2010
Various gigs featuring Will in 2010..
Manchester Evening News - Source
Tatton Park Picnic Concert August 1, 2010
The Pop Idol and X Factor phenomenon began with Will Young eight years ago.
After winning the first ever series of Pop Idol in 2002, his debut single Evergreen became the fastest selling debut single in chart history and he has sold more than eight million records and four platinum albums.
He famously ignited his career with the withering retort to judge Simon Cowell 'I don't think you could ever call that average’.
And this is no average picnic in the park. Will bounds onto the stage - with one of Tatton Park’s beautiful lakes as a backdrop - looking handsome like George Michael circa 1984, tanned in a pale grey suit, with designer stubble and big curly hair.
With a delighted wave to the picnicking crowd dotted around concert area - and die-hard fans who have faithfully waited for him in a cordoned-off area at the front of the stage - Will launches into the pounding hit Switch It On.
And Switch It On he does, taking us on a whistle-stop tour through his greatest hits and favourites including the sublime You and I, Friday’s Child, Love is a Matter of Distance and the more recent Grace and Changes.
He banters happily with the crowd, even stopping to sign and read extracts from his book On Camera, Off Duty and he borrows a fan’s Batman hat and later a balloon to hold for Leave Right Now - the hit that cemented him as a national treasure.
As well as his vocal gymnastics - shown to full effect in a surprise cover of the rhythm and blues classic Hit the Road Jack - Will also showcases his theatricality in some nifty dance moves.
Even if you stay loyal to The Doors' original Light My Fire, his version has an energy and enthusiasm that is always more than just sing by numbers. And he always manages to convince us he is singing the Pop Idol winner’s song Evergreen to somebody he loves.
With his distinctive tremulous voice and mellow, soulful collection of hits Will has proven that he has grown to rightfully become one of our most successful male solo singers.
Southern Daily Echo - Source
Henley Festival 7th July 2010
HENLEY has become a by-word for elegant riverside events, but this festival strikes a wonderful balance between culture and carefree fun.
It was my first taste of Henley Festival – which ran from July 7 to 11 – but the opening night has made a convert of me. It is certainly a classy event thanks to a black-tie dress code, giving women the chance to wear their best evening frocks, but the mood is anything but stifling and formal.
In fact, as soon as the lovely Will Young walked on to the floating stage, without ceremony, ladies’ kicked off their heels to stand on chairs or danced in the aisles as dusk fell.
Headliners during the rest of the festival included Welsh Bass-Baritone Bryn Terfel, violinist Nigel Kennedy, the stars of West End musical Queen, and Ronan Keating. But on the opening night, the self-assured Pop Idol star proved himself to be a true entertainer.
Young seemed totally at ease, bopping about on stage, and in between songs he regaled the crowd with seemingly spontaneous anecdotes, such as his grandfather’s penchant for Carol Vorderman.
The presence of members of his family gave the gig a more personal feel and this was reinforced by the intimacy of the stage, which was strikingly close and had no barriers to separate the crowd from the singer.
This led to an unusual – and highly amusing – sight of several women clad in evening dresses attempting to storm the stage at various times.
But an evening at Henley Festival is much more than a headline act and the entertainment continued well into the night at the festival’s various venues, after a sparkling firework display.
Strolling around the festival enclosure, the grounds were dotted with sculptures, including wire figures by Rachel Ducker and woodwork by James Golding, while several galleries exhibited work by a range of artists in various styles and media.
Before Young took to the stage, those who chose not to splash out on a meal at one of the various plush eateries – which this year included Heston Blumenthal’s Hinds Heat at Henley – laid out picnic rugs, or even picnic tables and chairs, in the car park.It is not a cheap festival, and bubbly is the drink of choice, but the nectar tastes all the sweeter on a balmy evening in such sumptuous surroundings.
Southern Daily Echo - Source
Osborne House, Isle of Wight 31st July 2010
A medley of hits from the decade that fashion forgot closed a weekend of pop and partying at the historic home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert last night.
In a stunning setting overlooking The Solent, thousands of revellers partied to the sounds of the original Pop Idol Will Young and a number of re-formed 80s chart-toppers.
Up-and-coming Southampton songstress Charley Macaulay opened the Osborne House event on Saturday night with a set of self-penned songs and crowd-pleasing covers.
She was followed by singer songwriter Lizzy Pattinson before an amiable Will Young, pictured left, took to the stage, joking with the audience, taking their picture for his Twitter page and even answering the mobile phone of one of his crew during an enjoyable one-and-a-half- hour set.
As the sun set over Osborne House, the multi-platinum singer and his team of dancers dressed in neon skeleton suits for an impressive instrumental section.
The undoubted highlight of the night was a rousing sing-along encore of his biggest hits Leave Right Now and Evergreen, which sent partygoers away with smiles on their faces.
