Alfie Boe headlined the Blackpool Illuminations Switch-On concert on 31 August 2018 at the Tower Festival Headland, drawing thousands of visitors to celebrate the launch of the town’s world-famous illuminations. But there’s a bigger connection, the fact he was born in Blackpool. He’s the youngest in a family of nine children and was brought up in nearby Fleetwood. He is of Irish and Norwegian descent and his mother and father named him after the Italian name of Pope John XXIII. He attended St Wulstan’s and St Edmund’s School and Cardinal Allen Catholic High School in Fleetwood. His earliest musical memories were of listening to his father’s Richard Tauber records and he discovered Puccini’s La bohème for the first time.
Boe performed in public for the first time at the age of 14 at Fleetwood’s Marine Hall in a “Songs from the Shows” presentation organised by a local singing teacher Lottie Dawson. At the age of 17, Boe became an apprentice mechanic at the TVR factory in Bispham, Blackpool. He enjoyed entertaining his colleagues by singing opera arias while he polished the cars, and one day was overheard by a client with connections in the music industry who was so impressed that he suggested Boe should go to London and audition for the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. His audition was successful and he gave up polishing cars to embark on a singing career. Boe has not been able to trace the customer who suggested he go for the audition, having lost the man’s business card.
Boe, whose operatic voice and charismatic stage presence have made him an international star, shared the stage with Ashley Banjo, choreographer and leader of the award-winning dance troupe Diversity. Their collaboration brought a mix of powerful vocals and energetic movement to the evening, captivating the audience with a unique blend of artistry. The star-studded line-up also included Ella Eyre, Jonas Blue, Diversity, Diversity Junior (DVJ) and DJs R3wire and Varski kept the energy high throughout the night with their incredible artistry.
A standout feature of the concert was its celebration of local talent. Artists from the Fylde Coast were given the opportunity to perform, ensuring that the event highlighted the richness of Blackpool’s own creative community. The Switch-On moment itself is always a magical highlight, and in 2018, it was no different. With dramatic fanfare and anticipation, the Illuminations burst to life, casting the town in a kaleidoscope of dazzling lights that stretched for miles along the promenade.
The excitement didn’t stop there, as the weekend continued with another major event: Britney Spears’ Piece of Me Las Vegas show on 1 September. Having the global pop icon follow the Switch-On concert added an extra layer of prestige to the occasion, drawing even more attention to Blackpool as a hub for world-class entertainment. The 2018 Switch-On concert was a perfect blend of international stars, local talent, and community celebration, making it a memorable evening for both residents and visitors alike.
2018 Blackpool Illuminations Switch-On concert – Performances Featuring: Alfie Boe, Ashley Banjo Where: Blackpool, United Kingdom When: 31 Aug 2018 Credit: WENN.com
Images by © Alamy
