Boyzlife- Fly Without Wings On Tour

Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy have sung enough cover versions between them in Westlife and Boyzone respectively so it was no surprise to hear Neil Diamond blasting out of the PA system with Sweet Caroline before the duo and their live band came on stage at St George’s Hall in Bradford.

The pair know a good song when they hear it and have built their careers upon it, the track was ideally suited in terms of anticipation and elevating the audience.

The duo now called Boyzlife released a new album earlier this year though the majority of the concert concentrated on their boy band careers - and what a career it has been, between them they have had over ten Number One singles.

Opening with Love Me For A Reason it became instantly apparent they have a rapport and friendship. They have genuine respect for each other which made the concert that extra bit special; it felt we were watching two friends having the time of their lives. Their warmth and enthusiasm resonated too with the Bradford audience.

In a fast paced show that was a joy from start to finish, there were many unexpected moments of which a highlight was a Beach Boys medley with McFadden and Duffy wearing shorts and Hawaiian shirts - along with the harmonies of their two backing singers.

There were sadder personal moments too as Duffy dedicated You Needed Me to his father who he lost last year to Covid, but this was matched with lighter ones when Duffy joked with McFadden that “we have been together longer than when Brian was in Westlife and longer too than how long his marriages lasted!”

Free from the constraints of being in a group it was pleasing to see McFadden play an acoustic guitar when performing Flying Without Wings - something that would never have happened when he was in Westlife.

The pair took a moment to remember former Boyzone member Stephen Gately who died thirteen years ago. Unexpectedly a local choir, the Bradford Players came onto the stage now bathed in red - Gately’s favourite colour - as they performed A Different Beat, the title track of Boyzone’s second album.

As Uptown Girl concluded this joyful concert even the men who had been dragged along by their partners were now dancing in the aisles - an unpredicted moment of many during this highly enjoyable show.

Pop singer Keelie Walker had opened up the show in a confident manner. Backed by her two dancers the rising star had some good songs such as Gemini and Shyboy which could both be future hits.