Westlife are back in black belfast concerts review


Band kicks off new tour in style at Odyssey
Tuesday, February 26, 2008

By Victoria O'Hara

Irish pop stars Westlife came 'back home' to their Belfast fans last night kicking off the first show of a sensational new tour in style.

Thousands of fans - aged from seven to 70 - enjoyed the funky, uptempo show as Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne returned to the Odyssey Arena for the first of three live performances.

The chart-toppers, emerged on stage dressed in Top Gun inspired aviator sunglasses and black leather jackets.

The four-piece - who have just finished recording new tracks in their recording studio - had fans screaming as they took centre stage and performed from an impressive back catalogue spanning 10 years.

The boys gave the audience a concert packed with all of Westlife's greatest anthems and number one hits, including tracks from their new album Back Home to mark their anniversary tour.

Favourites such as World of Our Own and Uptown Girl were among the opening numbers of the crowd-pleasing energetic set.

And in keeping with a funkier more soulful show the four piece performed a medley of Justin Timberlake, Kool and the Gang, Jackson 5, Wham! and Robbie Williams' tracks.

Fans cried out for more as the boys performed with a new backing band and a trio of female singers called the Westettes.

While Shane singled out his wife Gillian - who was in the audience during the gig - dedicating the track 'I'm Already There' to her.

With 14 number one singles under their belt, the Irish boyband are currently celebrating a decade in the music business.

And to mark their massive success at the top of the charts since 1998 Kian thanked the Belfast fans for the constant support in making their dream come true.

" When we started we wanted to be the biggest band that we could be," he said.

"And thanks to you all we have done that. Thank you for all your love."

Speaking ahead of the gigs, the last of which is on Wednesday, Shane said: "This is the best set list we have ever done, without a doubt.

He hinted: 'This show is about 20 minutes longer than usual. Don't leave before the encore - the encore is worth waiting for."

Source Belfast telegrpah

Westlife are Top Guns at Odyssey
Tuesday, February 26, 2008

By Victoria O'Hara

Irish pop stars Westlife today announced a new date for Belfast fans as they kicked off the first show of a sensational new tour in style.

Thousands of fans - aged from seven to 70 - enjoyed the funky, uptempo show as Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne returned to the Odyssey Arena last night for the first of three live performances.

And the boys today revealed that they have added a return date for the Odyssey Arena for May 27.

The chart-toppers emerged on stage last night dressed in Top Gun inspired aviator sunglasses and black leather jackets.

The four-piece - who have just finished recording new tracks in their recording studio - had fans screaming as they took centre stage and performed from an impressive back catalogue spanning 10 years.

The boys gave the audience a concert packed with all of Westlife's greatest anthems and number one hits, including tracks from their new album, Back Home, to mark their anniversary tour.

Favourites such as World of Our Own and Uptown Girl were among the opening numbers of the crowd-pleasing, energetic set.

And in keeping with a funkier, more soulful show, the four piece performed a medley of Justin Timberlake, Kool and the Gang, Jackson 5, Wham! and Robbie Williams' tracks.

Fans cried out for more as the boys performed with a new backing band and a trio of female singers called the Westettes.

Shane singled out his wife Gillian - who was in the audience during the gig - dedicating the track 'I'm Already There' to her.

With 14 number one singles under their belt, the Irish boyband are currently celebrating a decade in the music business.

And to mark their massive success at the top of the charts since 1998, Kian thanked the Belfast fans for the constant support in making their dream come true.

"When we started we wanted to be the biggest band that we could be," he said.

"And thanks to you all we have done that. Thank you for all your love."

Speaking ahead of the gigs, the last of which is on Wednesday, Shane said: " This is the best set list we have ever done, without a doubt.

He hinted: "This show is about 20 minutes longer than usual.

"Don't leave before the encore - the encore is worth waiting for."

Tickets for the May Westlife show are available from the Odyssey Arena Box Office on 9073 9074 and all usual Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets will go on sale this Saturday at 9am

Belfast telegraph

Back in Black:



Irish superstars Westlife came 'Home' last night to kick start their special 10th anniversary tour.

The fab four rewarded their passionate Northern Ireland fans with a magnificent energetic opening night gig in the glow-stick-lit Odyssey Arena.

For the past decade the boys have rocked the grand Belfast venue to sell-out audiences.

And they continue to amaze and excite, breathing new life into every concert they play.

