Another outstanding performance by the boys - feeling a bit spoiled having seen them here twice this year - the first being on my birthday in May!  Has well and truly put me in festive mood, though felt that some of the audience were a little less enthusiastic than perhaps they should have been! Band of Brothers was so moving, and the Tom Jones medley never fails to make me smile and to want to get up and dance - actually Copacabana had a similar effect too! Looking forward to a return visit to Manchester next year and really hoping that Gwawr gets some well deserved success with the album - as a former Aberystwyth Uni student I really hope it goes well, and must say - loved that red dress - very Jessica Rabbit ;o).

The boys were great last evening,as usual.I thought the audience needed to show more appreciation but wonder if there was too much of Gwawr.I have to admit I found myself wanting her to go off and then we could hear the boys again.Nothing against the lady but we did go to see OMA and perhaps it should be OMA in future.And yet we realise they need a break to get changed etc.What do others think.

Still think they are the most wonderful choir and the solos were all fantastic.

Maureen.

I know exactly what you mean Maureen.  There is so much material that they could cover - am certain that they could fill the set entirely on their own, and I doubt anyone would complain at that! I think it is good that they are giving a relatively unknown talent some more exposure though.  They did a similar thing with Amy Nuttall last time in Manchester, but ultimately, it is the boys we all go to see - and Tim's shoes!

Yes I have to agree with you girls. It was another wonderful peformance from the boys, they just seem to get better and better.  I also thought the audience were a bit "quiet" but they did show their appreciation at the end with a lovely standing ovation.  Yes perhaps the lady singer was on just a bit too much, one slot each half of the show would I feel have been enough, I also felt she was too loud and her higher notes sounded a bit "uncomfortable" but I realise this wasn't her fault.  

If the boys need a little more "rest" time, why not get Tim to relate a few more anecdotes.  I could listen to his chat for ever he is just so interesting and humourous!   Well done Tim.

I finally got to meet jeegee after the show. I had an idea it was her after she got hugs from ALL the boys; so, nice to have net you jeegee after all this time!

I also sat next to a very nice lady from the Peak District who was there by herself, I am glad you enjoyed the show as much as we did.

Kay x.x.x.

Yes I agree that Tim could keep us happy whilst the boys have a rest.Lovely to listen to him.

Can anyone tell me where I can get a programme from this tour.I did not get one on Monday and am really regretting it now.

One more thing,Tim mentioned Connie Fisher was in the audience and we had a word with her after the show.We met her years ago at her mum's holiday cottage,when Connie was about 14.A delightful girl and very talented we think.

Maureen

I went to see them in Llandudno earlier this month and am really looking forward to seeing them again on Friday.  However, I cannot agree less with the sentiments expressed in these posts.  While I really enjoyed Amy Nuttall's performance in May - in spite of the trepidation I felt after reading the entries on this forum - Gwawr Edwards blew me away.  I am listening to opera again after severals years' break as a result of Gwawr and can't thank both her and Sir Tim (he invited her) enough for this.  The number that keeps coming back to mind is one she performed with the boys, but it was mostly her - and it wasn't just because of that fabulous red dress!

I am certain that Sir Tim would agree that he shouldn't just recite anecdotes for a large chunk of a musical evening, otherwise he wouldn't invite guests.  While I find his contribution interesting and amusing, I have paid for musical entertainment and that's what I expect.  I am also convinced that a female artist is precisely what is needed with 20 men on the stage - and we wouldn't want a lacklustre second half because they're too exhausted to perform.

As for this 'unknown talent', my parents have known about her since she was a child; she used to sing with her father and they were regulars on S4C.  If you manage to get hold of the program, you will see that she has travelled and performed even further afield than OMA, and has been identified by Kiri Te Kanawa as a 'sensational, exciting and up and coming star'.  That's easy to see.

To conclude, then, I think it can be safely said that I am looking to seeing Gwawr on Friday almost as much as the boys.  After my review of Llandudno, my husband is just looking forward to seeing her(!), although I hope he enjoys the boys, too.  Even more than that, though, I hope that they sort out the sound system.  They were very, very loud in Llandudno, and I physically jumped at the start of one of the numbers in the second half.  

 

I think you're getting it wrong: it wasn't less Gwawr that was needed, but a few more numbers from the boys! (I know, concerts must end sometime and the boys musn't overexhaust their voices on tour).

I thought Gwawr was very good indeed, and as Sir Tim said in Brimingham: wouldn't you want to spit on her in that dress?! (it was a joke!) I thought the balance of the concert was about right: obviously we came for Only Men Aloud, but I thoroughly enjoyed Gwawr's singing.

