ShareThe Vamps and Union J performing at Sherwood Pines on Saturday 27th June 2015.
Images and review by Kevin Cooper
With the sun high in the sky, a stage set in the heart of a forest, it certainly was a beautiful night for music to come to Sherwood Pines. Whilst the headline act was The Vamps, the support acts had been carefully chosen to ramp up the excitement levels.
This musical medley was kicked off by Homeland, a six piece young male band formed by Louis Walsh, and who really got the party going. Reaching number one in Ireland with Cry For Help, they showcased great vocals. Releasing their debut UK single Where I Belong, later this year, it is bound to be a huge hit.
Taking to the stage next was The Tide, who raised the screaming decibels a notch higher. Playing their own instruments to their tracks, The Rest Of Us, Falling In Love Tonight and What You Give, this American band playing their last UK concert, made a horde of new fans in the Forest tonight.
Having supported The Vamps on their Arena Tour earlier this year, Union J took to the stage again to entertain with their singalong numbers such as Carry You, Skyscraper, and Central Park which are pop at its perkiest and most puppyish. Finishing too early for many with You Got It All, their set was as hard to dislike as Union J themselves.
With the sun setting and the crowd at fever pitch, the night was handed over to The Vamps. Their origins as an internet covers band really came to the fore as the entire audience were able to singalong to a set which included popular hits Wild Heart, Hurricane and Move My Way. There was a standout performance of a medley of Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk, Taylor Swift’s Shake It Up and Miley Cyrus’ We Can’t Stop, that got even the dads dancing. Another highlight was the Sum 41 cover, In Too Deep, as the band ran around the stage like Duracell Bunnies.
Finishing with a display of great pyrotechnics their acoustic encore Risk It All was hard to hear above the screaming fans and on the opening chords of Can We Dance, the fans certainly did, as Brad Simpson led the crowd like a swaggering Pied Piper of Hamlin.
It had been a chaotic and fantastically entertaining evening, but one of the best things about the night was seeing the genuine excitement on the faces of the fans.