Manager Louis Walsh was in the house to experience his boys' very own X-Factor - and there's no doubt Simon Cowell would have been impressed had he been there, too.

The screaming crowd was treated to a variety of songs ranging from Westlife's first single Swear it Again right up to their latest material from current album Back Home.

The boys also added in a medley for fun half way through the night, which included Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back, Jackson Five favourite Blame it on the Boogie and Robbie Williams smash hit Let me Entertain You.

Much effort was also put into the stunning setting with everything from airports to candles appearing on the lit up backdrops throughout the evening.

The four glamorous back-up girls, named the 'Westettes' by the boys, added an extra dimension to the show, as did the acoustic section with Kian joined in with his guitar.

The Belfast leg of the tour continues tonight and tomorrow.

Source Carla @ shane filan nl

Thanks Jo for posting.

Thnx,

Well girls,this not a detailed review as it has passed so fast that it is hard to retain all what when on.All I can say you will not be disappointed.OMGGGGGGGGGGG.It was the best night of my life.


From the start to finish they sang liked they have never sang before.The vocals were on song,no mistakes in the songs,no dance routines were messed up.It was slick,professional & everything fell in to place.


How the lads ever learnt how to dance & rehearse it all I'll never know.The songs were picked just right,some were changed which made it more exciting.Considering they have been busy with interviews,promos etc.they are amazing.


The fans absolutely went bonkers when the music first started & they had a rapturous welcome that nearly raised the roof.I hadn't been inside the 02 before & I live very near about 20 minutes away.It is an awesome arena supposed to be the biggest in Euro

pe.

Shane when he was talking said to the fans right up near the roof,hello to all of you who are 2 miles up.The atmosphere was electric.

The WESTETTES who were the singers who sang with the lads on some songs were very good.Also the musicians,they were first class.

BTW Shane started a Mexican wave & we all were doing it,it was a great laugh. :lol:



The lights,fireworks & stage sets were awesome.Kian & Mark designed one of the sets,It has a big W on the stage all in lights.Fabulous stage setting etc,The very best I have seen.Not too fancy or dull just right.

The lads put their heart & soul into this concert last night.I stood from about 8.35pm - 10.20 ishpm.I was clapping,screaming.singing until the very end.Had a dry sore throat,but it was worth the pain. :lol:

The concert audience was the most I had seen with all ages.There were many family groups & couples,young & older.

Louis arrived just before the lads came on stage with Kevin.Everyone was giving them a rapturous applause.

When the speeches were said I remember Mark saying thankyou to Kevin.Kian said this would be the last concert as an unmarried man.I don't remember anything else.Also they would be back next year.I don't think he meant concert tours but the album,that's my opinion. Of course they all thanked the fans who have supported them over the last 9-10 years.

Well I think I have said it all.Anyone going to the concerts have the best time of your life.Enjoy every moment,because it is FABEROONEY,SUPER,FABULOUS,BRILLIANT.& THE LADS ARE JUST SUPERB.Well done MARK,SHANE,NICKY & KIANxxxxx :P bighug blow a kiss westliferthebest

awww it seems you had an amaaazing time.. thank you for oyur review.. love to read other experiences :-8f


i just finished my review from the kick off concert in belfast..
sorry girls for my bad english.. hope you will understand everything :-(blush

so here it comes..

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

well i will start at the beginning..
we (my friends and i) went to the concert in Belfast and i swear i have never been that nervous before a concert *lol*
it was my first kick-off concert and well.. a front row.. OH MY GOD..
i donno what will happen.. donno where to look.. so you can imagine how nervous i really really was ;)
okay the time went by.. the mcdonald brother were absolutely great by the way ;)
and than the show started..
oh my god i thought i have to die but it would have been the best death on earth..
this massive screen infront of me .. and if you sit that near at the stage you can see trough this screen.. and you can see the lads.. and what will be their first song???

