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Graham Clark
Music Features Writer
@Maxximum23Clark
11:13 AM 25th March 2017
arts

Emeli Sande, Leeds 02 Academy

 
Emeli Sande
Emeli Sande
One of the most successful female singers to come out of the UK besides Adele over the past few years has been Emeli Sande. Her popularity is still intact: tonight's gig was sold out and later this year she returns to Leeds to play a gig at the Arena.

Her fans tend to be mainly female and thirty something couples but also include an older fan base too: she basically has a broad appeal, much like Ed Sheeran.

It is a polished and professional show. She looks like she is very comfortable on stage and at ease too. It is not long before she starts to perform the hits: Heaven was the second track of the night. She has a tight band with her who compliment her throughout the gig.

Every Single Piece of Me is sung with a soulful touch, whilst you realise what a strong voice she has as witnessed on My Kind of Love.

Hurts builds up into a huge crescendo. The single marked her return last year with her second album Long Live The Angels. The second single Highs and Lows, a rich gospel influenced track which sounds equally good in a live context.

After standing centre stage for most of the night she sits down to play the piano for Clown, which is a moving moment. You could almost hear a pin drop. It was refreshing not to hear any hecklers shouting out, bar the "We Love You, Emeli" from a female fan.

Next To Me will probably still be played on the radio in 10 years time, like the majority of her tracks they are timeless.

After nearly 90 minutes on stage she dedicates the encore track, Read All About It, to the recent victims of the Westminster attack in London.

It was like she has never been away. After this solid performance it looks like the Leeds Arena gig could be very popular indeed later this year.