*****

BRIMMING with attitude, Beverley Knight burst on stage calling everyone to their feet.

The singer made no apologies – she was bringing the party on the last official night of her Soulsville tour and wanted everyone to join in.

The crowd did not need telling twice; while she and her faultless caramel vocals took charge of the stage they got into the groove and stayed there.

It was a perfect concoction of back-in-the-day hits, funky covers and fresh southern soul-inspired material with the help of a superb live band and backing singers.

New single Middle of Love, I Can’t Stand The Rain and a Big Mama Thornton-style version of Hound Dog – all from the Soulsville album released last Friday - had the hallmarks of a trip to Tennesse.

Meanwhile Shoulda, Woulda Coulda, Keep This Fire Burning, Gold, Flavour Of The Old School and Come As You Are reminded us of why she is known as the modern day queen of British soul.

Crammed into her hour-and-a-half set and four costume changes was an Earth, Wind And Fire medley in memory of founding member Maurice White, a rendition of Alphabet Street on what would have been Prince’s 58th birthday, a rap and songs from musicals Memphis and The Bodyguard in which she starred.

Beverley speaks exclusively to The Argus after the gig

The 43-year-old said: “I always love coming back to perform in Brighton – the crowd is different here, you always know it’s going to be like a rave.”

The Brighton Dome Concert Hall was the last official date of her tour, but she is far from taking a break.

Her new album Soulsville is released on Friday, drawing on a different sound to her previous work.

She said: “It is a proper southern soul sound. I was brought up on soul music and have always loved it. But I went to Memphis and that really inspired me to write the songs. I used Al Green’s band for the recordings which I think gives them a slightly different sound.”

After a few concerts next week she will go straight back into rehearsals for the West End musical The Bodyguard which she will appear in again from July.

She added: “I really enjoy being in the show but it has felt so good to be back on stage performing my music too. I’ve not got time to rest, I am straight onto the next thing but I really love what I do and I love to work and keep busy.”