We’re pleased to tell you that the second rescheduled date for RONAN KEATING is finally confirmed, he’ll now get to the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff this July.

RONAN is one of those artists we’ve not only watched, but have actually grown up with. We’ve laughed and cried through his, and Boyzone’s incredible career. For many of us his songs have actually become the soundtrack to parts of our lives. Tunes that immediately take us back to a special time or place.

Exactly 20 years after the release of his self-titled, debut solo (& No.1) album, one of our best-loved singers returns with an album that encapsulates his many musical achievements since the millennium. And the great news is, he’ll be heading our way so we can see it live.

‘Twenty Twenty’ is out now, an album which Ronan describes as….

“a greatest hits of brand new music”

And if you’e going to release an album of your greatest hits, you might as well call up some of your mates and get them to come along and help you dive into your back catalogue and add their voice to some of the new tracks.

The first single, ‘One Of A Kind’, had Ronan duet with none other than Emeli Sandé. The song is beautiful and everything that is classic Keating. Add Emeli into the mix and you have another instant classic.

Ronan told us…..

“I guess I’ve been known for those first dance songs at weddings, and this has me written all over it. It’s all about the night before the wedding, the day of the wedding and spending the rest of your life together.”

The track demanded a duet partner and for Ronan there was only one choice:

“I was completely honoured when Emeli Sandé said she’d love to do it. I was just blown away by her vocal. She’s obviously got a brilliant voice, and she’s a lovely, warm person, so the personality she’s brought to the song is just incredible.”

And this is just the start. With production assistance from his longstanding wingman Steve Lipson (Annie Lennox, The Rolling Stones, Simple Minds, Whitney Houston, Paul McCartney), as well as stand-out solo tracks, Ronan has collaborated with some of his closest musical (and chart-topping) friends for ‘Twenty Twenty’. It’s a big old album as well. we’ve just gone through all 39 tracks on Spotify today and all the hits are there.

Here’s a recent single, which we playlisted on our radio station at the time. We love that his fans have contributed to this ‘socially distanced’ video. It’s brilliant Ronan – Little Thing Called Love.

So to the classics: Ronan has released some of the defining pop songs of the past two decades which simply had to be featured – cornerstone tracks, ‘Life is a Rollercoaster’, ‘Lovin’ Each Day’ and his debut solo single ‘When You Say Nothing At All’ (originally recorded for the soundtrack to the movie Notting Hill), are brilliantly reworked on the new album, bringing back memories but with a 2020 twist.

Now we don’t want to ruin what is not only one of our favourite Ronan songs, but actually one of our favourites, full stop. But we need you to see this, if you haven’t already. Ronan was a judge on the Australian X Factor and what you’re about to see provides us with two lessons.

Contestant…….

• Lesson One: Don’t ever go onto a talent show, singing competition and attempt to tackle a song made famous by one of the judges.
• Lesson Two: Don’t ever, ever go onto a talent show, singing competition when you sound like this.

Before we come onto the TWENTY TWENTY tour, we want to remind you that Ronan is of course, no stranger to these here parts. The team here at SOUTH WALES LIFE have seen him many times at the Celtic Manor Resort, along with some of his bandmates, playing in the annual Celebrity Cup (which is back again later this year). We don’t know if he’ll be grabbing his clubs again but heres a few snaps from previous visits.

That’s a golf tee in his mouth by the way. One of the really nice things at the Celebrity Cup is the Gala Dinner afterwards. There’s a stage, microphone and music, so how could he not get up on stage for a little song or two with Keith Duffy.

So let’s get onto the tour which will celebrate Ronan’s music and the new album. It’s a pretty full on tour as well, originally set for this summer but now rescheduled to July.

Since the original break-up of Boyzone, Ronan has had an incredible solo career: two back-to-back No.1 singles straight out of the gate. 30 consecutive Top 10 singles, 10 studio albums, multiple tours, 20 million records sold on top of the 25 million sold with Boyzone.

In other areas, too, he’s happily stretched his wings: judging on both the X Factor and The Voice in Australia, acting for both television drama and film, a highly acclaimed stint on London’s West End (we saw him in the musical ONCE and he was superb). In fact here’s a look back at the opening night of the show. Ronan’s bandmates were clearly blown away by his performance.

As well as singing the music he’s also playing it, in a slightly different way. His breakfast show brings entertainment to the nation on Magic FM with Harriet Scott – accumulating the highest ratings ever in Magic Radio history.

Over the past 12 months Ronan has been tirelessly working on the new album that celebrates an incredible solo career spanning two decades. He said to his fans that he certainly doesn’t take any of this for granted………

“There’s not a lot of artists that have been lucky enough to do 20 years and still be here.”

There are even fewer who have matched a successful band career with a successful solo career. He adds………..

“I’m very honoured to have had that, so I wanted to mark it with an album like this.”

So the ‘Twenty Twenty’ album is out now and Ronan gets to us at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena on Sunday 3rd July. The original tickets are still valid and the rest are on sale now and you can get them here. RONAN or call the box office on 02920-224488

Many years ago we sat in a studio with Boyzone and chatted to them about a blossoming career. Years later a friend of SOUTH WALES LIFE staged a concert in Somerset which the boys headlined. Both times they were welcoming, friendly and fun. We thought we’d finish with a cute picture when the guys visited a school in Ireland. They very young and we suspect it may be difficult for you to tell Boyzone from the kids – sorry Ronan.