Westlife returned to Newcastle on Saturday for the first of two 25th anniversary tour dates at the Utilita Arena, delivering what one reviewer called their best show to date and one of the best pop concerts ever to grace a Newcastle stage.
The screams and number 1 hits filled the air as the band kicked off with the 2002 smash World of Our Own, complete with stunning visuals, pyros, and confetti. Early 00s hits like What Makes a Man, Uptown Girl, When You're Looking Like That, and Queen of My Heart sounded sublime, with the atmosphere rising when they performed I Lay My Love On You for the first time ever on tour.
A Night of Hits and Tributes
The band's move to the B stage in the middle of the arena caused near hysteria as fans clamoured for high fives and hugs. There was a special ode to Newcastle with chants of 'Toon Toon', before Nicky mentioned Sunderland, prompting an even louder chorus of boos.
On the second stage, Westlife performed an emphatic trilogy of Fool Again, If I Let You, and My Love, before returning to the main stage in a sea of confetti.
A Moving Dedication
The concert had genuinely moving moments, including when Shane paused before Flying Without Wings to dedicate the 1999 number 1 to fan Danielle O'Keane, a 37-year-old who tragically died after suffering a serious brain injury in a road traffic accident following Westlife's Dublin gig.
Danielle was also mentioned during the penultimate song You Raise Me Up, as drones drew out a red heart in the air. The final track of the night was the song that started it all in 1999: Swear It Again.
A Production Worthy of a Stadium
The show featured immensely impressive video visuals, big budget effects, a fantastic live band, and the trio of Shane, Nicky, and Kian still at the top of their game nearly 30 years on. The reviewer, who has seen Westlife countless times as a five, a four, and a three, said Saturday night was the best yet, rating it 5 stars and calling it one of the best pop concerts ever to grace a Newcastle stage.
