NOT many bands get to perform to 20,000 people during their first tour, but that is exactly what Vanquish did as they supported Westlife before they finished for good. Bee from the girl band talked to Rebecca Cain about the "amazing" experience and the Westlife boys before they appear at Penn Festival.

Vanquish consist of four girls called Bee MacMillan, Rianna Morris, Lizzy Williams and Holly Davis (aged 22-24) and they first met at auditions for a new band.

Little did they know that they would be touring with one of the biggest boy bands a mere two years later.

Bee spoke to me just before a photoshoot with OK magazine.

She said of the tour: "It was unbelieveable. We can’t believe it has finished. It was six weeks we were on tour.

"It has flown by. It has been surreal. It was an absolutely amazing experience with the guys who have been going for 14 years."

It was the last tour for the incredibly popular boyband and Vanquish were one of three support acts.

So how did they feel when they found out? "We couldn’t believe it to be honest. We were in rehearsals and our management told us. We honestly didn’t believe them."

Understandably they found the first night nerve-wracking, because although they were used to performing, it had never been on that scale before.

As the shows went on they became more confident and were given good advice from the boys.

She said: "They were really lovely guys. Really down to earth. They were saying 14 years ago they were supporting Boyzone.

"They had a lot of good advice. It was quite refreshing. They are still really best mates."

It was whilst they were on tour that the story broke about band member Shane being declared bankrupt.

But Bee said they didn’t find out about it until after the tour when they read a magazine.

She said: "Shane is lovely. He is a really nice guy. He seemed pretty cool and happy."

The girl band is now hoping to finish their album and have a busy schedule lined up for the summer, but Bee said they are not afraid of hard work.

So how would she describe their music? "Our music is bright. It is fun. It is upbeat. It is also kind of edgy."

They will be performing songs from their debut album, including The Harder You Love, at Penn Festival on July 7. The festival runs over two days on July 7-8 with a pre-festival night tonight (Friday). Headlining are Soul II Soul, Snap, Rozalla, The Beat, Altered Images and The Real Thing. Tickets are adults: £53 weekend, £29 day, child (12-16yrs): £23 weekend, £14 day. Family (2adults+2kids): £128 weekend, £75 day. Camping is £20 per adult. Friday night tickets £10 adult, £5 child (12-16) Kids under 12 free. Tickets are on sale from www.pennfestival.com