hit you with the real thing.. MY hit you with the real thing.. it coudn't have been better.. BUT.. there where all these press photographers.. on one of this ... aarrggg.. damn photographers was standing right infront of me!!!
and he was standing on a platform of the barrier. First i thought he was joking.. but unfortunately not. well so i had to find a way to see something.. i paid for my seats.. so no photographer will spoil that for me! i had a short discussion with him but as i noticed he didn't even bother.. i just thought "**** you! i will get what want" .. well so the time came by to be creative.. i was leaning on the barrier the upper part of my body.. my head under the arm and beside the chest of the photographer.. with all the cams everywhere around my head *lol* BUT i could see the lads on the stage YEAAAHHH... ;) .. but oooopppsss.. nicky seem to notice my little fight *blush*
he just looked at me with a huuuuuuuge smile on his face and winked at me.. from that moment on i was totally in love with Nicky ;) *lol*
my friend besides me always says "look mila he is watching at you! Nicky has it in for you!!!" ... it was soooo funny... the funniest thing was, when Nicky has to be cool and arrogant at one song. He stands right infront of me looking at me.. and all i could do was laughing. And you saw Nicky trying NOT to laugh but the corners of his mouth went up higher und higher to a big and cute smile. i just made a thumbup and got another wink back *sigh*
but the other lads were as cute as nicky was. For example shaney .. oh my god.. he seems to be the daddy of the lads.. especially Marks daddy. When Mark was saying his Thank yous you just saw Shane right beside him, just waitin for that one moment.. the moment when Mark was saying hi to his BOYFRIEND kevin. and all the stress droped down from Mark AND shaney.. it was like Mark has his outing on stage ;)
another situation was when Mark had to sing his amazing part of flying without wings.. with a tone he has to sing that was soooooooooooooo amazing.. donno what it's called in english.. but he has to sing this tone veeeery long ... and he gave his best and did it perfectly!! and Shane freaked out in a positiv way.. just hoped around and clapped and he was sooooooooooooo fuckin proud of Mark, i nearly cried when i saw this (well ok i have to mention i cry very fast... i cry at nearly every movie which is a bit sad etc)
i could tell you every minute of this concert coz it was reeeally special for me this time..
but there is still one thing i have to tell you ... during the acoutic part i had just eyes for Mark (sorry nicky ;) ).. he looked so amazing in his clothes, like the other too.. but Mark a bit more ;)
(i was wearing my "german girl" shirt this evening) and while i was staring at Mark.. and dreaming wild dreams *lol*, i noticed that he said something to me..
did you ever tried so read from someones lips if it's a language you don't speak that good??? i was standing there .. thinking.. and thinking.. what does he said? oh my god my brain was working really hard.. and he must have noticed that.. the huuuuge questionmarks around my head *lol* he was so sweet .. he repeated what he have said before and he just asked "german?".. and i just thought.. well Mark.. you saw my shirt.. my GERMAN girl shirt.. why do you ask me?? .. but it was a typical Mark one ;) i just nodded with a big smile on my face.. and his sweet smile turned to a huge smile combined with a thumbsup and a whispered "great". and it become clear why Mark was and will always be my fave.
i love them all.. each one has his own preferences.. but noone can be cuter than Mark ;)

all i can say about the concert is WOOOW.. i had such an amazing time and i don't want to miss just a second of this concert.. the accoustic part gave me goosebumps.. i loved the accoustic part at the greatest hits tour sooo much.. and it was one of their best ideas do make soemthing like this again!!!

you can all be sooo excited to go to a concert and i hope you all will have such an amazing time like i had!!!!!

Aw Thank you so much girls for you reviews. it makes me even more look forward to going. only two eeeks and a bit left yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee/...you cheered me up with the stories.. I have the flu and so feel tried and yucky so thanks again xx

Hi Mila,I love your review also,Yes Mark is a sweetie, His voice is awesome,as you said when he sang Flying Without Wings he sang one note so long.I shouted out wooow go on MARKY. :D

Ive putyour reviews on the main site thnaks so much..

WESTLIFE: A winning formula, even when the lights go out
Mar 3 2008 by Michelle Fiddler, Liverpool Daily Post


WESTLIFE: A winning formula, even when the lights go out

WHEN your audience fan base spans from seven to 70 and you’ve had more number one singles than your youngest fan has had hot school dinners, you know you must be on to a winning formula.

Even after 10 years, it’s hard to see where Westlife have put a foot wrong.

These days, it’s a more mature Irish quartet who entertain audiences with their chart-topping ballads and contemporary take on classic tracks.

Their first visit to the Echo Arena signalled the beginning of their 10th anniversary tour – the Back Home Tour 2008.

Problems with ticket allocations by the ticketing agency proved frustrating for some angry fans who queued for up to an hour at the Arena box office – meaning some missed the first part of Westlife’s two-hour long set.

