Fergie’s fake smile fills the hall

If there was a word to sum up Rebecca Ferguson’s concert at Bridgewater Hall Manchester, it would be the following: Hope.

There’s a definite “look on the bright side” theme to the former X Factor contestant’s music, particularly her second album which this UK tour serves to promote.

This might sound a bit new age, a bit self-help, a bit American, but it works: Rebecca was on stage for just over an hour-and-a-half and the almost-full-to-capacity audience lapped up the singer’s own brand of positive thinking.

Sporting long, corkscrew blonde curls, and looking majestic in a purple, floor-length, beaded dress, Ferguson’s commanding voice filled the auditorium as she opened with Fake Smile from her second album.

This was followed by I Hope – a song which works so much better when performed live, with a full band and two amazing backing singers, than can ever come across on the radio.

Forget the shy and nervous X Factor singer of a few years ago, she now has a confidence that matches her strong, soulful and commanding voice, a real stage presence.

Emma Lock