Hits Radio Live

With all the national radio stations being based in London it is a coup for the north that recently launched Hits Radio is the only national radio station to operate outside of London.

The Manchester based station decided to have a concert to celebrate their launch. Just like the old Smash Hits party tours back in the day, the concert was a resume of where pop music is right now by bringing together some of the best pop acts around at the moment.

As each act is introduced we get to hear via the video screens how many records, or in the case of more recent acts, how many streams they have had.

Jax Jones the producer/DJ brought some colour to the start of the evening as the vibe and feel of Brazil was brought to the stage via some dancers with their colourful costumes that looked like they were on their way to the Leeds West Indian Carnival. Instruction might have lacked the appearance of Demi Lovato but who cares when the music is as good as this.

Years and Years brought their full stage show for their all too short set. Lead singer Olly Alexander really is turning into a true pop star - his acting training comes in handy too as he dances and acts out the lyrics with the dancers. The addition of two backing singers who looked like they had just stepped off an old edition of Soul Train complimented one of the best performances of the gig. Shine, Sanctify and of course King were pop perfect moments.

Someone needs to tell Rita Ora that it doesn't always rain in Manchester as she arrives on stage wearing what looks like a big yellow rain coat, unless perhaps it is in homage to Liam Gallagher?

The coat is soon off to reveal her figure for a set that at times began to look like a Zumba class work out, as Ora and her 6 dancers worked out on stage. Paying tribute to Avicci on Lonely Together you forget how many hits she has had.

Clean Bandit appear to have a new lead singer but tonight for some reason brothers Jack and Luke Patterson are not present. The normally ever present Grace Chatto seemed to take a back seat too, as if wanting their new lead vocalist to take most of the spotlight. Mind you with hits like Symphony and new single Solo they still sounded fine.

DJ Sigala brings on an MC to warm up the audience as Sigala drops Lullaby and Came Here For Love. Then out of the blue the MC Announces that they have a special guest, none other than John Newman!

The cheer when he walked on stage was so loud they might have even heard it back in Settle. As he sings the track Give Me Your Love the song he performed with Sigala, he has the energy like a lion that has been let out of his cage as he dances and sings like only someone can when they have been absent from a UK stage for too long. If he was to go out on tour he knows now that the love and support is still there. Bring it on!

George Ezra might not look like your average pop star but he has the songs to prove it. With his 6 piece band it was like a mini concert. His friendly style comes across as he shares with the audience that "he had a list of capital cities in Europe I wanted to visit, we never got to this one" he declares as he introduces Budapest.

Naturally his recent Number One Shotgun is sung by the sold out audience. It's easy to see his appeal: it is the songs that resonate much like Ed Sheeran. You can see Shotgun coming to a Karaoke evening shortly - it has that universal appeal. A long term career has started.

Liam Payne seems to be carving out a successful solo career after One Direction, though it is on Latin flavoured tracks like Familiar that he sounds more at home. Naturally Rita Ora returns to the stage to duet on their hit, For You - another perfect pop moment.

Take That were the first act to be played in Hits Radio which probably explains their headline appearance. Mind you, they are from Manchester too. Bringing most of the touring band that Gary Barlow recently went out on the road with they harmonise well on Shine. "We've missed you Manchester" is a well received comment.

With just the 3 members and the band on stage it showed that you do not need all the fancy props like flying bicycles and trapeze artists which they have had when they last appeared here. The reaction from their older fans (and those that were not even born in 1991) was just as enthusiastic.

As the confetti cannons shower the audience during Never Forget it was a night never to forget. For some it was their first ever concert - what a fine introduction this was.