Skip to content

Singers in tribute to Hillsborough victims

PA Media Mel C (left) wears a red Liverpool football shirt with the number nine on the back. Tom Grennen wears a blue Everton shirt with the number seven on the back. They stand together on stage with their arms in the air.PA Media
Tom Grennan was joined by Melanie C on the main stage at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend

Singer Tom Grennan paid tribute to the victims of 1989's Hillsborough disaster during his set at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool on Friday.

The Little Bit of Love singer was joined on stage by the Spice Girls star Mel C.

She wore a Liverpool FC shirt with the number nine on the back, while Tom's Everton top had the number seven.

Together they stood side by side to make the number 97 - a tribute to the 97 Liverpool fans who lost their lives at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final.

Announcing his special guest, Tom told the crowd: "Liverpool is her manor, so make sure you make the biggest noise when I say this name."

PA Media Mel C (left) wears a red Liverpool football shirt. She has long dark blonde hair and a tattoo of an anchor on her arm. Tom wears a blue Everton shirt, he has curly dark hair. Both sing into their microphones on stagePA Media
The pair shared the spotlight as Mel C performed her 1998 hit When You're Gone, originally a duet with Bryan Adams.

The pair shared the spotlight as Mel C performed her 1998 hit When You're Gone, originally a duet with Bryan Adams.

Taking a pause from the music, Grennan addressed the crowd about "uniting the city".

Speaking to BBC Newsbeat ahead of his set, the Higher singer described "headlining the biggest weekend of the summer" as "pretty crazy".

"It's been such a mad journey," he said.

And on the collaboration with Mel C, he described her as "a superstar".

"I've been friends with Mel for a while now and I just felt like we should do something special.

"Thank God she said yes."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

More on this story
Related internet links