Westlife have been confirmed to play at this year's Party In The Park in Leeds.  The Irish band join ex-Five singer Abs, Blue, Zoe Birkett and Hear'Say at the free show.  Baywatch's David Charvet and Michelle Branch are also the bill at Temple Newsam Estate on Sunday July 14.  A limited number of tickets are available from Leeds Town Hall

By MTVAsia.com's SHEILA PRICE

One thing makes a Westlife concert stand out from the others. Noise.

They have -- without a shadow of a doubt -- some of the noisiest and most hysterical fans in the world. And when about 18,000 frenzied, mostly young, girls start screaming and waving multicolored strobe lights you certainly know about it. Their recent Earls Court concert was a massive sell out and quashed rumors that the Irish lads were overweight and over the hill.

The crowd's reaction, as five globes open to reveal their heroes clad in dangerous looking knee length leather coats, is nothing short of ear splitting. The boys in black are then lowered -- only a well-fed Bryan McFadden straining the cable -- onto a round, centrally located stage allowing them to prowl around it at their leisure strutting their stuff and belting out hits like "World Of Our Own," "Queen Of My Heart," and "Coast To Coast."

To get even closer to their adoring fans they occasionally walk out onto a metal bow, leaning against the railings while they serenade the massed hordes below. As the concert progresses a reassuring pattern emerges as the boys disappear below for a costume change to be replaced by five sexy dancers who work with a submerged band to keep the eager fans happy until the boys return.

This pattern is slick but too many costume changes blunted the concert's natural momentum and made it difficult for the initially electric atmosphere to be restored. While the band changed into their tuxes or pirate-like garb some of the girls around us slumped back into their seats and the concert lost some of its edge.

Another odd feature was the sometimes bizarre behavior of McFadden who continually rebelled, refusing to toe the company line and fall into step with his band mates. At one point, as the other lads strenuously song and danced their way around the stage trying to pump up the crowd, a slightly bloated McFadden removed his dinner jacket and lay on his back going solo ala Eric Clapton in his early drink fuelled days.

Whether the group's official hell raiser had been enjoying a few pints of Guinness before the show is anybody's guess. Could he be Take That's answer to Robbie Williams? Remember Robbie also looked terrible and liked to party in his boy band days.

Overall Westlife were highly entertaining and, aided by some fairly nifty stage mechanics and tireless band and dancers, gave an expectant crowd exactly what they wanted. They may not be the best singers or dancers on the block but they know how to charge up big venues.

It was certainly a big step up from their visit to Singapore when they put in a slightly lackluster performance, not helped by a bare stage, no dancers or band. Two years on, they are a much more polished act even if stage hype and a loud band sometimes covers up for a few stray notes and wonky dance movements.

Craig David, Sting, Westlife, Ronan Keating and Lulu are to perform at Elton John's annual White Tie and Tiara Ball.

The event takes place in the grounds of Elton's home in Windsor on Thursday.

Elton will also perform at the event, which will raise funds for his Aids Foundation.

There will also be a fundraising auction, with bids invited from members of the public to have their lyrics set to music by Elton, www.eltonjohn.com reports

Westlife star Bryan McFadden missed a party with the Irish soccer team to be with his wife Kerry as she was rushed to hospital.

The party was in Lillies Bordello last week but Bryan had to be with his wife and former Atomic Kitten Kerry Katona was rushed to Mount Carmel hospital in Dublin.

The singer was expected to join the team in Lillies where the rest of Westlife celebrated the end of their twelve nights of shows in the Point. But after the band's concert Bryan was forced to rush to Mount Carmel where Kerry had been taken on Tuesday evening after a scare involving the cist which plagued her after the birth of the couple's daughter Molly last year.

Thankfully after being kept in for just one night Kerry was released on Wednesday morning and is back in great shape again.

Bryan was expected to join new band Fifth Avenue in Lillies, with whom he is currently working.

Ireland's world cup hero Robbie Keane spent most of the night showing the girls from Louis Walsh's all girl band Bellefire, who had earlier sang at the homecoming party in the park, a good time.

ShowBizIreland.com joined the Ireland team plus a host of celebrites and 100,000 loyal fans on Tuesday night in Dublin for the home coming party.

An army of green, white and gold filled 15 acres of the Phoneix Park and 100,000 welcomes were showered on the shocked Irish team.

To acknowledge the magnificent achievement of the Irish Soccer Squad in the World Cup the free event celebrated both the Irish Squads' achievement and the support of its fantastic fans.

The crowd were entertained by Aprés Match, The Revs, Bellfire, Kila, 5th Avenue, Mundy, Six, Picturehouse and Westlife.

Westlife

The event was organised by Dúchas, the Heritage Service for the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and involved over 300 police, 200 stewards and 100 members of the Civil Defence.

Westlife are expected to appear at an open-air concert in Ireland this afternoon, to pay tribute to the heroic efforts of the nation's football team.

The boyband are to headline an impromptu show in Dublin's Phoenix Park, which is set to be attended by thousands of Irish football and music fans.

