By Katie Pedone

For the News-Gazette

The Amway Center was the hottest spot in Orlando on Saturday night as European boy band, One Direction brought its “Up All Night Tour” into the heart of Florida.

The band, made up of England’s Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik, along with Niall Horan from Ireland, formed just two years ago on the British television show, “The X Factor.”

In the past few months the group has taken America by storm, becoming the first UK band to debut as number one on the Billboard charts with their album, “Up All Night.”

The sold out show kicked off with an enjoyable performance by opening act Manika, a Filipino-American who appeared at the American Music Awards show. She danced and sang songs about good girls with bad luck.

The next act was Olly Murs, another English performer who also gained his start on “The X Factor.”  Murs had the crowd on their feet the entire set with catchy songs like his single, “Heart Skips a Beat.”

Then, the lights went down for the third time and the crowd knew who was next. Introduced by a short video, Liam, Harry, Louis, Zayn, and Niall took to the stage, putting all their energy into singing the dance tune, “Na Na Na.”

Fans and parents alike danced and sang along the entire night, stopping only for slower songs such as, “Moments,” where the band asked fans to put their cell phones and glow sticks in the air which turned the venue into a sea of tiny white lights all swaying together.

Taking a break to bond with the crowd, the band kicked back on a couch on stage to read their favorite questions from fans on Twitter. One question asked, “What is your favorite childhood song?” Liam, answered, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” sending the crowd into a fit of laughter.

The show ended with an encore performance of the upbeat, “I Want,” as the band jumped off stage to grab the hands of adoring fans reaching across the barricades, and then with a final bow, One Direction had officially rocked Orlando.

Local One Direction fan, Harmony student Leslie Acta, probably spoke for many of the band’s fans when she said, “I have been waiting since 2010 to see them and it was an experience that was well worth the wait. I will never forget it.”

(Editor’s note: Music fan Katie Pedone will be a senior at Osceola High School in the fall).

More music news

The hard rock and metal concert, Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival is less than a week away.

Rated the #2 “Best Summer Tour of 2012 by Yahoo.com, the tour comes to the  amphitheater in Tampa  (off of I-4, east of the city) July 12.

The show got off to a record-breaking start last week with more than 26,000 at the Kickoff in San Bernardion.

The festival features bands on three stages. This year’s lineup includes:

Main Stage:

Slipknot

Slayer

Motorhead

Jägermeister Stage:

Anthrax

As I Lay Dying

The Devil Wears Prada

Asking Alexandria

WhiteChapel.

Sumerian Stage:

Upon a Burning Body

I The Breather

Betraying the Martyrs

Dirtfedd

For more information/tickets visit www.rockstarmayhemfest.com

Bearcat

Orlando’s own Bearcat, with Renn Yohee, return to their hometown tonight with a show at the Backbooth in Orlando.

The name Renee Yohe may be familiar to Central Floridians from all the support work the non-profit organization, To Write Love on Her Arms has done in her honor; or from the film based on her story, Renee, starring Kat Dennings and Chad Michael Murray, which premiered at Florida Film Festival this Spring. She first entered the public spotlight with To Write Love on Her Arms, a non-profit organization that aims to present hope for people struggling with addiction, depression, self-injury and thoughts of suicide.

She is now channeling all of her creative energy into her music career with her new band, Bearcat.

Gaining momentum on tour this spring with Never Shout Never, Bearcat is ready to release its debut EP.

Tickets for the show are available at the door:

37 West Pine St.