‘Bring him home’ Lancashire’s Alfie Boe to light up Blackpool
One of Lancashire’s greatest music talents is coming home – to switch on the world-famous Blackpool Illuminations.
Actor and international singing star Alfie Boe, who was born in the resort and raised in neighbouring Fleetwood, will pull the switch to trigger the start of the 2018 Illuminations season at the official Switch-On concert on the Tower Festival Headland on Friday 31 August.
During the free four-hour show there will be performances by Ella Eyre, Jonas Blue, Diversity, DVJ (Diversity Junior) and Club MTV DJs, R3wire and Varski in what is the coolest party in Blackpool’s calendar.
Alfie joins a long list of celebrities who have switched on the Blackpool Illuminations including Hollywood director Tim Burton, Robbie Williams, Peter Kay and Dame Barbara Windsor. Last year, Diversity and the Star Trek franchise produced a unique collaboration to kick-start 66 nights of Illuminations in the resort. As a young boy growing up on the coast, Alfie dreamed of a career as a singer.
He was discovered singing in a mechanics garage where he worked and went on to conquer the world’s most prestigious stages. Alfie Boe is a two time Brit award and Silver Clef winner. He has had two number 1 albums as part of Ball & Boe alongside close friend Michael Ball, selling-out three UK tours and performing in their own prime time ITV specials. The pair also appeared on last year’s Strictly Come Dancing episode in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom.
Cllr Gillian Campbell, Deputy Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “We are thrilled that Alfie Boe has agreed to switch on the Blackpool Illuminations for 2018. He is an outstanding talent and we are very proud to welcome him home for what is our biggest night of the year.”
The Friday night celebration will start with a “Blackpool Introduces” showcase featuring the best of talent from across the Fylde Coast, prior to the start of the main show.
As last year, the Switch-On event will be free, with people invited to apply for the 20,000 wristbands that will guarantee entry to the Tower Festival Headland arena. The wristband ballot closes at 9am on July 26. To register, go to: www.visitblackpool.com/switchon.
For anyone interested in VIP packages for the night, please visit www.visitblackpool.com/switchon for all the details.
To view footage from the 2017 Blackpool Illuminations Switch-On click here.
We’ve still got all this to look forward to so save the dates in your diary:
• Ride the Lights – 28 August between 7pm and 10pm – where we open up Blackpool Promenade to bikes to allow cyclists to ride through the resort’s famous Blackpool Illuminations – FREE
• Britney Spears in Blackpool – 1 September – International pop icon Britney Spears will be bringing her “Britney: Piece of Me” show to Blackpool’s Tower Festival Headland in a celebration of one of the most illustrious careers in music history! For tickets go to https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/britneyspears
• Blackpool Illuminations and Lightpool – 31 August – 4 November – Britain’s most spectacular light show returns to Blackpool Promenade for another year with Lightpool projections from 7th September – FREE!
• The World Fireworks Championship Blackpool – 7/14/21/28 September – Blackpool plays host to the best fireworks display teams in the world with the competitors planning more dramatic and spectacular displays than ever before to wow the crowds – FREE
• Nickelodeon SLIMEFEST – 20, 21 & 22 October – The Nickelodeon SLIMEFEST ticketed shows will take place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the Arena, Blackpool Pleasure The six shows across 3 days will feature live performances, games, characters and plenty of slime, music and mayhem! All shows sold out but check www.nick.co.uk/SLIMEFEST for competitions to win tickets.
• Lightpool Festival – 25–27 October – Blackpool’s award-winning Lightpool Festival is back for October half-term. The festival will provide a spectacular mix of live performance, light-based art installations, the return of the illuminated tram parade and a special collaboration with the BBC Philharmonic on 18 October. For more information go to www.visitblackpool.com/lightpoolfestival