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Stars perform at Titanic festival

Thousands of music lovers packed the docks where the Titanic was built for a star-studded pop concert ahead of the 100th anniversary of the ship's sinking.

Chart toppers Olly Murs and Pixie Lott entertained an estimated 16,000 who braved the cold in Belfast for the spectacular open-air gig.

Staged in front of the new multi-million-pound visitor attraction dedicated to the doomed liner, the MTV Titanic Sounds festival also saw performances from artists Sean Paul, Rizzle Kicks and Katy B.

The old dockland slipway where revellers gathered for the music extravaganza witnessed another major event 101 years ago, when thousands congregated to see the Titanic launched into the water for the first time.

Belfast's most famous export sank a year later after striking an iceberg on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic.

The Titanic Sounds gig is among a series of high profile events being staged in the city to mark the enduring legacy of the ship.

While the mood was upbeat, a more sombre tone will be set over the weekend as Belfast commemorates Saturday night's anniversary of the disaster that claimed more than 1,500 lives.

Staged in collaboration with Belfast City Council and Northern Ireland Tourist Board, the gig was filmed and will be broadcast across 153 territories around the world as part of MTV's World Stage series.

Source: music.uk.msn.com
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