Initially known as a sextet called Six As One, then later renamed as IOYO, the Sligo-born boyband Westlife came to the attention of Louis Walsh very quickly. Seeing potential in three of the six members, he quickly decided he needed to audition for a better line-up, and on July 3, 1998, Westside was born.

Featuring members Nicky, Brian, Kian, Shane and Mark, they were quickly scooped up by RCA Records in a £4M deal, and support slots for Backstreet Boys and Boyzone quickly followed. By the 13th November 1998, they were on The Late Late Show for their TV debut, where they performed Flying Without Wings. Their potential was immediately evident. However, recordings needed to be finished and a first single selected ahead of their really big mainstream launch.

By 19 April 1999 they were ready. Rebranded again, this time as Westlife, Swear It Again was launched. Yet nobody could have anticipated quite the impact it would have. The song stormed to #1 in the UK and Ireland, and the next big boyband was born. Now 28 years after signing that record deal, Westlife is on a 150 date anniversary tour around the world, featuring no less than 3 nights at Birmingham's Utilita Arena, with the final night marking their 45th performance in the city.

Before the trio took to the stage (with Brian having left in 2004 and Mark currently on hiatus for health reasons), rising Californian songstress Ana Sky delivered a truly compelling opening performance. Landing somewhere between Lana del Rey, Olivia Rodrigo and Gracie Abrams, Ana is an intriguing presence. She has the vocal prowess to be Ariana but just needs to grow slightly in the naturality of her performance.

While the songs are striking and the vocals are on point, the set feels a little too staged and the choreography slightly forced. However, the moments where she just sings, engages with the audience and her band and relaxes fully demonstrate that she could easily be the next big female artist in the international arena.

A trip down memory lane inevitably opens the anniversary tour, with magical moments from the entirety of the 28 years of Westlife, and the audience's hearts immediately burst with excitement when a door in the screen revealed Shane, Kian and Nicky, and they launched into the second single from their studio album - the #1 charting anthem, World Of Our Own. Without a moment's hesitation, the Utlilita Arena burst into one epic sing-along which is truly euphoric and maintained throughout the night's set.

Without a stool in sight, Westlife moved around the stage as they delivered hit after hit. However, it is not just the music that makes this such a magical experience from start to finish.

Despite all their success, it is clear that Westlife has maintained two important elements. They are grounded. They are thankful. They pay tribute to their family, their friends and their home town. They give gifts to young fans and stop to talk to audience members. They make sure everyone in the arena feels that they have been seen. It is in this ability that Westlife has found their strength and connection that has allowed for such a long and prosperous career.

That being said, without a back catalogue as deep in beauty and sing-ability, there would have been no success story. As the set moved through the bops (When You're Looking Like That, I Lay My Love On You and Starlight) and the ballads (Fool Again, Flying Without Wings, I Have A Dream) to the end destination of their debut single, Swear It Again, they transported their audience through the years and the memories made to the music. It is powerful, it is potent and it is beautiful.

Westlife play ManchesterCo-op Live 23/24/25 October.

Utilita Sheffield Arena 2nd November