After spending most of this year in Los Angeles recording new music (not to mention filming a cameo in Sharknado 3), it was a welcome return to the Emerald Isle for Jedward, albeit in the Northern Irish capital of Belfast.
The Dublin Duo have made several appearances at UK venues the past few months in their campaign to represent that country in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, so it was not really surprising when it was announced they would be doing a PA at Belfast’s Kremlin Night Club.
Fans flew in from across Europe, including as far away as Finland and Germany, as well as the UK and the Irish Republic, to see the twins perform several of their classic songs. Additionally they sang ‘Oh Hell No’, the title track from the afore-mentioned Sharknado 3, which had everyone singing the chorus loudly – if they’d not been familiar with it to begin with, they knew it by the end! It was a long night, as free entry was promised before 10pm and John and Edward took the stage at 1.25am – but although footsore and weary it was certainly worth the wait to see the pair perform. There were many club regulars in attendance, some of whom expressed surprise (and delight) at how much the twins had grown up since they reached Number 2 on the UK charts way back in 2010 with ‘Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby)’, their duet with Vanilla Ice; the video of which had been shown earlier in the disco.
Opening with their 2012 Eurovision song, ‘Waterline’, Jedward quickly had the packed house in the palms of their hands, captivating all with their high energy performance. This was followed by their cover of Blink 182’s ‘All The Small Things’, which included several very energetic arm “windmills” from Edward, and John nearly taking out several security guards with his mic stand (we’re still not sure that it wasn’t deliberate…). ‘Oh Hell No’ kept up the pace, then we all had a chance to breathe when the twins broke into ‘Luminous’, which, with its ‘Titanium’ feel, really should be a club classic dance number. Last but not least, they finished up with their 2011 Eurovision hit, ‘Lipstick’.
Exhausted, somewhat relieved at being able at last to go home yet at the same time wishing for more, the audience poured out of Kremlin to the waiting fleet of taxis outside.
Hats off to the regular patrons and staff at Kremlin who went out of their way to make so many of us visitors feel very welcome and at home. We’d have no hesitation in returning to the venue! A very large round of applause also to Jedward, for putting on such an incredible performance, and we wish them the very best of luck in their bid to represent the UK next year.
