Imelda May is one slick act.

In spite of the best attempt by the Brighton Dome’s stage lift to jeopardise the evening by breaking - forcing everyone into a seated auditorium - she perfectly structured the evening to tease the best from her fans.

Opening with thumping upbeat tunes Tribal and Wild Woman from her latest album she got the crowd up on their feet and dancing within seconds.

She was generous with her praise for both her band and the support - the awesome Ceazars - and crackled with fun and mischief as she ploughed through her ‘hits’. She took time to respond to heckles and recount tales of a misspent youth between songs.

The whole gig was textbook professional; the perfect equation of talent x experience = excellence.

But then came the encore, with just Imelda and Al Gare on ukulele her voice pure and penetrating. When she sang Bang Bang she blew Cher and Nancy off into eternity. Another cover of Blondie’s Dreaming was somehow more urgent, more vivid and more private.

Imelda’s skill as an artist is not just technical with perfect pitch, power and range, stage charisma and effortless charm, but it is her talent for piercing intimacy that sets her aside and lifts her to the upper echelon for seriously gifted artists.