6/12/14: Last Saturday at super-club Heaven the stage was almost as packed as the main floor facing it – with the arrival of Stereo Kicks; the gargantuan group having finished fifth place this X Factor season after being voted off in Week 8 following (surprise, surprise) a judge deadlock.
Barclay, Tom, James, Reece, Jake and Casey took the stage despite Chris having been taken ill, and Charlie (at 14) simply too young to have his first Heaven experience – though a six-piece proved more than sufficient once the boys launched into their set.
From sit-down serenades (in the from of Nicole Scherzinger’s ‘Run’) to boisterous bangers (Katy Perry’s ‘Roar’), the biker jacketed, big quiffed, buttoned up and lace booted boys saw not to disappoin, setting a fine tone for the next entertainer.
Last year’s winner Sam Bailey was next up, steam fresh from her Semi Final’s performance at the studio hours earlier.
Despite weathering a hard year of allegations – and speculations as to whether Cowell’s SYCO label we’ll keep her on after her contract’s imminent expiry – Bailey was every bit the powerhouse and blast that saw her place first last year.
In a set that comprised some much loved Christmas standards, we saw Bailey truss herself up like a Christmas tree (literally) before, in true contemporary pop star tradition, ceremoniously turning on Heaven’s very own tree’s lights.
The season has begun, and it’s the season to be jolly! It’s easy with next Saturday already on the way and the next X Factor guest set to perform, the gorgeous Lauren Platt.
Heaven, Under The Arches, Villiers Street
Words by Yaf Brown
Photos by Chris Jepson
