Bizarrely this week Boyzone announced a one-off ‘final farewell’ gig at London’s Emirates Stadium next year and I was reminded of the time I was asked by the Northern Echo in the mid to late 1990s to photograph their gig at Newcastle’s arena venue.
You might have guessed, given my recent reviews/posts, Boyzone were not my my go to band to see live as even then I was not the target audience, but I never the less headed out to the gig.
As I recall it was the usual three songs before we were chucked out of the photographers’ pit so I processed my film and wired the pics and thought nothing of it. But I was surprised when I saw the next day’s paper and saw that one of my shots was on the front page. To this day I have not lost the buzz of seeing my work, both photos and copy, in print.
I am not sure who wrote the accompanying text which formed the pic’s caption, as I was expecting that a reporter would have been there to review the gig and provide a more in depth insight, but here it is:
Let’s hear it for the Boyz.
GIRLS as young as five joined teenagers, mums and some grandmas for the second of Boyzone’s concerts at the Newcastle Arena last night.
Screams of delight from the 9000-strong audience welcomed Ronan, Shane, Stephen, Mikey and Keith on stage for the spectacular show which has proved such a success the boys are booked for another appearance at the arena in November.
On Sunday night more than 6000 fans enjoyed the concert.
The cutting of the Boyzone gig in the Northern Echo which was published on Tuesday, June 3, 1997. 
Boyzone at the Newcastle Arena in June 1997. Picture: Ian Duncan. 
Boyzone at the Newcastle Arena in June 1997. Picture: Ian Duncan. 
Boyzone at the Newcastle Arena in June 1997. Picture: Ian Duncan. 
Advert for the Boyzone farewell gig, One For The Road, at the Emirates Stadium in London next June.
Apparently, according to the BBC, the event, which is known as One For The Road, will take place at the Arsenal football ground on Saturday, June 6, 2026.
Frontman Ronan Keating described the stadium gig as the first and biggest of their career as a ‘final farewell’ for the 1990s boyband who had several hits during their career.
And it will be their first performance together since a five-night run at the London Palladium in 2019 and comes from positive reaction to their recent documentary, Boyzone: No Matter What.
Fans can register to access a ticket pre-sale from Tuesday (October 7), before all remaining tickets go on general sale on Friday (October 10).
Ian Duncan Media 