Will Young, Pizza Express, Birmingham - review and pictures

Following on from the release of Summer Covers, Will Young returned to the stage for a rare and intimate performance in the upstairs of the Italian eating establishment.

Following a three-course meal provided by the event, my mother and I waited excitedly for the Pop Idol legend to take to the stage.

Lit only by golden fairy lights and small stage lights, the charismatic vocalist took to the stage dressed as a matador with his highly-talented jazz band.

Urging people to put their phones down and enjoy the moment, Young bowled into a swinging cover of Phil Collins' In The Air Tonight and The Cure's Boys Don't Cry.

His unique and powerful voice added a new layer of depth and style to these already iconic songs, and his effortless charisma hooked the audience from start to finish.

He is a natural showman; engaging in slapstick dance-offs with his band, addressing the Donald Trump and Meryl Streep Twitter battle with tongue-in-cheek humour and at one point taking an audience member's phone to ring his step daughter.

He added an extra layer of intimacy to this already personal show - this felt more like an evening in with a close friend, telling personal stories and joking casually, than a black tie night out.

Following a brief interval after the first half of his set, Young graced the stage once more in a Priest's Cossack and glittering sequin blazer to wow the crowd again.

"I've had a beer, so obviously that means I'm not s*** faced, and also wearing this Cossack," he joked before playing brooding and smooth hit Amy.

"One reason I love doing this, is that people have done this for hundreds of years. Got up on stage and performed - music brings us together," Young said before humbly thanking the audience for sparing their time to see him recite the songs he loves in a style he adores.

The saxophone wailed, the piano laid out a melodic road for the band to embark upon, the drums stormed, the guitar soared high and the double bass provided the heartbeat keeping the outfit alive throughout the set - Young was the star advertised, but these musicians could easily steal any show they performed.

Ending on the likes of Smooth Operator and Tears For Fears' Rule The World, Young dazzled the audience - stripping off his sequined blazer before hitting the highest and most powerful notes he could, giving a spine-tingling, hair-raising finale.

A truly unique event that I am glad to have been a part of, Pizza Express provided diners with a relaxed and beautiful environment to enjoy quality live music - with a star-studded edge.

By Becci Stanley