Boyzone @ Odyssey Arena, Belfast. 18 March 2011

Boyzone pay a tender tribute to Stephen Gately at Belfast concert
Saturday, 19 March 2011


Boyzone performing in the Odyssey Arena, Belfast. March 2011



Boyzone's Brother show at the Odyssey Arena was the final date of the pop foursome's UK and Irish tour.

“They always say you leave the best to last,” said singer Keith Duffy.

The Dublin boy band haven't quite scaled the same heights recently as in their 1990s heyday, but the Belfast crowd were on their feet from the start.

The mob of mostly thirty-something women had turned out to see the boys go through their paces, and they got more than their money's worth.

The quartet kicked off the high-energy show in tuxedos, descending from podiums, surrounded by dancers and flanked by video screens.

Too Late for Hallelujah and Love Is a Hurricane from last year's Brother album opened proceedings, before the lads delved back into their '90s hits.

A five-minute documentary about late band member Stephen Gately – who died tragically in 2009 – followed, with a hush falling over the arena.

Mikey Graham handled Gately's part on an emotional Love Me for a Reason, while vocalist Jo Garland filled in on No Matter What. But it was Keating who was the star and with a new solo album released on Monday it's all going on for the front man.

This was a solid evening's entertainment from the long-running outfit.

ANDREW JOHNSTON+GALLERY