21 December 2009
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Blast

McFly at Party in the Park 2006, Leeds

Party in the Park 2006

By Harry Aslam
Party in the Park 2006 was no small deal - tens of thousands of people from Leeds, and beyond, all packed into Temple Newsam for the UK's biggest free annual outdoor music concert.

Line-up:

Trinity Stone

McFly

Chico

Maria Lawson

Matt Willis

Frank

Duncan James

Rooster

Liberty X

Shayne Ward

Looking around, it was clear that the majority of those in attendance were tweenage pop fans, hungry for a glimpse of their favourite pop stars on stage.

McFly opened the show, arriving on stage to a massive reception from the crowd as they began with 'Please, please, please' and going on to perform crowd favourite 'It's all about you' as well as their cover of the Queen classic 'Don't stop me now'. At the end of the McFly set, roles were reversed as the crowd burst out singing 'Happy Birthday' to McFly's Tom, who recently celebrated his 21st birthday.

Caitlin and Katrina

Throughout the crowd there were countless banners and flags featuring the band, more so than for any other act of the day - showing that McFly really were the stars of the show. Caitlin and Katrina from Chapel Allerton - both wearing McFly t-shirts, said that it was McFly that attracted them to Party in the Park in the first place and that they were at Party in the Park 'only for McFly'.

The day's running order included two former boyband members embarking on solo careers - Matt Willis (ex-Busted) didn't quite manage to hype up the crowd in the style of McFly, but Duncan James (ex-Blue) was popular, with a few die-hard fans bearing flags and posters going absolutely crazy in the front rows.

What time was it?.. It was Chico time - and everyone knew it. Chico, runner up on music reality tv show X-Factor gave an energetic, extravagant performance including his number one single 'Chico Time'. Also performed was a song which went something like 'Chico Disco' which, ashamedly, I have to admit was probably the best song of the day. When Chico arrived on stage, there was a definite increase in the previously steady number of missiles being thrown toward the stage.

It's Chico time!

Chico is perhaps one of those artists who inspires a real 'love him or hate him' feeling amongst the audience - there were several female fans wearing 'Chico's Chic-ette' t-shirts. Taking pictures of Chico's performance from the 'press pit' I felt that the barrage was becoming slightly excessive after a flying trainer whistled past my head - following this I just fled. Getting pictures of Chico on stage singing and thrusting simply weren't worth getting hit in the head with a shoe.

See pictures from the day:
Party in the Park - the stars! >
Party in the Park - the fans! >

Before Party in the Park, I didn't even really know who Rooster were. They're actually quite popular, having put down a song for the soundtrack to the new big-budget 'Stormbreaker' movie. A huge hit with the crowd, Rooster seemed to have the market for the young mini-rock fans all wrapped up.

Claire and Vicky

Without music reality tv shows, Party in the Park would have been pretty quiet, with five of the nine acts coming out of reality tv. Girl band Frank, whose roots lie in Channel 4's 'Totally Frank' were, to me, another unknown, but their performance of a few catchy pop songs including new single 'I'm not shy', appealed to the young audience. Likewise, Maria Lawson from x-Factor also appealed to the tweenies in the crowd.

The final two acts of the day were Liberty X and Shayne Ward - again, both products of reality tv. Now, I don't want to criticise Liberty X, but they didn't look as though they were taking it seriously at all. For their first song, they did a little chair dance using some dirty chairs that they must have scrounged from the back. More than anything else, it was just plain weird.

Like McFly, Shayne's performance was eagerly anticipated - I asked Vicky and Claire from Dewsbury who they were most looking forward to seeing and they answered with a loud, proud, 'Shayne Ward, innit.' They also mentioned how the atmosphere of the event as having been particularly exciting, Claire saying that 'I've never seen so many people in my life. It's buzzin!'

Party in the Park was brought to a close by X-Factor winner Shayne Ward - a huge hit with the crowd, there was serious screaming when he was on stage and almost all missile throwing stopped (perhaps because there was nothing left to throw by this time). Shayne's emotionally charged ballads sent the crowd into sway-mode and toward the very end there were even a few fans shedding tears. Not tears of sadness, but tears of joy.

last updated: 24/07/06

Have Your Say

Who do you think was best at Party in the Park 2006?

Chloe Barnfather
I think Chico waz da best coz he took his shirt off and he looked hot

liam
AH HEM MCFLY WO DA BEST

Amy Crawford
i thought it was fab!!!!:P coz i gt 2 see mcfly and they r just best eva

Shona
I only went to see the sexy shayne ward. I really love him to bits he was by far the best performer there with out doubt. Keep up the good work Shayne luv ya xxx

sadler
ROOSTER all da way, mcfly wa gud n all, but rooster rocked my socks off

.-*smee*-.
i really wanted to go to party in the park coz i think it's well cool coz i luv music!!!

mia
i wannted to go but i didn't hear bout it till too late:( lovin mcfly n roster

Steff :]
MCFLY were awesome! but matt willis was really good too! :]

Alice lindsay tadcaster :)
i thought that roosetr and mcfly were the best .. had a great day :D

solida
duncan james is the greatest singer in the world...,i hope i will meet him one day !

emma c luvin danny P!
omg i thought mcfly n rooster n shayne ward n matty frm busted were ace!i wish we cuda seen mre of u guys!they wo brill ne one whos thinkin bout goin 2 see them shud go n see them they are so amazing!

annie
MCFLYYYYYYYY rocked

Nicole
I think matt willis was great because he was in busted befor singing alone

Nilesh
it woz a blast!

