Beverley Knight did something last night that I wish all musicians would do: she celebrated her entire career. The Queen of British soul is currently on a new tour, and her performance at Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall on June 14 was a testament to her remarkable journey.
A Career Spanning Four Decades
With a career as remarkable as Beverley Knight's, it's no surprise she wants to celebrate it. Earning the title 'Queen of British soul,' the singer-songwriter from Wolverhampton has had a career spanning four decades. Her 'Born To Perform' tour showcases her much-loved hits, musical theatre favourites, and cherished songs from her life on stage.
The Liverpool Show
Beverley brought her tour to Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall for show number nine out of 20. The sell-out show was filled with music nostalgia, perfect for any fan wanting to hear her back catalogue of hits and career highlights. The room was almost full as the evening began with a stunning performance from Australian singer-songwriter Gabriella Cilmi, known for '00s hits 'Sweet About Me' and 'Warm This Winter'.
Beverley Knight then took the stage, dressed in a beautiful purple bodysuit and armed with her powerhouse vocals. She opened with 'Were You There,' a nod to her inspiration and soul legend Sam Cooke. She told the crowd that listening to Cooke's music was the reason she pursued a music career, moving onto 'Flavour of the Old School' from her debut album. From there, she worked through her back catalogue, including the singles that shot her to stardom: 'Gold' and 'Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda'.
Stories and Covers
Throughout the night, each song was introduced with a short story, sharing everything from how her new-found stardom led her to being followed into a shopping centre and taking refuge in an HMV, to the support she received from David Bowie. For me, it was a perfect mix of nostalgia and something I wish musicians would do: celebrate it all. Understandably, tours tend to be built around new albums, leading to classics being cut and new songs being met with trips to the loo or bar. However, Knight covered it all. She also threw in a few covers, including Prince's 'Raspberry Beret' and 'I Feel For You' towards the end of the first part. The crowd was up on their feet, dancing along.
Theatre Career Highlights
If you love her for her theatre career, you also got a taste of that. The show was split into two parts. The first part featured songs from her music career. After a short interval, she returned with an incredible rendition of 'Memory' from the musical 'Cats,' a nod to her performance as Grizabella. The rest of the evening covered her theatre career, including her roles as Rachel Marron in 'The Bodyguard' and Emmeline Pankhurst in the hip-hop inspired musical 'Sylvia'.
Encore and Finale
The evening came to a close with an encore, and the audience was once again on their feet. Her final song was 'Everything's Gonna Be Alright,' which featured support from Gabriella Cilmi, who returned to the stage to duet with Knight. It was a stunning performance that didn't feel like it would ever end as the audience continued to chant back the lyrics. From start to finish, her voice didn't falter, and neither did the audience. As the night closed, she told the Liverpool audience they were the 'number one crowd' of the tour. It was certainly an incredible night.
