A1 @ Ipswich Regent

Feeling very old compared to the 100's of screaming 12 year olds, I waited with my four equally as old mates in anticipation for the show to start. A huge TV screen played A1, and other pop videos to keeping the crowd entertained.

At eight o’clock the lights dimmed, and a silence fell across the audience. The first 'warm-up' act were three young girls called OnQ. They sang two upbeat, girl power songs, but I was not impressed. They did not know their poorly timed dance routines, and the songs were generally aimed at the younger audience, although I did like their harmony version of the classic hit, 'Stand by Me'.

Next was Soda Club, which reminded me of an older mix between Lolly and Madison Avenue. They sang three club style songs, which had more Lolly like lyrics. Soda Club looked very professional, and the singer's backing dancers were very good and worked together well.

After half an hour we had the interval, in which the crowd were screaming for A1, and people began to work their way to the front.

A1 took the stage and were on for nearly two hours, and took us on a journey through a haunted house, the 60's and space with a brilliant mixture of songs from their old and newly released second album, the A-list. If those songs were a taster of what’s to come on the new album then it will be a good buy. My favourite song of the new album has to be Ben's solo song, 'Take Your Tears', which is a lovely ballad in which Ben plays the piano.

Each member of the band took the centre stage, to perform their solo song, with Ben, Mark and Christian playing their own instruments and Paul singing a brilliant cover of Ricky Martin’s, 'Living Da Vida Loca'.

Their costumes were interesting and original, ranging from greasy overalls, skeleton suits and Beatle's style suits. The biggest reaction to a costume was when Ben starting to strip to 'The Stripper' played by Mark. Unfortunately he stopped at his shirt and trousers! They also used interesting 'props' including the new crazy, micro scooters.

All the boys made the show feel unique to Ipswich, as they often messed around on stage, and played up on what the crowd had previously responded to.

One lucky girl became the envy of the whole theatre when she was chosen to join A1 on stage while they sang their top hit, 'Like a Rose', then she was presented with a rose and a hug from Ben.

The whole night was great fun, even for those less fanatic fans, and I would definitely recommend one of A1 shows to anyone with a taste for pop. This showed that A1 are not just an average, good-looking boy band, but they write their own songs, play their own music and have their own personalities.

by Debbie Harrison