Westlife, The Love Tour, BIC

IT was quite literally an explosive entrance descending from the roof of the BIC in a luminous ball as if from some solar or meteoroid explosion.

And yet the highly charged level of excitement, anticipation and sheer bedazzlement created in this pyrotechnically enhanced opening did not waver for the next 90 minutes.

This was an electric show!

Westlife - even to their own disbelief, were performing their first official Bournemouth concert ever - not counting when they supported Boyzone here nine years ago.

Fourteen number one hit records later, now with families and even pet dogs on tour to lend moral support, and the extended Windsor Hall was full to the rafters with fans from teens to grannies clearly delighted to have a seat at the first of two consecutive sold out Bournemouth shows.

Total Eclipse of the Heart certainly lit the torch paper as the Irish pop sensations instantly impressed with their immaculate vocal delivery and impeccable stage presence.

But when you have performed to millions of fans, toured everywhere from Australia to South Africa and sold 35 million records globally, you would be pretty well rehearsed wouldn't you?

Slick doesn't even begin to describe these boys whose live vocals were stunning from starts to finish- despite high energy dance routines and repeated costume changes.

Accompanied by four superb musicians they performed tracks from the new Love Album and other hits: If I Let you Go, Mandy, What Makes A Man, Fool Again, You Raise Me Up... every one was a show-stopper.

There was even a boy band tribute as they covered songs by Boyzone, Take That and Back Street Boys.

Flying Without Wings and The Rose wrapped up the encore and a night that had been worth all the wait.