But, in the build-up to the show, the atmosphere was electric and the packed Arena was lit up with flashing lights, wands and rabbit ears as excited fans took to their seats.

And as the foursome launched into a number of new and cover tracks, screams echoed around the Arena.

Fans sang along to favourites including World of Our Own, What Makes a Man and Uptown Girl before the band changed the mood with contemporary versions of classic tracks including Barry Manilow’s Mandy; the Jackson 5’s Don’t Blame It on the sunshine and Kool and the Gang’s Get, Down On it.

The Arena was lit up with fireworks, lasers and an impressive light show. A minor technical glitch part way through led to a loss of sound and lighting, but singer Shane Filan apologised to the crowd and reassured them they would always remember Liverpool as the place they performed “the night the power went down”.

The problem was fixed within minutes and the show continued without a hitch.

MICHELLE FIDDLER

Liverpool daily post

Thanks girls for posting your reviews there great :D glad you all had a great time at the shows you have seen so far it sounds like it is another great tour :D

WestlifeECHO Arena
Mar 3 2008 by Michelle Fiddler, Liverpool Echo

WHEN your audience fan base spans from seven to 70 and you've had more number one singles than your youngest fan has had hot school dinners you know you must be on to a winning formula.

Even after 10 years it’s hard to see where Westlife have put a foot wrong.

These days it’s a more mature Irish quartet who entertain audiences with their chart-topping ballads and contemporary take on classic tracks.

Their first visit to the ECHO arena signalled the beginning of their 10th anniversary tour – the Back Home Tour 2008.

Problems with ticket allocations by the ticketing agency proved frustrating for some angry fans who queued for up to an hour at the arena box office – meaning some missed the first part of Westlife's two hour long set.

But in the build up to the show the atmosphere was electric and the packed arena was lit up with flashing lights, wands and rabbit ears as excited fans took to their seats.

And as the foursome launched into a number of new and cover tracks screams echoed around the arena.

Fans sang along to favourites including World Of Our Own, What Makes A Man and Uptown Girl before the band changed the mood with contemporary versions of classic tracks including Barry Manilow's Mandy; the Jackson 5's Don’t Blame It On The sunshine and Kool And The Gang’s Get Down On it.

In a mix of styles the energetic foursome then moved on to lively tracks with versions of Robbie Williams’ Let Me Entertain You and Justin Timberlake’s SexyBack.

The arena was lit up with fireworks, lasers and an impressive light show.

A minor technical glitch part way through led to a loss of sound and lighting but singer Shane Filan apologised to the crowd and reassured them that they would always remember Liverpool as the place they performed “the night the power went down”.

The problem was fixed within minutes and the show continued without a hitch.

Although all four are accomplished singers and dancers it was Mark Feehily who stood out as the strongest vocalist.

Among the crowd-pleasers were Flying Without Wings, Swear It Again, Home, Hey Whatever and new single, Us Against The World with encores of When You’re Looking Like That and the fantastic Raise Me Up.

Rating: 8/10A wonderful (west)life

westlife echo

Thanks for posting Jo,looks like WESTLIFE are on a winner again.It is the best concert ever. :P bighug

I was at the same concert ,Kian said wow the o2 is big there was loads of people in here (20,000) .There was a problem with one of the Guitars so Shane had to talk to us while they were sorting out the problem so he decided to do a mexcian wave or as he called it the London Wave .Mark said that the o2 Arena was lovely he had been there to see the Spice girls and couldnt wait to play there.

The concert was amazing ,i also had a sore throat from all the screaming,singing i did ,to people that has not been yet it is well worth the wait .

Thanks Chantelle i cant wait to go, it looks so good yipeeeeeeeeeeeeee for two weeks,,,

Its soon! :D

Westlife, you raise me up...
Mar 13 2008 By Sarah Skarratt

WESTLIFE Birmingham NEC

EXPECTATIONS were high as Westlife returned to Birmingham and celebrated their 10th anniversary on their current Back Home 2008 tour.

After spending most of 2007 hidden away recording their Back Home album, Mark, Shane, Nicky and Kian took to the stage hidden behind a sci-fi style futuristic screen.

Kicking off with Hit You With The Real Thing/World Of Our Own and Something Right while removing the black modern boiler suits and shades to reveal the classic Rat Pack-style suits.

