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Graham Clark
Music Features Writer
@Maxximum23Clark
5:06 PM 15th October 2014
arts

Review: Peter Andre At Manchester Apollo

 
You might think that Peter Andre no longer has a musical career as he regularly appears on TV shows these days such as 60 Minute Makeover, but that is not the case as this summer he released a new album - Big Night Out which is in the tradition of jazz and swing bands. Think more Michael Buble rather than Jools Holland's Big Band and you will get the idea.

With his 10 piece band this was a spectacular show: his name appears in lights as the back of the stage as he appears to cries of "Peter, Peter" from his fans. The stage set brings a touch of Las Vegas to Manchester.

Within the first 20 minutes of the show starting he has sung pop, jazz, swing and the blues making for a varied and entertaining gig. As well as performing tracks off his new album he cleverly works in Pharrell Williams' hit, Happy and Stevie Wonder's, Sir Duke with both tracks coming to life with a big band arrangement.

It would not be a Peter Andre gig without a Michael Jackson track and Human Nature also worked well in tonight's setting.

It is an interactive show with his fans and he clearly respects them: he goes walkabout through the stalls and later invites 6 fans up on stage with him to dance Zomba the Greek. You might think it is all female fans on the stage with him but no, there are 2 males there too.

With a Christmas album coming out in December (also in the big band style) he treats the audience to some festive tracks off the album before he performs the track most people associate him with, Mysterious Girl.

He encores with his version of John Legend's Ordinary People - Legend had performed the same track on the same stage exactly a week ago at the Apollo. Andre's version is acapella with his pianist and band performing the track in a version that John Legend would be proud to hear.

It is a concert that will appeal far beyond his fan base and credit to him for coming out of his comfort zone and pulling it off. As the title of one of his song's performed tonight says, This is the Perfect Night. A triumph.

The show visits the region on Tuesday 21 October at The Barbican, York