IN PICS: ‘Pigs can fly’ for Busted in Belfast

By Jackie Bell

Busted fans were once told pigs would fly before the trio would reunite on stage, but their supporters got to witness both in Belfast on Monday night.

Matt Willis, Charlie Simpson and James Bourne announced last year that they would be reforming for the first time in 12 years for their UK and Ireland Pigs Can Fly tour.

It was a night of nostalgia at the SSE Arena as the band were supported by fellow 00s stars Wheatus, who delighted the crowd with a number of tracks before launching into their massive hit Teenage Dirtbag.

With the crowd suitably filled with musical memories from their younger days, Busted’s arrival on stage was forewarned by a giant inflatable pig floating its way around the arena.

Meanwhile, a number of lucky fans were employed to fill out the group’s ‘pig sty’ which was a large structure at the back of the stage.

Dressed in Busted hoodies and pig masks, the group of fans were able to watch the concert from the musicians’ point of view, with the added bonus of being merely inches from their idols.

Busted arrived on stage and launched into a list of hits, including Coming Home, Air Hostess, and Dawson’s Geek before taking the time to say their obligatory ‘thank you’ to the fans for coming out to see them.

And it seems any bad feelings within the group are well and truly a thing of the past as they appeared genuinely thrilled to be playing together once again.

Heading out onto a smaller stage in the middle of the SSE Arena, the band performed Who’s David, Easy, and Meet You There under a simple set-up of lights before returning to the main stage where three huge cube structures were waiting for them.

The later portion of the concert was reserved for their more well-known hits including Thunderbirds Are Go, Crashed The Wedding, and What I Go To School For.

But it was the show’s encore that the fans were patiently waiting for as the band performed their massive hit Year 3000 before sending the crowd home in a warm glow of 00s nostalgia.

Busted’s Pigs Can Fly tour continues on Tuesday 31 May at Dublin’s 3Arena.