Westlife have released their new career‑spanning album 25 – The Ultimate Collection, marking 25 years since the group first topped the charts.
The record is available now on CD, deluxe 2CD, vinyl, picture disc and cassette.
The collection boasts 21 tracks, including classics such as You Raise Me Up, Uptown Girl and Flying Without Wings, alongside new material recorded by Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily. It follows the recent single Chariot, written by Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid and Will Reynolds and produced by Steve Mac.
To coincide with the release, the band have expanded their Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour with new dates across Asia, Mexico, Scandinavia, Australia and New Zealand. The tour begins with a 13‑night run in Dublin this September before moving across the UK and Europe, marking their first headline European tour in 20 years.
Ticket information for the new shows is available at westlife.com/live.
In a statement, the group said: “What better way to mark 25 years of Westlife than with an album that brings together our biggest hits alongside new music we’re so proud of. We’re beyond excited to head out on a global tour and celebrate these songs with the fans who’ve made it all possible.”
Shane previously admitted the band’s story is “fairy tale stuff”, and the 46-year-old singer feels “very lucky and proud to be part of it”.
Speaking to Sky News, he said: “The Westlife story is fairy tale stuff and we’re very lucky and proud to be part of it.”
Speaking about a special concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Shane explained: “It took our breath away.
“We came out to the Royal Albert Hall thinking it might be a little bit more intimate than a big arena and just the sheer noise, the sheer screams from the women and everyone just having good fun.
“The support and love, we never felt it like we did in the room. It was amazing.”