Nearly local, well she is from my town Wolverhampton, Beverley Knight returns to a sold-out Symphony Hall, and was visibly emotional about it, several times telling the audience that she wished they could see what she can see from the stage. In a place where people speak proper as she says, well Black Country is her native tongue. Touring to celebrate and promote her latest album ‘The Fifth Chapter’, she looked incredible in a very tight catsuit, bellying her 50 years, kicking off with a couple of 90s classics, ‘Greatest Day’ and ‘Made It Back’, before pulling out some of the new album, which so far has been very successful. ‘Systematic Overload’, ‘A Little More Love’ and ‘Not Prepared For You,’ the audience loving this and were on their feet long before she took to the stage. With the usual overzealous security basically giving up and let people do what they want, which is to enjoy themselves, and boy they did. The pace dropped slightly for a few tunes but picked up again, and those who took a little seat time to recover were up again, and weren’t allowed to sit again, as dance tune after dance tune was banged out. ‘Sista Sista’, ‘I’m On Fire’, ‘Shoulda Woulda Coulda’, ‘Last One On My Mind’ and ‘Come As You Are’ were all there, and after a brief walk off, returning with a black feather boa looking top over her catsuit, a three song encore, including Chaka Khan’s ‘I’m Every Woman’, before finishing with the anthemic ‘Everything’s Gonna Be Alright’. As we know, Beverley Knight is a super talented lady, and she knows how to put on a show, and as for the voice, well impeccable is the word. She certainly is the Soul Queen, and she’s from Wolverhampton, result.

Photos by Geoff Griffe
Review by Jenny Griffe