Muse announced for Vital with Biffy Clyro

ONE of the biggest stadium bands in Europe are making a return to Belfast to headline the Vital festival on August 23rd, with perennial visitors as special guests on Belfast's Boucher Road Playing Fields.

With an honourable alumni of the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Foo Fighters Muse promise to up the proverbial ante with their prog-rooted rock.

Matt Bellamy has Northern Irish based history, but he and Chris Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard formed in what seems like ancient history to the many fans of the Teignmouth rockers back when they emerged in the 90s.

Since then the band have climbed the proverbial ladder, with tracks like Supermassive Black Hole and 'Knights of Cydonia (with its nod to his parental influences - his father played in The Tornadoes - with echoes of the 60s hit 'Telstar') and their 2015 album 'Drones' seeing them return to a more rock-based sound after the electronic era.

The band are currently working on a new album, with tracks from it no doubt to be aired.

Biffy Clyro have been regular visitors to the city, and although they have an alt edge there is still the rock sensibilities and prog edged to a lot of their tracks.

Support acts include Nothing But Thieves and Fangiclub. Tickets go on sale on Friday, May 5th.