Beverley Knight plays gig in Wolverhampton flat for charity auction winners
[gallery] Soul singer Beverley Knight gave one her fans a birthday celebration he will never forget when she performed an intimate gig for him and a group of his friends in the upstairs flat of a Wolverhampton pub.
The award-winning superstar dropped in to the flat above Wednesfield's Nickelodeon pub with her guitarist for an acoustic set especially for Alasdair MacKenzie, who had been enjoying a night out for his 32nd birthday.
His partner Emily Deans arranged the secret gig after winning it with the highest bid at a charity auction to raise funds for the breast cancer care unit at New Cross Hospital.
Mr Mackenzie, a business analyst with the RAC, said: "As far as I knew I was going out for some music and was going to the pub to get a minibus to Birmingham or something. I don't know how my girlfriend kept it quiet.
"The first I knew of it was when Bev walked in with her guitarist. I was slightly bewildered but also impressed that they had been able to suck me in. I shot my girlfriend a glance to as if to say 'you're in big trouble'. Bev was absolutely note perfect. She's a natural."
He added: "I can't believe my girlfriend was able to keep it quiet. There was about a dozen of us who got to see it and Bev brought some of her family as well. She did six tracks dedicated to me and it was brilliant. I've been a fan for about 10 years and have seen her before when she's been singing at Molineux but this was even better."
Miss Deans won the performance during a Guilty Pleasures evening at Wolverhampton's Numa Bar in September. About £4,000 was raised at that event, which was attended by more than 100 ladies who were able to enjoy live entertainment including a dancer and fire eater.
The 28-year-old special needs teacher, who lives in Tettenhall, added: "Alasdair's face when Beverley walked in was just a picture. She took the time to stop and chat about Wolves with Alasdair as well. It was just a really spectacular evening."