On noting how good Gwawr was, I don't know if anybody is watching the Royal Variety Show, but Katherine Jenkins was rather disappointing. Maybe it was the boys in the background, but I really liked the performance of Bring Me To Life on the Friday Night Music Night, but on the RVShow she couldn't carry it off, her breathing/technique seemed to let her down. Sorry to add the negative note, but for me it only puts into perspective how good Gwawr was .

I have no doubt that both OMA and Gwawr will be fabulous again on Friday.  I can see both sides of the argument here - some people believe they are paying their entrance fee just to see the boys, and simply can't get enough of them!  In terms of Gwawr being a relatively unknown talent, I meant in terms of her exposure to a wider audience.  It's only very recently that those of us on the other side of Offa's *** have been able to get S4C! So although she may be known in certain circles in Wales, I'm willing to bet that certainly most of the audiences around England aren't aware of her.  I think she'll give a certain Miss Jenkins a run for her money that's for sure!

Salanya - I hope I did get it wrong (if it's my post you're referring to), although I read them all twice before posting.  Totally agree that the balance was just right (apart from the volume!), but now I can't help thinking that, surely, at least some of the boys would want to perform a duet with their female guest on a future tour.

Not watching any TV, I really was listening to some opera!  So missed Katherine.

Anyway, glad to see that someone else saw Gwawr's qualities, I'll be looking out for her now.  Don't remember Sir Tim's joke in Llandudno - too mesmerised by her I think!

Enjoy the rest of the shows, Salanya, you're going to London, aren't you?  Lucky you - would love to do that, but have family and work to sort out. Hopefully next year.

I thought Gwawr was absolutely outstanding and could easily have listened to her all night - if the boys hadnt been there of course! I don't think she was on too much but I would happily have listened to a few more numbers from the boys- but thats just me being greedy. The whole show was fantastic and full of festive spirit. It really made me feel Christmassy.

Kay I was very pleased to meet you although I thought the funniest thing to happen the whole tour was when I was speaking to Craig and moved away thinking you wanted to talk to him, only for you to ask if I was Jeannie and turn your back on him. That was pure comedy gold! He wasn't really offended though - he's a lovely lad. Salt of the earth!

 

Hi it's my first post here.  I have both the albums, I think the second is even better than the first one.  I was at the Bridgewater Hall recently.  Really enjoyed the singing and 'Santa Baby' was very entertaining (my husband thought so too - I wonder why!)  The choreography was fantastic too.  And Tim's sparkly jacket was nice.  Will try my best to go and see them again next time they are in the North West.

A group of us also attended the concert at The Bridgewater Hall, travellng from Stoke on Trent.  Perhaps we were less than enthusiatic because we felt that the sound was so distorted.  We did report it in the interval and also subsequently wrote to the Hall. As the conductor said the sound there is perfect, but sadly not on this occasion.  Some people had their fingers in their ears, very sad. We heard them at the Symphony Hall earlier in the year and the sound was perfect, so what went wrong. The Hall manager said that it was the OMA sound system and their personal mikes??

We felt that they did not need all that amplification in such a wonderful acoustically perfect hall.  It has put us offf I'm afraid. It would be good to hear from an OMA representative.

 

I have to agree, I didn't want to be critical on my first post but since you mention it we felt there was too much amplification especially in the first half, it seemed to be a bit better after that.  We were sitting at the back of the stalls behind the sound technicians and there seemed to be a lot of coming and going, I don't know it they were having some problems.  We went recently to see Andrea Bocelli at Liverpool Echo Arena and thought the amplification was way too loud there as well, I was thinking it must be the trend nowadays but it does spoil things I think.

I'm really sorry that you didn't enjoy the concert as much as you expected. I have to say though, that I thought the sound was fabulous and I didnt see anyone sat with their fingers in their ears although to be fair I was sat on the very front row. I have seen the boys many times and sat in various seats in various concert halls and arenas and have honestly never once had a problem with the sound. The boys have very powerful voices, even individually, and when there are 20 of them - well there is a mighty wall of sound. As I said I was sat at the front but I had thought that the audience weren't as outgoing at Manchester as they were at the other shows on the tour, of which I attended several. Perhaps if there were people who thought there were problems with the sound that would explain it. Please do not let one experience put you off attending future concerts. That really would be a shame and I am sure the boys would be very upset to think that anyone would be deterred from seeing them live in other shows.

Sorry you had a problem with the sound at this concert.However we also were there and had no problems whatsoever.We were sat 4 rows from the front and truly found everything perfect.Perhaps it depends on where you were sitting.Hope it doesn't put anyone off going again.I personally can't wait.

Maureen.