Tatton Park Picnic Concert August 1, 2010
The Pop Idol and X Factor phenomenon began with Will Young eight years ago.
After winning the first ever series of Pop Idol in 2002, his debut single Evergreen became the fastest selling debut single in chart history and he has sold more than eight million records and four platinum albums.
He famously ignited his career with the withering retort to judge Simon Cowell 'I don't think you could ever call that average’.
And this is no average picnic in the park. Will bounds onto the stage - with one of Tatton Park’s beautiful lakes as a backdrop - looking handsome like George Michael circa 1984, tanned in a pale grey suit, with designer stubble and big curly hair.
With a delighted wave to the picnicking crowd dotted around concert area - and die-hard fans who have faithfully waited for him in a cordoned-off area at the front of the stage - Will launches into the pounding hit Switch It On.
And Switch It On he does, taking us on a whistle-stop tour through his greatest hits and favourites including the sublime You and I, Friday’s Child, Love is a Matter of Distance and the more recent Grace and Changes.
He banters happily with the crowd, even stopping to sign and read extracts from his book On Camera, Off Duty and he borrows a fan’s Batman hat and later a balloon to hold for Leave Right Now - the hit that cemented him as a national treasure.
As well as his vocal gymnastics - shown to full effect in a surprise cover of the rhythm and blues classic Hit the Road Jack - Will also showcases his theatricality in some nifty dance moves.
Even if you stay loyal to The Doors' original Light My Fire, his version has an energy and enthusiasm that is always more than just sing by numbers. And he always manages to convince us he is singing the Pop Idol winner’s song Evergreen to somebody he loves.
With his distinctive tremulous voice and mellow, soulful collection of hits Will has proven that he has grown to rightfully become one of our most successful male solo singers.
Southern Daily Echo - Source
Henley Festival 7th July 2010
HENLEY has become a by-word for elegant riverside events, but this festival strikes a wonderful balance between culture and carefree fun.
It was my first taste of Henley Festival – which ran from July 7 to 11 – but the opening night has made a convert of me. It is certainly a classy event thanks to a black-tie dress code, giving women the chance to wear their best evening frocks, but the mood is anything but stifling and formal.
In fact, as soon as the lovely Will Young walked on to the floating stage, without ceremony, ladies’ kicked off their heels to stand on chairs or danced in the aisles as dusk fell.
Headliners during the rest of the festival included Welsh Bass-Baritone Bryn Terfel, violinist Nigel Kennedy, the stars of West End musical Queen, and Ronan Keating. But on the opening night, the self-assured Pop Idol star proved himself to be a true entertainer.
Young seemed totally at ease, bopping about on stage, and in between songs he regaled the crowd with seemingly spontaneous anecdotes, such as his grandfather’s penchant for Carol Vorderman.
The presence of members of his family gave the gig a more personal feel and this was reinforced by the intimacy of the stage, which was strikingly close and had no barriers to separate the crowd from the singer.
This led to an unusual – and highly amusing – sight of several women clad in evening dresses attempting to storm the stage at various times.
But an evening at Henley Festival is much more than a headline act and the entertainment continued well into the night at the festival’s various venues, after a sparkling firework display.
Strolling around the festival enclosure, the grounds were dotted with sculptures, including wire figures by Rachel Ducker and woodwork by James Golding, while several galleries exhibited work by a range of artists in various styles and media.
Before Young took to the stage, those who chose not to splash out on a meal at one of the various plush eateries – which this year included Heston Blumenthal’s Hinds Heat at Henley – laid out picnic rugs, or even picnic tables and chairs, in the car park.It is not a cheap festival, and bubbly is the drink of choice, but the nectar tastes all the sweeter on a balmy evening in such sumptuous surroundings.
Southern Daily Echo - Source
Osborne House, Isle of Wight 31st July 2010
A medley of hits from the decade that fashion forgot closed a weekend of pop and partying at the historic home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert last night.
In a stunning setting overlooking The Solent, thousands of revellers partied to the sounds of the original Pop Idol Will Young and a number of re-formed 80s chart-toppers.
Up-and-coming Southampton songstress Charley Macaulay opened the Osborne House event on Saturday night with a set of self-penned songs and crowd-pleasing covers.
She was followed by singer songwriter Lizzy Pattinson before an amiable Will Young, pictured left, took to the stage, joking with the audience, taking their picture for his Twitter page and even answering the mobile phone of one of his crew during an enjoyable one-and-a-half- hour set.
As the sun set over Osborne House, the multi-platinum singer and his team of dancers dressed in neon skeleton suits for an impressive instrumental section.
The undoubted highlight of the night was a rousing sing-along encore of his biggest hits Leave Right Now and Evergreen, which sent partygoers away with smiles on their faces.