By Jo Macdonaldjoanne.macdonald@eveningstar.co.ukPARTY in the Dark was buzzing.For more than three-and–a-half hours, a crowd of screaming fans were entertained by some of the most popular names in music, all brought together for one night at Ipswich Corn Exchange.

By Jo Macdonald

By Jo Macdonald

joanne.macdonald@eveningstar.co.uk

PARTY in the Dark was buzzing.

For more than three-and–a-half hours, a crowd of screaming fans were entertained by some of the most popular names in music, all brought together for one night at Ipswich Corn Exchange.

This was a bumper package of music unlike anything seen in the town before and the audience were on their feet and dancing, cheering, clapping and hollering on cue throughout.

Things kicked off at about 7.30pm with some of the industry's most promising up and coming artists.

Benefit, Felany, Blayze, Blazin' Squad, 4-Play, Rebekka Gayle and Ipswich's own, Alliance, were just a few of the acts to keep the crowd of young and old energised. The list of performers went on and on.

About two hours into the night, the act many had come to see took to the stage.

Liberty X gave a showcase of their singles, old and new, and the audience lapped it up. It was a performance that exceeded that seen at One Big Sunday less than a month ago.

And the music just kept on coming.

So Solid's Romeo, Pop Idol's Korben and Jessica, 911 and 3SL topped off the event to make it one to remember.

It was a late night – for many in the crowd it was well past their bedtime by the time it finished after 11pm – but they kept their energy levels up and enjoyed it to the end.

They left with tired and weary feet but they were happy, excited about the pop extravaganza they had been part of.

There were a few disappointed faces in the crowd when the news broke early on that, due to television commitments, S Club Juniors would be unable to make the show.

Event organiser, Leigh Dewar, apologised but, hinting that another show could be on its way soon, said: "We will try to bring them here next time."

That will come as great news to those who soaked up the atmosphere at last night's spectacular.

Let's just hope that next time – no matter how late a night it may be – that more people turn up.

After all, if there was one big disappointment to be had from Party in the Dark, it was that the Corn Exchange was far from full.