Last night, the Brighton Centre celebrated Westlife’s remarkable career, and a room full of love was waiting for them.
We all know Westlife. Their songs are strong, their career stellar, and their smiles permanent. What we didn’t know was just how amazing their show would be. Last night they delivered what felt like a stadium performance, with every song a production number and every song a winner.
As soon as we arrived at the venue, we could tell they had pulled out all the stops. They’d extended the normal stage to span the entire width of the hall, with an enormous lighting rig installed above it. The back wall was a full video screen displaying an impressive 3D image of the globe rotating, and as lifelong fans started to surround us, we could see how much the event meant to them.
The show opened with ‘World Of Our Own’, and within moments the confetti cannons blasted, the volume rose, and the boys struck a pose on stage. Their choreographed moves showed confidence from the start, with each singer taking an important role in the song. Now performing as a three-piece, they used the whole stage, welcomed the audience, and set the night’s tone.
We loved how the tone shifted with each hit. ‘Uptown Girl’ was suitably bouncy; the big anthemic numbers like ‘Starlight’ and ‘Hello My Love’ lived up to their names, with soaring lyrics and strong visuals, whilst the love songs were heartfelt and personal. We particularly enjoyed a section in the middle of the show which was dedicated to their Irish roots. ‘Queen of My Heart’ allowed each personality to come out, showing images of their childhood homes and the streets they grew up in, followed by the rousing ‘Chariot’, a number they clearly loved singing. ‘I Have A Dream’ made full use of the video wall, a beautiful backdrop of a boat which added a new level of poignancy to the song and whilst they were on a huge stage, close-up video techniques allowed them to perform in smaller spaces and give a more intimate feel to the quieter numbers.
Of course, there are some big numbers as well. Westlife’s sound also featured Mark Feehily’s distinctive voice, but in his absence we were very impressed with backing singers Louise and Desirée. They joined the three male voices to deliver the anthemic ‘Flying Without Wings’, taking on lead vocal roles to hit the highest notes and demonstrating their talents. The sound blended well, and the song took on a real family feel as they performed it together. Then there is ‘You Raise Me Up’, a song that has become their own. Performed with light drones and dedicated by Shane to anyone we were missing, we could feel their emotions. And to finish, their first-ever hit, ‘Swear It Again’, a great singalong number.
We had noticed the large trucks outside the venue the day before, and it soon became clear why so many were needed. We don’t think we have seen the Brighton Centre look this impressive in years. Lasers darted across the crowd throughout the performance, enhancing each number and heralding each important key change. The video screen, angled so everyone could see it, was filled with stunning images and added a new meaning to the well-known songs, and the sound was impressive too. This tour is set to fill much bigger venues on the way, but it was wonderful to see them in our space, and credit goes to the hard work that went into putting on a show of this quality in our local venue.
Throughout the evening, we felt the performers were there just for us. Each of them took the microphone to tell us how much we meant to them; they put their best effort into the show and took nothing for granted. The songs stand on their own, but their delivery was superb, and the overall effect was unforgettable. As they left the stage, we felt we knew each of them better. Twenty-five years on, their music continues to bring people together, and that is a legacy worth celebrating.
Westlife continue to tour the world throughout 2026 and 2027. You can find a full list of their current tour dates here.
Set List
- “World of Our Own”
- “Uptown Girl”
- “Bop Bop Baby”
- “What About Now”
- “When You’re Looking Like That”
- “What Makes a Man”
- “I Have a Dream”
- “I Lay My Love on You”
- “Starlight”
- “Queen of My Heart”
- “Chariot”
- “Fool Again”
- “If I Let You Go”
- “My Love”
- “Unbreakable”
- “Mandy”
- “Flying Without Wings”
- “Hello My Love”
- “You Raise Me Up”
- “Swear It Again”
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