Back to the 90s!
We review Kubix Festival in Sunderland
WITH a line-up straight from an issue of the late, great Smash Hits magazine, the first day of Kubix Festival was always going to be a hotbed of 90s nostalgia and, while the rain did its best to dampen spirits, thousands flocked to Herrington Country Park near Sunderland determined to have some serious fun.
There have been a few grumbles about how long it took to get into the event, with some ticket holders complaining this missed the early action, but those who got there nice and early were rewarded with a hits-packed set from opening act East 17.
While now just a three-piece and only featuring one original member – Terry Caldwell – the band who were famous for their huge hats and puffa jackets 25 years ago put on a great show. Kicking things off with House Of Love, their stint on the Kubix stage got things off to a great start, and while it was odd to hear Christmas number 1 Stay Another Day in the August sunshine, it’s still an absolute classic whatever the season.
Next up were Right Said Fred, and while sadly there wasn’t time for a rendition of You’re My Mate, their other hits Deeply Dippy, Don’t Talk Just Kiss and of course I’m Too Sexy were all present and correct as Richard Fairbrass lapped up the attention from the crowd. There was also a very random but very well executed cover of Calvin Harris & Example’s Feels So Close.
While he’s more well known now for being on TV and a permanent fixture in magazines, it was the pop charts where Peter Andre first made his name and he threw things back to the mid-90s with the likes of Natural, All I Ever Wanted and Flava, before treating the Kubix punters to some of his favourite songs
– an eclectic mix that featured everything from Bruno Mars’ Finesse to Charles & Eddie’s Would I Lie To You.
While it held off for most of the evening, right on cue for B*Witched singing Blame It On The Weatherman, the rain came big style but thankfully it didn’t go on and on again (sorry/not sorry!) and there was much to enjoy from the girls’ set including To You I Belong, a cracking cover of Wilson Phillips’ Hold On and of course C’est La Vie – cue lots of damp Irish jigging!
The headline slot for the first day of Kubix was bestowed on the shoulders of Ronan Keating, and the Boyzone star-turned-solo sensation rounded things off in fine fashion with an hourlong set that was like a ‘best of’ of his boyband days and solo career.
Kicking off with Lovin’ Each Day, Ronan’s setlist featured newer originals like Breathe, Wasted Light and Let Me Love You; classic covers from the Boyzone back catalogue like Baby Can I Hold You, Father & Son and Words and his own solo number ones If Tomorrow Never Comes, When You Say Nothing At All and the undisputed banger that is Life Is A Rollercoaster. One question though... how did that get to be 18 years old already?!
With plenty of chat with the crowd, a few teasers about what to expect from the upcoming Boyzone greatest hits tour and terrific showmanship, Ronan definitely lived up to his top billing.
Yes, there were gripes with the long queues for the toilets and bars – which ended up NOT being token only – but, realistically you’ve got to expect those at a festival.
Now if someone could pass me a Push Pop, a bumbag and a time machine – I want to go back to the 90s!