On Thursday I reached a rather important anniversary... the 10th time I had seen Beverley Knight in concert... and all I can say is "Wow"!She was playing the - for her - intimate ICA to launch her sixth album "100%" to her appreciative fanbase (*waves*) - she was ready, we were ready - cue lift-off!

Every song, new or old, received rapturous and sustained applause - and deservedly so. Beverley has been making great music for 15 years now and is no where near where she should be in the music world - loved and appreciated yes, but where is the recognition or even a tenth of the promotion afforded to the white singers such as the over-praised Duffy, Adele, Joss Stone... Amy Shitehouse? Leona Lewis... my arse. It felt good letting her know how much she IS loved and quite a few times she seemed visibly moved at the response from us.

Bev looked fierce in skintight glittery trews, skyscraper bootie-heels and a see-through mesh top! From her back catalogue we were treated to lean and sinuous versions of FLAVA OF THE OLD SCHOOL, a mighty PIECE OF MY HEART, MADE IT BACK, a dense and bluesy SHOULDA WOULDA COULDA, a stomping KEEP THIS FIRE BURNING, GOLD and from the new album we heard the lovely new single BEAUTIFUL NIGHT, EVERY STEP, SOUL SURVIVOR, IN YOUR SHOES, TOO MUCH HEAVEN (yes the old Bee Gees song) and the soulful ballad BARE. The encore included the title track of the new album "100%" and a superfunk COME AS YOU ARE sending us all skittering out into the night with big smiles!
As you can see we were quite close to the stage - only about four people back - so I managed to get some half-decent pictures but Bev really should not be viewed through a lens... especially as she engages in heaps of eye-contact! Yes Bev that was me going woo-woo-woo!

Monday evening will find me turfing into town to buy "100%"! It's being released on Bev's own label Hurricane so I hope it's a massive hit for her.