The thousands who turned out to support Bradford's most famous son of the modern age proved they were true fans as the driving rain poured down on a sea of umbrellas.
But despite the intermittent bad weather, people refused to take shelter in the nearest doorways and soaked up the electric atmosphere as they waited for Gareth to arrive on stage.
At one time the police helicopter - keeping an eye in the sky - combined with the whistles, hooters and cheers threatened to drown out any sound coming from the stage.
It was impossible to look anywhere without seeing a Gareth Gates flag, banner or poster with an excited youngster gripping the other end.
The warm-up acts, including Pop Idol contestant Danny Tetley and Gareth's own sister Nicola, received applause and praise, but the crowds - inevitably - saved their biggest cheers and screams for the East Bowling teenager.
Bradford's Lord Mayor Richard Wightman had hardly uttered the words 'please welcome Gareth Gates!' before the mass of fans drowned him out with screams of delight.
And the youngster did not disappoint. Wearing his trademark white suit and black shirt, he launched the set with his number one hit Unchained Melody and gave it his all for the followers from his home town.
The crowd almost erupted when, during his rendition of the Sinatra classic Mac the Knife, he started to unbutton his shirt.
It may have been at this point when a number of females had to be treated for hysteria and heat exhaustion.
He then took a seat at the piano and sang the duet Whenever you Call - dedicated to his home city - with sister Nicola, before finishing the event with the number one Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake) which had the fans singing loudly and waving flags. Ironically, it was around this time that fellow Pop Idol finalist Darius Danesh was taking over the number one spot in the charts from Gareth.
Even the police could be seen tapping their feet along to Gareth's unmistakable voice, which developed from his years as a chorister in Bradford Cathedral choir.
When the Pop Idol had left the stage, people hung around in the hope he would perform an encore, but the civic reception at City Hall beckoned the teenager who had a tight schedule on his flying visit to the city he still calls home.
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