Slowing things down, the boys performed the heartfelt What Makes A Man before jumping into one of their most successful covers of Uptown Girl and taking us down memory lane with their first ever single If I Let You Go.

The boys didn't mind sharing the limelight letting their new all-girl backing quartet, The West-ettes, have a go at Beyonce's Naughty Boy to help kick off the cover version section which has become almost a standard part of Westlife tours.

Belting out the Jackson Five's Blame It On The Boogie and George Michael's I'm Your Man the guys never shy away from any style or songs.

The most awe-inspiring section of the show was the acoustic section with renditions of Unbreakable, Queen Of My Heart and Fool Again as their voices echoed around the arena making the hairs on your neck stand on end.

They finished the show with the explosive When You're Looking Like That and the big anthem You Raise Me Up which could easily have raised the roof.

There is always a niggling feeling everytime I see Westlife that it will be their last tour after having such a long and successful music career in a business where boybands come and go so quickly.

Let's hope not.

VERDICT: ****..SUPL:

Birminghammail.net

Lovely reviews :D I can't wait to see the tour myself :D :D :D

They are getting good reviews this year wihich is nice to see :D I hate reading about the bad ones I don't why people can write bad things about them

alright guys sorry for the wait but heres my london review its not very long cause i cant remember alot of it lmao just the main bits haha :) here ya go:


London was excilent, I was front row and it was brilliant, Nicky saw my banner that said ‘nickys just too sexy’ and laughed then REALLY played up to it like you know really flauting it about, it was brill. i could watch that boy forever!!!
I tried to get mark to smile as he looked really miserable but I think he was just concentrating lol
At one point Shane said ‘does everyone like the stage’ and me being me said ‘your europian fans don’t’ and he said ‘I heard a no’ and pointed down to a girl next to me, I put my hand up and tried to repeat myself but he didn’t hear me properly he just turned away and said ‘well we try our best’ I think that is wear Shane’s dislike for me started lmao! I also think I worsened it when he was over my side of the stage and the look on my face must have been like a wolf eyeing up a sheep and he didn’t seem to apreceate it :s lol (I didn’t mean too but I hadn’t noticed how buff n stuff hes looking at the moment until then! Lol) oh well never mind ;)
Anyway later on Kian saw my other banner that said ‘I’ll let you whip me if I misbehave’ and I think he appreciated it cause he laughed.

i'll put my cardiff review in the cardiff topic its a good bit longer lamo!!! ;)

Lots of fun it sounds ):)

thanks for posting hunie xxx

Thanks for posting hunnie :)

Thanks :D hugs

:)

Thanks for posting :)

Westlife @ The M.E.N Arena
Glenn Meads
16/ 3/2008
Westlife @ The M.E.N Arena

IT's too easy to knock to man-band Westlife. There are jokes about their choreography (shifting off their stools), their roles within the band (two sing, two just stand there) and their never-ending supply of ballads (have they got a love-song factory?). But ten years on, here they are packing out arenas.

They open the set Hit You With The Real Thing from the album Face To Face. Dressed in boiler suits, they resemble extras from Top Gun. The fans scream at heartthrob Nicky Byrne, as the band goes all up-tempo, silencing the ballad bashers.

They are backed by some delicious Dreamgirls style backing-vocalists. World Of Our Own is another cannon in their arsenal as it is not recycled. The crowd, including former Hollyoaks’ star Jodi Albert (Kian Egan’s fiancée) and photographer Kevin McDaid (Mark Feehily’s boyfriend) adore this band and do not see them as ‘boring’ – the label which they are so often given.

Some of the syrupy ballads like What Makes A Man are trademarks of this band and no gig would be complete without them. As for the famous stools; they only come out once during an acapella set.

The lads’ voices vary, but lead vocalist Shane brings emotion to every song he sings. Feehily’s vocals bind the tracks, as his range is as slick and polished as the gig itself. At times he does look bored with the set list but, his ill-fitting clothes do not help the poor bloke, as he can hardly breathe.

Byrne and Egan’s vocals are nowhere near as impressive but, they make up for this with humour and playfulness.
The Easy Way is Motown meets N-Synch, with camp dance routines to boot. The boys have a good time, kicking back to this one, sampling The Jackson’s ABC along the way.

