ShareThe X Factor Live Tour performing at The Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Friday 15th February 2019
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
The X Factor Live Tour rolled into town last night to deliver a show that included swathing the Motorpoint Arena with glitz, flashing lights, ticker tape and pyrotechnics galore.
With three large screens showing the countdown to the start, the predominantly young audience made themselves heard as host Becca Dudley took to the stage to introduce the eight finalists of last year’s TV show.
With songs from The Greatest Showman being covered by several of the artists, up first was runner-up Scarlett Lee with her version of This Is Me. Upping the tempo was Acacia and Aaliyah and the eight fabulous dancers, who really got the party started with the likes of Finesse, Big For Your Boots and Shutdown in the first half, and Bang Bang and Jump which saw them disappear through a hole in the stage, and a walk through the audience to get to the B stage with their version of Survivor after the interval. Being the crowd’s favourite, they won the X Factor vote at the end of the night, with their enthusiastic and energetic performances.
When sixth placed Danny Tetley sang the powerful This Is My Life, it was easy to see why Robbie Williams had described him as being like “Mariah Carey with a beard”. And when he delivered his version of Carey’s Hero, his vocals were stunning.
Third placed finalist Anthony Russell made his entrance through the audience whilst singing Eye Of The Tiger, made more effective with the use of pyrotechnics and pulsating flames. Once on the stage he got the audience singing to The Beatles Let It Be which saw mobile phone lights being used for the first time of the evening. The second half saw him jump into the pit to shake hands with some of his fans as he delivered Demons before walking through the audience to reach the B Stage for a lovely duet with Bella Penfold of the popular song, Issues.
Shan Ako showcased her fabulous vocals on Imagine and her talent for song writing with her own penned Get Back, whilst her version of Never Enough simply transfixed this crowd who sang along with her. Another song from The Greatest Showman was given an airing, this time from Bella Penfold with A Million Dreams before she roused the crowd with her Same Love and In My Blood.
With Brendan Murray’s appearance the audience screamed with delight with his delightful Everybody Hurts, and after the interval his version of Break Free was well received. Staying on stage he was joined by Lee and Tetley for a mass sing along of Robbie Williams’ Angels.
Scarlett Lee very nearly stole the show with her first half performances of I’ll Never Love Again and I Put A Spell On You and her natural talent shone through with a second half performance of Your Song.
The decibels increased for last year’s winner Dalton Harris, the first foreign contender to win the UK show. Finishing the first half with A Song For You, Creep and a duet with Ako of Beneath Your Beautiful, and second half performances of I Have Nothing, Cry and Power Of Love, it was clear for all to see that he was a worthy winner of the TV show.
As last night’s performance was brought to a climatic end with a medley of Abba songs which included a heartfelt Thank You For The Music, the audiences hand held neon lights went into overdrive.
