Gig review: Beverley Knight; Glasgow ABC

Published on 06/08/2012 02:32

BEVERLEY Knight always gives it 100 per cent in performance. Vocals, moves, interaction with the crowd – all are executed with the utmost enthusiasm. If she could give it 110 per cent, she would.

No wonder then that she is such an eager supporter of Team GB, sporting a Union flag for a scarf at this show, providing us with medal updates and dedicating songs to Chris Hoy and Andy Murray. It was just a shame that there weren’t more people out cheerleading for Knight herself – apparently there is some big sporting event keeping folks in front of the telly at the moment.

Her latest act of musical patriotism has been to release an album celebrating some of her favourite UK soul acts. Granted, this was a personal selection, but kicking off with the rather cheesy Southern Freeez was perhaps not the best advert for British soul. Although no classic, it was impossible to be mean-spirited about Junior’s Mama Used To Say, even if she did oversing its catchy pop hook, and she followed through with classy numbers by Soul II Soul and The Young Disciples which were worthy of celebration.

While she was in testifying spirit, she paid tribute to the late Donna Summer and Whitney Houston with faithful versions of Bad Girls and It’s Not Right But It’s Okay. Yet the number of covers highlighted the sporadic incidence of Knight’s own hits.

Ironically, when she performed something of her own, it was often spiced with some distinctly non-Brit influences. Her opening number featured a trendy dancehall reggae rhythm. There was a hint of Latin and a heap of Motown spirit elsewhere in the set.

Rating: ***