Ill-advised

An ill-advised medley incorporating Sexy back into Don’t Blame It On sunshine reminds you how Louis Walsh can get it so wrong sometimes. The lads look embarrassed, as their dancing ability is on a par with Gary Barlow. Leave it Louis!

Michael Buble’s Home is the standout track, as it genuinely moves the crowd. As the fans file home, you realise that, despite the odd boring moment within the set, where the lads are placed at the back of the stage singing even more M.O.R tracks, Westlife do put on a good show.

Granted, they will never be cool but paint would never watch them dry.


Manchster evening news

Thanks for posting :) xx

M.E.N. is always so sarcastic in reviews about the lads. But this is a very good one considering some old M.E.N. reviews which were saying all the crap you can imagine...

Thanx hun :)

oh my god.. i'm back from manchester..
this weekend was soooooo amazing, i had sooo much fun.. and i'm in love with kevin bangonhead met him twice and he is such a cutie... sooo sweet ..
aaww and the concerts were fantastic.. the audience was WOOOWWWWW.. and the lads were soooo funny..
i can't believe i am back home.. all i want is flying back to manchester and havin so much fun again and again..

had my parents cam for these concerts coz we sat on th elower tier.. and OH MY GOD.. i had some really nice pictures.. i will post them later when i sorted out the best ones..
but most of the time of the second concert i just made videos.. so don't have that much as i had from belfast.. :-)blush

Hi Mila.Glad you had agreat time in Manchester.WOOW you met Kevin twice that was exciting for you. Looking forward to seeing your pictures & videos.Take care.xx :D hugs

Aww lovely messages! :)

glad you had a fab time mila :) the pics are brillent hugs

Soo glad you had a great time Mila!! :D :D And go you meeting hotty Kev too :wub: *thuuuuud* :P :D

WESTLIFE CAUGHT LIVE


Mar 19 2008 Beverley Lyons And Laura Sutherland



WESTLIFE were welcomed to Glasgow's SECC like long-lost relatives on their Back Home tour last night.



Mark,Shane, above, Kian and Nicky received a rapturous reception.



World Of Our Own, their 2002 No 1 was the first highlight, followed by hits such as Mandy, Uptown Girl and My Love.



Crowd pleasers Flying Without Wings and You Raise Me Up finished off a polished set.



Kian told the ecstatic audience: "It's an absolute pleasure to be back in Scotland again."



Source/Glasgow Daily Record.co.uk 19th March,2008

Thank you gloria!

thanks for posting gloria :) x

REVIEW: WESTLIFE, NOTTINGHAM ARENA
7 readers have commented on this story. Click here to read their views.



PYROTECHNICS, dry ice, lasers and combination dance moves - Westlife's Back Home 2008 tour had it all.

Appearing as if by magic from behind a screen, Kian Egan, Shane Filan, Mark Feehily and Nicky Byrne arrived on stage in black boiler suits and aviators. And over the hoards of screaming middle-aged women and teenage girls it was just about possible to hear the opening lines of Hit You with the Real Thing. One quick strip and they had changed into dinner suits and before breaking into World of Our Own.

Very slick.



Back Home 2008 is their 10 year anniversary tour and the years appear to have been kind to them - although maybe Mark was looking a bit chubby round the edges. The audience didn't seem to mind though, as the boy-band moved smoothly through old classics including What Makes a Man, Uptown Girl, If I Let You Go and Mandy.

It was their 12th appearance at the Arena and Nottingham does not seem bored of the four Irish lads just yet.

Although there were moments which showed that Westlife have grown during the past decade.

A medley of songs including Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back, Beyonce's Naughty Girl and the Jackson Five's Don't Blame it on the Boogie showcased their voices and made way for another display of fireworks.

And an acoustic mix of Westlife songs allowed for the boys to relax on the stools they are known so well for.

But then a skit involving a camera close-up of Kian's pink boxers just brought it crashing back to earth that they are still a boy band at heart. The white suits and large volume of dry ice used during their finale of When You're Looking Like That and the power-ballad You Raise Me Up only seemed to reiterate the point.

Before they finished for the night Kian announced that Westlife are going to take a break for a year -- which seemed to leave the thousands of girls in the audience in a stunned silence. It won't be forever though - and the group is back at the Arena in May anyway.

Despite the lashings of cheese and cheeky grins, they produced boy band gold and I am sure they will be doing it for a least ten more years to come.

TANYA HOLDEN

thanks for posting :) Xx