Pyrotechnic pop party wows fans

BRMB LIVE 2010

LG Arena, Birmingham

Words and pictures by James Watkins

Pop's glitterati descended on the West Midlands to satisfy a packed house of screaming teenagers for a supernova concert.

Young revellers screamed the house down for 14 acts, including The Script, The Saturdays, Olly Murs, Alexandra Burke, James Blunt and The Wanted.

DJ-to-the-stars Mark Ronson opened the show and got the crowd jumping before 10 acts each played ten-minute slots.

McFly offered power pop par excellence, Alexandra Burke performed a mesmerising trio of her favourite hits including Bad Boys, new boy-band sensation The Wanted raised the roof before Example and last year's X Factor favourite Olly Murs hit their straps.

The Hoosiers made the entrance of the night, with lead singer Irwin Sparkes slipping over as he ran on stage after Olly Murs had left glitter tape all over the floor.

Making a fine recovery, however, and just making it to the microphone on time, Sparkles went down a storm with the highlight Worried About Ray.

Other popsters wowing the crowd were Shayne Ward and Tinchy Stryder, who produced an upbeat set, before last year's X Factor winner, Joe McElderry, raised the scream-decibel level further with a dazzling display including new hit single, Ambitions.

Singer/songwriter James Blunt, meanwhile, sang through a mesmerising version of You're Beautiful that had the crowd in full voice.

There were more highlights, with Diana Vickers strutting her stuff in a little black dress and The Saturdays lighting up the stage with their glamour puss image and hits like Just Can't Get Enough and Missing You.

Finishing the night to mass screams, however, were Irish pop rockers The Script who played an infectious quintet of top ten global smash hits, including an impeccable The Man Who Can't Be Moved.

The event was quite literally the biggest pop gig to hit the West Midlands and fans were enthralled by the spectacle.

BRMB LIVE was the equivalent of a pop-based BRITS, but with so much pyrotechnic firepower that the screaming fans will no doubt retain it in their memories for years to come.