Beverley Knight Live in Portsmouth

It's a brave performer who challenges her crowd before even stepping foot on the stage, but that's exactly how Beverley Knight begins her gig. With Shaun Escoffrey long since finished his superb supporting set, and the capacity crowd growing impatient of the set-swap DJ, suddenly the provocative cries of "Are You Ready For Me" resound from an unseen source.

Beverley bounds on stage to much acknowledgement from the audience and launches straight into "Made It Back". For those who weren't aware that "Who I Am" is Beverley's third album, this use of her older - but no less powerful - material is a clever tactic to set the record straight from the start that she's got provinance.

Barely pausing for breath - an impressive feat considering the energy she expends on stage - the Diva moves into the current "Same (as I ever was)". Although early in the proceedings, I begin to form the impression that this is music written and performed with the qualification of sometimes painful personal experience.

"This is one of my favourite songs" she confesses, before breaking into "Sista Sista" from the "Prodigal Sister" album. Beverley's passion shows through, and the crowd is more than pleased to record its appreciation for her belief in her older material.
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