The official BIG GIG report 2008

22,000 screaming girls, blue flashing bunny-ears and ten of the UK’s top pop acts… Mix them together and you have the BIG GIG 2008!  The presenters were obviously a hit. Whenever Sam and Mark were on stage, the girls held their banners high in the air declaring their undying love as the troublesome two danced around showing off the latest break dancing moves. And as for the acts themselves…

It certainly was ‘Here come the girls’ when the Sugababes kicked off the poptastic event. The threesome burst into song with ‘Push the button’ and the girls all went wild showing a sea of blue flashing bunny ears only the guides could pull off.

X-factor winner of 2007, Leon Jackson got right into the spirit of the event, encouraging all the Guides to renew their promise and to continue with the great things they do for Girlguiding UK. It was obviously well received as he performed his new single ‘Don’t call this Love’ to a chorus of screaming girls and waving banners!

Sam Beeton - the kooky 19 year old amazed the crowd with ‘What you look for’ and King of the UK garage scene, DJ Ironik wowed the hyped up girls with his first hit single ‘Stay with me’, as well as ‘Tiny Dancer (Hold me Closer)’ featuring Elton John.

It was then time to learn the Alphabeat with the Danish pop band who caused a commotion and the glow sticks were up, moving high in the air and side to side. They ended their set with chart-topper ‘Fascination’ to huge appreciation!

New boy band Avenue picked up the pace, singing their debut single ‘Last Goodbye’, which had everyone up and dancing to the rhythm. Screams echoed around the NEC as the fab five danced along too.

The Saturdays appeared next, and the girls went crazy as you could hear screams of ‘Oh my, I love their tights’ from just about every Guide in sight. Every Guide sang along to their debut single ‘If this is Love’.

The next act to send the crowd wild were Irish boy band The Script. Hearts were racing when the Irish trio took to the stage and they belted out tracks ‘We Cry’ and ‘The man who can’t be moved’ with gusto.

Having enjoyed being with us so much last year they wanted to come back for more… Yes, The Hoosiers were next to entertain us. They performed their hit singles ‘Worried about Ray’ which had the guides screaming ‘We’re worried about Ray too!’ and ended the set with the fabulous ‘Goodbye Mr A’.

Finally, the act every Guide had been waiting for, Scouting for Girls! Every face lit up when they entered the stage. The atmosphere was electric and the bunny-eared Guides were jumping up and down with anticipation. The trio burst into song with their latest single ‘James Bond’ and continued with their other chart-topping hit ‘Heartbeat’ as the girls all sung along with them. They finished with their most popular tune ‘She’s so lovely’ as requested rather insistently. At the end of the song confetti was fired and blown into the excitable crowd as Scouting for Girls told the Guides ‘We’re your band’.