Paris Slack (Nottingham) <3
I was already a massive mcfly fan and have already seen them once in concert,but they were even better! I went to Party in the Park In Leeds,McFLY Were The Best.They were the reason i actually went,as i come from nottingham and had to get trains to leeds with my sister and my mates! I Colapsed And Chico asked if i was ok! I Was On The First Row And Things got completely ridiculous...i nearly got trampled on!Wtf Was Going On With the Buffalo Dancers?They Couldn't dance to save their lives!!! It Was Amazing,The Atmosphere was fantastic and Dougie From McFLy Talked To me! I Shouted Dougie Get Your Top off and he Shouted No! ack...Wow...lol! paris xxx

kim
party in the park was ace mcfly was the best cnt wait 4 next years

Lindsay
I THINK SHAYNE WAS THE BEST AND I AM SUCH A MASSIVE FAN OF HIM THAT I FAINTED BEFORE HE CAME ON!! I WANT TO MEET HIM ONE DAY.

Stacy
I had a wicked day and LIBERTY X, TRINITY STONE and MARIA LAWSON were wicked!! xx

malissa (leeds)
party in the pak was cushty x

fiona curtis
i had a brill day with mi m8t duncan james was great n shanye ward made my day i had a great time

xx Dayle, Leeds xx
Party in the park was truly amazing, best its ever being so far. mcfly, chico, matt willis, rooster, and shayne all in one! i absoloutley LOVED it. x

Anita
I thought party in the park was awesome it is the first time i have been to the leeds! Shayne ward was fabulous he looked very nice and i so was the good looking Matt Willis.

kathy
mcfly

chris townend
McFly wer the best this yr! rooster and matt willis wer awesome tho!!

Alex
Frank were the best! Can't wait for their album!

.-._.x._.-.Kerrianne.-._.x._.-.
hey! i'm kerrianne and i loveeee mcfly sooooooooooo much!!! i personally think that i should have met them! and i was talking to the lead singer from rooster for about 15 mins !! if only it was danny jones lol bibi luv kez x.x.x

kirsti (bradford)
chico was da bsest!! i luvd dancing about to mc fly. it was a gud day.da bottle of water fight was doin ma ed in abit tho.lol. ill be there nxt year! o ye il defo buyin trinity stone single there was gud!!

christopher rhodes
rooster were wicked!

James
WOAH!! party in the park wo well good! me jasmine n glyn spent the whole day there! got sum autographs aswell lol :P wo so good, cant w8 till next year!

michelle
mcfly were ace an duncan was sooo sexy (just lyk matt willis an shayne ward)

Beth
evri1 was ace..cnt say hu was the best but i can say it was the best party in the park there has been

Amy
matt willis was so sexy an chico taking his shirt off made our day...shayne ward was ace aswel

Sarah Freer
I loved mcfly ,matt willis & rooster i was right at front i loved it xxx

Sasha
Chico rocked!! party in the park just wouldnt have been the same without him! xx

BEN AND KEL HGATE
I LISTEN TO HIP HOP BUT MCFLY WERE DEF THE BEST THIS DAY KELLY LOVED IT AND ALSO MET TOM WHICH WA HER DREAM THX PY IN DA PARK C U NXT YEAR

Rachel Lloyd
this years party in the park was the best ever. shayne ward was amazing and Mcfly were good too. but the show went to shayne ward. what a brillent day. and brillent weather. many thanks

Lorraine
definatley Matt Willis. he's so much better than he ever was in busted

Steph
The show was ace its the first one i've been too. I think shane ward was the best and his voice goes with his looks lol. I also liked rooster and trinty stone. (carnt forget mcfly)

Emma Shaw
Party in the park was amazing all the acts were good but Shayne Ward was the best!!!!!!!!!!!

anna tonks
i love chico!!

pamela
shayne waz da bezt ther, luv ya!

Amanda Walker
Shayne & Duncan were really good. For the 3rd year running Liberty X were the worst group. I normally really like their music but you can never really here them. The only person you can hear is Kevin. My advice is for Kevin to go solo

Sarah Jennings
Duncan James was ABSOLUTELY brilliant!! The first time ive seen him solo since Blue and it was definately worth the wait!! He was great and his daughter is SOOO cute!! Shayne ward was also a great headliner and it was a suprise how good he sounded definately a worthy winner!! and Mcfly were great as usual they never fail to impress!! Over all a great day think it was the best Party in the park ive been to yet!!

Lewis
when chico started thrusting I experienced things that I had never experienced before

Rebecca Hopkins
Duncan James was the best!!! Maria was my second favourite.

Kimberley Pascoe
The best acts at leeds party in the park have got 2 be MCFLY,MATT WILLIS, ROOSTER AND SHAYNE WARD Mcfly rocked the the concert

Sarah
Shayne Ward, rocked Leeds and bought Higgins too ;)

Chloe Thompson ( age 6 )
I liked Shane and Chico they were great. I cant wait until next year.

Hannah
It was amazing! had the time of my life!! Mcfly and Matt ruled the show!

Walley
Great review Harry keep up the good work!

James W
McFly, were incredible! especially, when they sang, Don't stop me now! the atmosphere was electric! Everyone was good, what a fab day! can't wait until next year!

Katie Natz Kayla Jemz!
MCFLY ROCKED MY WORLD! WOOO XXXX

LaUrEn
Chico was Brill! He was Well Funny! i Think Mcfly n Rooster Were Fab 2! But Luv Chico Though!!!! x x

annie
mcfly