Diary From The Road - a view from the tour bus
By Jake Duncan

Friday 28 May, 2004

Just as it appeared I was managing to find the time each week,
(originally planned for a Sunday), my mother became very ill two
weeks ago - and when this happens, suddenly nothing else matters.

Shane, Nicky, Kian and Mark were so supportive of my situation and
immediately dispatched me to Wales to spend time with my mother. For
three or four days they, and our security officers Dave Last and Tony
Cave (not forgetting the redoubtable Maria, the boys personal
assistant) all shouldered part of the Tour Management functions,
until I was able to return to Birmingham.

Friday 14 May, 2004

Did you miss me?

London was typically London: frantic. Hence almost missing a whole
week of my diary.

Now we are in Dublin, having completed three out of ten shows at The
Point Depot.

The weather has been excellent the last couple of days here in Dublin
and, being the Tour Accountant as well, I am thankful for multiple
dates in the same city as it allows me to sneak into the venue during
the day and catch up with my work.

During last week's Wembley run, I was interviewed by one of the
satellite TV channels, relating to a programme they are producing to
investigate the troubled state of British football. I can't say too
much at this point however, as I'm passionate about a more full-time
involvement in football in the future, I'm hoping that, as well as
raising awareness of the issues which are disabling our game, it will
also do no harm in raising my profile within the industry.

This time next month will actually be our last UK date after which
I'm definitely looking forward to a short break.

Before then, of course, we have three dates in Birmingham, a ten-day
spell in Europe and then the final four UK shows of this phase. That
first show in Belfast, on 29 March, seems so far ago now.

I trust that everyone who E-mails me regarding Westlife will
understand that I have very little time to reply. The point of my
website, to be perfectly honest, is to raise awareness for my future
football management ("agency") project, in the hope that I can
attract the significant investment required to finally demonstrate to
the football industry that there is a highly organized and
professional alternative to what is generally on offer to most young,
talented, footballers.

Saturday 1 May, 2004

Newcastle, Birmingham and, presently, Sheffield have all gone
particularly well and we're off to Manchester tonight, after this
last Sheffield show.

We celebrated Kian's birthday last night (in true Westlife fashion)
and a great night was had by all - as witness to that, there's a few
fuzzy heads aimlessly wandering the backstage corridors this
afternoon.

With a bit of luck, I'll be ensconced in my Manchester hotel (or to
be more technically correct, my Manchester hotel's bar) before the
stroke of midnight tonight.

We recorded our tour DVD at the Manchester MEN Arena last year, as
the atmosphere is electric when there's upwards of 14,000 fans on a
sold-out show.

Not sure when the programme airs, so keep an eye on this space.

Time to go now, as the show starts in a couple of hours: I also now
have the additional responsibility of coping with the inimitable
Maria Barry, Westlife's personal assistant – a bundle of energy; a
rush of activity; a voice of note but, thankfully, a heart of gold.
See ya.

Monday 5 April, 2004

Well, may all weeks be as successful as the last week in Belfast,
where we started the tour: seven sold-out shows and two more shows
already on sale (for June 6 & 7) as a result of the phenomenal
reaction to the "rejuvenated" Westlife.

The lads are determined to elicit the same fantastic reaction to the
new show, on the UK mainland, as was evident over the last week in
Belfast.

Sunday 28 March, 2004

Staring out over the waterfront in Belfast this Sunday evening, The
Odyssey venue sits quietly shimmering in the late evening haze, not
more than 800 metres in a straight line from me.

We have seven shows in Belfast this week, before heading off for the
UK mainland to start in Nottingham a week on Tuesday.

Even after all these years, I still thrive on being part of such a
well-oiled machine and (old fashioned as it may sound) there's a
definite buzz about contributing towards something that sends
thousands of concert-goers home happy, every night.

The response from our Belfast audience is nothing short of fanatical,
although the average age of Westlife's audience here (and everywhere)
continues to rise. The lads know they will be warmly welcomed back
here to Belfast and, even in the wake of Bryan's departure, everyone
in our organization, having the benefit of having been around
rehearsals for the last week, are convinced that Westlife can still
do the business (in every way).

I have watched the past week's rehearsal run-throughs with increasing
fascination and I'm quietly confident that the lads can continue as
strong as ever, for years to come: whether I'm around for all that
time remains to be seen - as I'm more determined than ever to launch
a sports development/management operation at the earliest
opportunity.

Well, back to reality, as here we go with the revitalized Westlife,
world premiere, line-up tomorrow night!

Sunday 21 March, 2004

The final stretch!

One week tomorrow, we commence this year's tour with a run of seven
shows at Belfast's Odyssey Arena.

For any act on the verge of such an extensive arena tour as Westlife
are about to undertake, there will be little sleep in the final seven
rehearsal days - for artistes, management and technical crew alike.

On Tuesday, we move into the final phase of the rehearsal schedule -
full production - when every one of our nine 45 foot tractor-trailers
are emptied out onto a large sound stage and then systematically
pieced together to resemble the sort of spectacular show that
Westlife have produced on a year-on-year basis since their
first 'Coast To Coast' tour in 1996.

I think it's fair to say that Steve Levitt (Westlife's long
standing -
possibly long suffering! - Production Manager) and myself have the
ultimate responsibility to ensure that the Westlife touring
extravaganza makes it out of rehearsals and up to the first show, on
time.