The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Next show at Dundee’s Slessor Gardens will be a Steptacular
Steps will perform the only Scottish date of their forthcoming tour in the City of Discovery
Nineties pop legends Steps will be the next band to play Dundee’s Slessor Gardens, The Courier can reveal.
The group will play on June 22 as part of the band’s Grandslam 2018 tour.
The recently reformed quintet, whose biggest hits include Tragedy, One For Sorrow and Stomp will be joined by noughties boyband Blue as part of the tour.
To add to the nostalgia, Aqua, the Scandinavian group behind Barbie Girl, will also perform.
Tickets for June’s performance go on sale this Friday from 9am and range from £39.50 to £65.
Dundee’s city development convener, Councillor Lynne Short, said: “This is really fantastic news for the city and it would be a tragedy if all the Steps fans of every age group didn’t come out and support the gig.
“Words are not enough to convey what a positive boost a concert by a group with the reputation of Steps will have on the city’s economy.
“This announcement adds to the excitement that is already building around next year and I want to say here and now that this is great news for the city.”
June’s performance will be the only gig the band play in Scotland.
Ms Short believes such concerts can boost Dundee’s night-time economy, a key aim ahead of next year’s V&A Museum opening.
She said: “We’ve gone through a varied artist set so far.
“Having these concerts will only move things along.
“Steps fans from across Scotland will come through and it’s an opportunity to come and spend the weekend.
“It’s a really exciting time and we are open for business.
“It’s nice to see people coming here.”
Steps were one of the biggest pop bands of the late ’90s and early noughties, racking up a string of 14 top 10 hits, including two number ones.
After splitting in 2001, they reformed at the start of this year.
Boy band Blue shot to fame in 2001 and scored three number ones, including a collaboration with Sir Elton John, and a further eight top 10 tunes.
After Barbie Girl in 1997, Aqua enjoyed another two number ones but have not troubled the UK charts since the turn of the century.
Slessor Gardens has played host to a range of bands since opening for business earlier this year.
More than 11,000 fans crammed into the city centre space in June to witness international superstars Little Mix after reggae band UB40 christened the site.
Pop star Olly Murs also performed in July. Steps are the first name to be announced to play the venue in 2018.
As part of Dundee’s growing reputation as a music city, Welsh rockers Stereophonics performed at the Caird Hall in August.
Former Take That star Gary Barlow will play an “intimate” gig at the same venue in April.
I was quite young when Steps started, but my mum used to sing the songs to me. I’m not from here, so I don’t think I would go to the concert though. Siobhan O’Grady, 20.
I’m looking forward to it. I like Steps. Iona Carlin.
Nostalgia is not a thing of the past, it’s very much the here and now. People will want to go and see a band where they know the songs, can hear the hits, and have a good time. Alastair Brodie, owner of Groucho’s record shop.
It will be a popular gig with people in their thirties. I think it will do well. Frank Mills, manager at Groucho’s.