THE FACE TO FACE TOUR 2006 NEWS/REVIEWS – APRIL

Go West for the pluck of the Irish - 29 April 2006

YOU can almost set your clock by them...

As certain as summer follows spring you can count on the Westlife lads to pop into town for a Sheffield show.

And so they rolled into Sheffield's east end for two busy gigs at Hallam FM Arena as part of their Face To Face Tour, following the huge success of the album of the same name.

While the steel city is widely regarded as one of the UK's top music hotspots, not least for guitar bands thanks in part to the phenomenal success of Arctic Monkeys, it seems the ladies - and a few boyfriends, dragged along for the ride - can't get enough of these cheeky crooners. The departure of Brian McFadden from their ranks two years ago appears long forgotten as Westlife demonstrated a tangible bond on stage to retain their crown as Europe's biggest boy band, with a treasure chest of hits so over-flowing they ran over time.

And Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Nicky Byrne proved they've still got a glint in their eye by singing a scorching version of Pussycat Dolls hit Don't Cha - but with the lyrics altered to ask the crowd: "Don't you wish you're boyfriend was hot like me."

Oh, the pluck of the Irish.

Credit/Source: www.sheffieldtoday.net

Westlife Set Arena High - 27 April 2006

Adam Moss

WESTLIFE have racked up another amazing career record - as the most popular act in the glittering history of the M.E.N. Arena.

The group's two sell-out performances over the weekend took sales for their shows at the Manchester venue past the 250,000 mark - the first act to do so since the Arena opened in 1996.

Before going on stage on Saturday night, Shane, Nicky, Mark and Kian were presented with specially commissioned `Platinum Tickets' to mark the achievement.

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Arena general manager John Knight said: "It is remarkable to think that approximately one in every 20 tickets sold at the arena over the past five years has been for Westlife.

"The boys seemed genuinely pleased by this milestone, and asked if Take That would beat it after their concerts here next month.

"I assured them that their record of 22 shows and over 250,000 ticket sales was safe for some time yet."

Shane told the 14,000 fans about the honour. He said: "We love coming to Manchester and tonight has been a special night because we have been given an award.

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"I would like to thank all of you for making it possible."

The Irish boyband's record will be made all the sweeter by the fact that they pipped their former manager - Ronan Keating, who performed 14 times at the Arena with Boyzone and fives times as a solo artist - playing to 242,000 fans.

It was Ronan who gave Westlife their first big break of course - the band supported Boyzone at one of their MEN Arena dates and, in those days, went by the name `Westside'.

Take That are likely to claim third spot in the M.E.N. Arena popularity stakes. They have already recorded 143,000 sales and stand to add another 90,000 with their six sell-out shows later this month.

Credit/Source: www.manchesteronline.co.uk

Westlife Are Record Breakers At Nottingham Arenam - 27 April 2006

Not content with just making records – Westlife are now breaking them at Nottingham Arena.

Nicky, Kian, Shane and Mark have appeared at our venue more times than any other artist.

The Irish lads have already taken to our stage eight times since February 2001 and their two dates here on April 24th and 25th take that number into double figures – reaching the number ten milestone.

Westlife will be wowing audiences again with their passionate vocals and memorable lyrics next month. They’ll be performing songs from their latest number one album ‘Face to Face’ and of course their greatest hits.

They really are one of the most successful boy bands around. They’ve notched up 14 number ones and performed to over four million fans making them the biggest selling arena tour act ever.

League Of Their Own - 5 April 2006

EXCLUSIVE: From PAUL MARTIN backstage at the Odyssey WESTLIFE PULL OUT ALL THE STUNTS F0R 10,000 FANS AS TOUR KICKS OFF

Paul Martin

WESTLIFE proved they were unbreakable last night as they launched into their tour with a dazzling new show.

The Irish stars showed they had lost none of their magic as they thrilled 10,000 fans at Belfast's Odyssey Arena with an array of hits and special effects.

And backstage the boys told the Irish Daily Mirror that this was their greatest ever tour as they prepare to hit Cork and Dublin in the coming fortnight.

Singer Shane Filan said: "Visually this is the most ambitious show we have ever put on. It's full of surprises and stunts. The fans are in for a real treat."

The superstars made a dramatic entrance as they hovered onto the stage seemingly on a bed of laser beams.

They then burst into their world-wide hit Flying Without Wings as fans, who snapped up tickets for the show in record time, roared their approval.

Hit after hit followed, including When You're Looking Like That, Amazing, Against All Odds and World Of Our Own. In a surprising medley of cover versions they belted out Michael Jackson's Billie Jean, Addicted To Love and Justin Timberlake's hit Senorita. They even managed an impressive rendition of the Pussycat Dolls Don't Cha.

Throughout their energetic performance, the stars proved they can still cut it with the best as they wowed fans with slick dance moves and powerful vocals.

And they treated the crowd to a preview of their next hit - certain to be a No1 - a cover of Garth Brooks' The Dance.

As the show drew to a close they staged another procession of anthems. First up was their debut No1 hit Swear It Again, followed by Seasons In The Sun, World Of Our Own and Queen Of My Heart.

They finished with a rousing rendition of You Raise Me Up before turning to the crowd, bowing, and making their big exit.

Afterwards Westlife's Kian Egan said it had been a sensational start to the tour.

He added: "The crowd went completely made and it was a fantastic start. We can't wait for the rest of the tour."

Credit/Source: ulster@mirror.co.uk