One Direction, BIC (From Daily Echo)

One Direction, BIC

10:07am Wednesday 4th January 2012 in Music Reviews By Jane Reader

IT'S nearly 30 years since the BIC opened but I doubt the screams have ever been louder than when boyband of the moment One Direction hit the stage for two sell-out gigs in one day.

Deafening shrieks and tears filled the Windsor Hall when heart-throbs Harry, Zayn, Liam, Louis and Niall belted out their hit singles, album tracks and a carefully-chosen selection of covers.

They may have only come third on X-Factor in 2010, but the boys look destined to be winners in 2012 if the reaction of the crowd for their first UK tour is anything to go by.

The fast-paced show had it all with indoor snowstorms, gold streamers, big-screen videos and a live band.

The loudest screams were reserved for their first single, What Makes You Beautiful, but the crowd loved every second of tracks from their debut album, Up All Night, and covers including I've Got A Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas, Zutons hit Valerie and Torn by Natalie Imbruglia.

The crowd of mainly teenage girls was in fine voice, managing to sing along with every word, scream, shout "I love 1D", wave banners, jump up and down and dance - all at the same time.

There were a few slightly baffled-looking parents along with some even more baffled-looking five-year-olds but it's clear that it's the 13-16-year-old girls that are going to keep this boyband at the top of the charts for a long time to come.

With a 21-date UK tour underway and plans for a US tour in the near future, it seems Simon Cowell and five good-looking boys with an army of fans are a winning combination.