Live

Lisa Stansfield: London Palladium 21/4/18

It's been more than three decades since Lisa Stansfield debuted on the British music scene and she continues to show that she can still pack one hell of a punch live...

New album "Deeper" has been widely acclaimed, and the 52-year-old has drawn sell-out crowds on each night of her tour. Her performance at the London Palladium was no exception, and gave Stansfield the perfect showcase for her wealth of material, old and new.

It's an impressive venue, and she was backed by a dazzling collection of musicians who demonstrated throughout the night that you really can't beat having live instrumentalists onstage with you.

The set began with "Everything" and "Deeper", the title track from the new LP. The acoustics at the Palladium are fantastic, meaning there's no margin for error. But Stansfield has a hell of a voice, and her vocals filled the arena.

"Hercules", "The Real Thing" and "So Natural" were delivered perfectly, and the crowd didn't remain in their seats for long. She oozes soul, but the varied setlist allowed Stansfield to show off her musical versatility.

"People Hold On" was, predictably, well received by the audience, which was made up of a surprising mix of ages.

Each musician was given a chance to shine, and it was around 90 minutes before Stansfield and the band vanished offstage, before returning for the encore.

A last version of "Young Hearts Run Free" had a singalong feelgood vibe to it, and when the show did come to an end the audience left happy. She may be a veteran, but Stansfield is a veteran with plenty more to give.

PHOTOS: DAVE BURKE
Words Dave Burke