As many as 100,000 people are likely to enjoy the occasion, with groups such as Westlife, Bellfire and Six set to perform for in the city, before the team arrive back from Japan.

A spokesman for the company behind the event explained the players "are the main focus". Gar Holohan told ananova.com: "We are trying for something that will combine the football and entertainment worlds".

Despite the hopes of the people of Ireland, the Irish are unlikely to embark on an open-top bus ride through the city, due to safety fears.

You can't blink these days without some squeaky-clean boy bander deciding that he's had enough of manufactured pop and going all rawk on us!

S Club's Paul Cattermole left his merry band to join a nu-metal group and even the mighty Sir Robbie of Williams is working with the Cult's Billy Morrison.

Westlife are set to lead the pop world's tribute to Ireland's World Cup soccer squad in Dublin.

The group will head the list of performers at an open air concert being staged at Phoenix Park.

Tens of thousands of Irish soccer fans are expected to pack the venue to welcome home their World Cup heroes.

Bands Bellfire and Six will also play.

Gar Holohan, of the architects firm called in to organise the event, said: "We are trying to make sure the players are the main focus.

"We are trying for something that will combine the football and entertainment worlds."

The bands will play for close on two hours before the players arrive by helicopter from Dublin airport, following their late afternoon arrival there and private reunions with their families. Weather prospects were uncertain for the big show, with occasional showers forecast nationwide.

Hopes that the team might parade through the centre of Dublin in an open-top bus were scuppered by fears for the safety of the supporters expected to be on hand to greet the squad.

According to some estimates as many as 100,000 soccer faithful could crowd into the park for the occasion, which is to be shown live on Ireland's state-backed RTE TV network.

The whole area will be closed to traffic from around mid-day and a fleet of 150 buses is being laid on to transfer the crowd from the centre of Dublin.

Westlife's Bryan McFadden is launching his own rock band.

Bryan will manage, produce and write for the band.

He says he's decided to branch out because he doesn't just want to be a singer in a boy band.

"I'm not just a boy band robot. The new band is secret at the moment as it is early days but I am really excited about them," he tells The Sun.

Thirty thousand pop fans have been left disappointed after organisers cancelled a major concert due to bad weather.

The joint organisers of Irn-Bru Live + Loud decided not to go ahead with the gig because the venue has become waterlogged.

The event, which was due to go ahead at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow on Sunday afternoon, could now be rescheduled.

Westlife were due to headline at the event, with other top acts such as A1, Blue, the Sugababes, Lulu, Samantha Mumba and H and Claire included in the all-star line up.

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said: "All the organisers involved have decided that conditions are just too wet for the concert to go ahead.

"For safety reasons they have agreed to cancel the event. The weather forecast is not good for the coming few days and they did not think the grounds would be dry on time for such an event."

Westlife had threatened to pull out of the gig earlier this week when they said they wanted to watch the Republic of Ireland play Spain in the World Cup.

The band later announced plans to watch the game at the home of Celtic Football Club, but the management said the group would now be watching the crunch match in Dublin.

Fans from across the UK and Ireland were expected at the concert

Dublin rocked over the weekend as Westlife, Six, Santana and The Pogues all kicked off Ireland's concert season.

Westlife's Bryan McFadden even took time out of the bands 12-date tour to explain how himself and his wife Kerry Katona are trying for more kids.

"I want more kids now," Bryan admitted. "All together I would like three or four kids but that's just me. I haven't discussed numbers with Kerry yet but we are trying for more kids at the moment and we would love to give little Molly a brother or sister sooner rather then later."

He went on, "As for everything else as soon as we finished the tour I'm going to take Kerry and Molly away on an exotic holiday to get what has happened over the past few months out of our hair. Kerry is still working on her TV career so we will have make time for the break, which we will as soon as the tour ends. To be honest I can't wait because I'm knackered at this stage."

More Westlife Photos below:

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-- Showbiz Ireland

According to reports, Kian was recently spotted shopping for an engagement ring with a mystery blonde at London's Cartier jewelers.

If he does marry, he will be the second Westlifer to be attached. -- SP

As promised, dotmusic brings you some exclusive video highlights of the recent Soccer Six event.

Click on the links to see live footage of the celeb-fest footy tournament at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge where Westlife managed to prise the trophy from the grasp of Ant & Dec during a thrilling final.

In the package above, you can watch video interviews with Bryan Westlife, Simon from Blue, and ex-Steps man Lee amongst others.

There's also a chance to see live action of the final plus a video montage of highlights of earlier rounds from the boys and girls competition. See Blue's impressive run, Rod Stewart's seasoned pros and Vinnie Jones back on the pitch.

For the full video archive check out the official Soccer Six site.

The young singers have apparently been advised to shed some pounds before attempting to make a mark in the U.S. -- where ultra lean and fit boy bands abound!

All five band members have been given a personal trainer to help them undergo a change in eating habits and lifestyle in the hope of attracting the young but picky American single-buyers. -- MTVE.com