Monday evening and a trip into town for Beverley Knight’s 50th Birthday tour at Sheffield City Hall. Celebrating not only the iconic singer’s milestone birthday but also her incredible career in the music industry. An evening filled with soulful melodies, powerful vocals, and a sense of joy that radiated throughout the venue.
Up first supporting was Casey McQuillen. Hailing from the USA, Casey had the early crowd in the palm of her hands. Fantastic vocals, and a hugely engaging personality. Casey played a set of original acoustic tracks, interspersed with stories from her past and present and some heartfelt personal observations about life’s ups and downs. Look out for Casey, a great talent and definitely one to watch.
DJ Munro took to the stage and set the scene with some classic soul and R+B tracks, warming us up perfectly for what was to come.
So onto the main event and from the moment Beverley Knight stepped onto the stage, it was evident that this performance was going to be something special. Her energy and charisma are infectious, her voice as stunning as ever, moving from soulful ballads to high-energy upbeat tracks and acoustic material, showcasing her vocal range and versatility.
Beverley engaged with the audience, sharing stories, and expressing her gratitude for support throughout the years. The band and backing vocalists were exceptional, creating a rich, dynamic sound that perfectly complemented Knight’s powerful vocals.
The setlist tonight was a mix of classic hits and new material, pleasing fans who have followed her for decades as well as those who have recently discovered her music. “Shoulda Woulda Coulda,” “Made It Back,” and “Come as You Are” had the audience dancing in the aisles. New material from latest album “The Fifth Chapter” showed that Beverley is still very much on top of her game. “Not Prepared For You”, “I’m on Fire” (performed on Strictly Come Dancing recently) and “Systematic Overload” all impressed.
There was a surprise guest appearance tonight from Lewis Tyree who had been the subject of media attention, after being trolled on social media for being a dedicated and lifetime fan. Beverley expressed her dismay at this situation and showed support by asking Lewis to join her on stage while she sang “Gold”. A touching moment clearly appreciated by the Sheffield crowd (and Lewis). Heartfelt tributes with songs dedicated to Steven Lawrence and former band member Paul Reid followed.
Bringing the show to a climax with a cover of Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman” and closing with “Everything’s Gonna be Alright”, the band took a final bow, as the audience gave a well deserved standing ovation. Get a ticket for this tour if you can, take it from me it’s one show not to be missed. Also
check out the new album on all major streaming platforms, definitely worth a spin.
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