It was on Sunday, August 10, 2008, that music could be heard along Brighton beach and through its surrounding streets as three big namemusic acts hit the stage as part of the TBA series from mobile company Vodafone.

The Argus followed the event from the very beginning as the temporary stage was being set up in advance by event staff.

It was being made ready for the arrival of N*E*R*D, The Streets and McFly. Brighton girls The Pipettes also played at the one-off gig.

This was the first in the TBA series Vodafone had staged in the city since Razorlight played in July 2006.

Lucky passers-by

That event had been kept secret until the last minute, unlike this one in 2008 which was revealed in advance, causing great excitement.

Tickets were only available to customers on the Vodafone network.

On Friday, August 8, 2008, the Argus launched our own competition to give readers a chance of winning one of three pairs of tickets.

Some lucky passers-by on the day managed to get hold of some tickets as well.

Those unable to get tickets all crowded in their hundreds around the fenced-off area and watched from King’s Road promenade above.

The event saw an audience of thousands turn up in the bright sunshine for the much anticipated performance.

Naomi Hart, 18 at the time, Luisa Walton-Stoev, 18 at the time, and Chloe Jones, 17 at the time, who were all from Brighton and classmates at Blatchington Mill School sixth formin Hove, were among the crowd with student friend Natasha Richardson, who was 20 at the time.

Luisa told The Argus: “This is just an amazing free gig. We won tickets.”

After having seen The Streets performshe went on to say: “He was absolutely amazing, he was so good.

“He ran through the crowd at the end. That was quite funny.”

The show went on for four hours from 11am to 3pm, during which The Streets received a particularly strong reception, and fans sang passionately along with McFly.

Good atmosphere

Student Kayleigh Angus, who was 20 at the time of the event, from Hove, told The Argus: “We’ve been looking forward to it.

“I like The Pipettes, I was pleased to see them. There’s been good music, a good atmosphere and nice weather as well.”

Vodafone also said in The Argus that it staged the event as part of its continuous commitment towards supporting live music.

Later that year the mobile company also presented awards to the best live acts in Britain.

It was an exclusive event which received the support of three big music acts and thousands of fans.

Here’s hoping that something similar will visit the Brighton coast in the near future.

 

ON THIS DAY

 

1645: The Battle of Naseby took place in Northamptonshire during the Civil War.

1789: Whiskey distilled from maize was first produced by the Rev Elijah Craig in Bourbon County, Kentucky.

1839: The first Henley Regatta took place.

1940: German troops entered Paris and the Swastika flew from the Eiffel Tower.

1970: Bobby Charlton played his 106th and last football match for England in the World Cup in Mexico. His first was on April 19, 1958, against Scotland.

1982: Argentinian troops on the Falkland Islands surrendered when General Mario Benjamin Menendez agreed to an armistice.