Irlam Live is celebrating nine years. The event gets bigger and better with every year. There is a main stage and a big top stage. The event runs from Friday with tribute bands on stage, Saturday is pop and Sunday more dance acts.
A good line up at Irlam Live on the Saturday
I attend on Saturday. It is a good line up with everyone I have taken photos of many times before. The weather is nice and sun keeps breaking through the clouds.Darren and Phil brought and created Irlam Live which is a cracking event. The locals buy tickets as soon as they go on sale. Families attend together and many are here for the three days. It is a happy, safe, entertaining, fun event. Food wagons are situated around the outer field. There is a fairground so even the small children are having fun.
Arriving backstage I am given a warm welcome – I am happy to be here.
The songs sound so good
2pm, and East 17 are first on stage. Deep, House Of Love, Steam – lots of hits. Well only one of the original members, Terry Coldwell is still in it. The songs still sound as good. Joe does handstands across the stage. They all look good in co-ordinated outfits.
2.45pm. Louisa Johnson, looking stunning, comes on stage. Where has she been for the past few years? In 2015 she won the twelfth series of X Factor. Forever Young, So Good, Unpredictable (with Olly Murs). Remember any of them?
3.45pm. Blazin Squad. Marcel saw me backstage and gave me a big hug.They all smile when they see me, only four in the band now. I remember when they first started, ten of them in the group. It was like a school boys outing! The crowd love them and are singing along at the tops of their voices. Crossroads, Flip Reverse – you know the songs.
4.30pm. Rowetta is on stage. Some of you might be asking who? She sang with Happy Mondays and Shed Seven.
Bus Stop – an unknown to me
5.30pm. Bus Stop. I am wondering what this is as I have never heard of them. Think I will go and have a sit down. I see Danielle Brown, sister of Spice Girl Mel B. I ask what she is doing and she tells me that she is dancing on stage with the Bus Stop show. I better get some photos of her then! Bus Stop seems to be two blokes and three ladies who dress up to just have a fun time on stage!
6.45pm. 911. Remember Lee Brennan, Spike Dawbarn, Jimmy Constable? Night To Remember, A Little Bit More… They had ten UK top 10 singles, sold 10 million singles and 6 million albums around the world. They still tour and are massive in Vietnam. They still do all the dance moves, are coordinated in their outfits and are as good, if not better than when they started. The hits make you remember memories of those years.
7.30pm. Dougie Poynter – no it can’t be? Yes it is. McFly bass player, fashion model, author and he won the eleventh series of I’m A Celebrity, Get me Out Of Here. He is very pretty. How old? 37 – never, he looks so young and handsome. Easy on the eye! He is doing a DJ set. Watch out Martin Kemp, he is after your crown! At the end he jumps down into the pit and lets the crowd take selfies with him – good on you Dougie.
The last act, Boyzlife, and the crowd goes crazy
9pm. The pit and backstage area are filling up. Boyzlife are the last act on stage. Boyzone Keith and Westlife Brian belt out the hits of both groups. 55 million records and 21 number one singles between them.
Brian McFadden’s daughters Lily and Ruby are running around backstage before going in the pit. Keith Duffy has family here as well. Security shout at any photographers trying to take photos backstage. I am told three songs only – several times.
The crowd go crazy for them – this is who they have waited to see and hear. As soon as three songs end, security rush in and tell all photographers to leave. The whole audience video and take photos all night with their mobile phones.
Feeling tired I leave. What a great event, great performers and great people. A pleasure to cover Irlam Live.
All pictures by Deborah Law
