Admit it. Even if you were the hardest rocker around, you can’t fight the urge to sing along to Westlife’s Flying Without Wings when it plays on the radio. For anyone who grew up in the early Noughties, this band’s music pretty much made up the soundtrack to their life. So get ready to see them take the stage at Putra Indoor Stadium in Bukit Jalil on 7 October as they return to Malaysian shores for the first time since their last concert here nine years ago.

Malaysia is a special destination for Westlife, as this was the kick-off to their first promotional tour back when they were starting out in 1999. The band shot to instant worldwide fame and got the No 1 spot with debut single Swear It Again, and repeated this multiple times to be the only British or Irish act in history to have the first seven singles as straight No 1 hits.

The Irish lads also found a place in the hearts of Malaysians with their soulful harmony and gentlemanly charm. Currently composed of Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan (Bryan McFadden left the group in 2004 to pursue a solo career), the group’s catalogue of evergreen hits include If I Let You Go, Seasons in the Sun, Fool Again, Uptown Girl, World of Our Own, Mandy and Safe.

This time around, the boys (or should I say, men) are touring the globe to promote their latest album, Gravity. Their previous album, Where We Are, saw the group taking a leap of faith with new songwriters and producers to somewhat lacklustre results, but the risks that they have taken with Gravity have definitely paid off. Teaming up with Grammy Award-winning producer John Shanks, their latest album has a solid upbeat twist, disproving the critics who have been calling the boys “boring”.

Gravity is a distinguishably personal album for the crooners, as they took part in the writing process and put their emotions to song. The standout is Too Hard To Say Goodbye, which drew emotion from the passing of Egan and Byrne’s fathers. It is this effort that has made Gravity a refreshing change from the band’s over-dependence on cover songs for the past half-decade.

All in all, Westlife’s music has always struck a chord in the hearts of listeners in Malaysia and everywhere else in the world, and this new album should be no different.

So don’t miss the chance to witness Byrne, Egan, Feehily and Filan take their performance to new heights right here in Malaysia.