Despite being a fan since Let It Go in 2002, Bedford Park marked the first time ever seeing Avril Lavigne in concert! An almost sold out show, pop punk fans were everywhere all eagerly awaiting for her set to begin!

I remember hearing the rumours that Lavigne wanted to start out as a country artist after being a fan of Shania Twain but alas, pop punk was her destiny and it has suited her and done her well over the years!

The stage setting was as you would expect with the punk pop decor such as skull and crossbones and a lot of pink! The setting in Bedford Park was beautiful and an easy location to get to! A beautiful sunny day, the Garden section in which we were in allowed us to get as close to the stage as we liked whereas general admission were behind a barrier slightly further back. No place looked like it was a bad view though!

The band played a long but exciting build up intro before Avril leaped on stage singing Girlfriend. A fantastic atmosphere from the start, the crowd was full of different generations all whom were clearly hardcore fans. It was like we had been transported back in time. Lavigne pretty much looks the same and sounds just as on point as she did back then but with more maturity!

Playing songs off of her recently released Greatest Hits Album, we were treated with a set list of exactly that, her greatest hits which made the whole night fun, engaging and a celebration! Lavigne has so many big hits. Songs such as Complicated felt quite emotional for those of us who had been there since day one! What The Hell, Here’s To Never Growing Up and My Happy Ending were anthemic and Sk8ter Boi was an incredible moment of nostalgia with the entire crowd chanting and dancing along as if the song had only just landed in the top ten! Losing My Grip was a great trip down memory lane as is one of the best tracks off of Let It Go. At one point, Avril brought up her support act Phem for a cover of Blink 182’s All The Small Things. Inviting a select few fans from the crowd to join her on stage, there was a point where one fan got a little too close and too familiar that I hope it doesn’t ruin any future shows by her stopping doing this, although if she did I would totally understand!

The encore was a beautiful moment of ballads. A change of clothing, Lavigne sported a beautiful white hooded outfit and she dazzled on stage singing Head Above Water, When You’re Gone and I’m With You! Lavigne closed with I’m With You and the crowd sounded phenomenal singing along! It was an incredibly enchanting moment which will be hard to forget!

Overall the show was a fantastic night of never growing up, uncomplicated good times. It was night to just completely let go and we all got our happy ending! Avril Lavigne and her band were exceptional live and Lavigne was incredibly engaging with the crowd! She is a stunning vocalist with great stage presence. I feel very fortunate to have been so close when you consider the insane crowd she drew at Glastonbury Festival. That crowd was so insane that people had to watch from the campsites.

Will we ever get a country album from Lavigne? The duet with Nate Smith certainly hints that she likes the genre. I guess we will wait and see!