John Legend Supported By Jack Savoretti - Manchester Arena

Jack Savoretti was a good choice to open up for John Legend on his current European tour; his music will appeal to the same audience.

He only had 25 minutes to impress but showcased the best of his material, with a voice that is a mix between Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen he opened up his set with Deep Waters before treating everyone to I'm Yours.

Although he had a band with him, they looked like his backing band who had been chosen to be in the group and although they gelled musically they never hogged the limelight.

He has some good songs most notably Back Where I Belong and Catapult. "It's an honour and pleasure to be here, Manchester" he informs the crowd, he genuinely means it, it had be a pleasure too to witness Savoretti who is destined to become a bigger act in the future.

The current John Legend tour stage set it seems has been designed for theatres, as if sitting in the side seats of arenas you will struggle to see many parts of the gig as there are various sequences where the huge drop down banners obscure what is happening on stage.

He arrives on stage sat at his piano at the back of the stage. Thankfully later on during the evening the piano moves to the front of the stage so that everyone can see the soul star, who some describe as the new Lionel Richie. It is an easy comparison to make as both artists' songs are soulful, melodic and appeal to a mainly female audience or couples.

He soon leaves his piano to come centre stage. Wearing some tight trousers he kicks the microphone stand to the floor in a Rod Stewart moment. "Thank you for coming Manchester, I want tonight to be the best you've ever had", he says as he introduces Tonight (Best You've Ever Had). It might have sounded predictable but he can get away with it.

We get to hear some tracks off the new album, Darkness and Light such as the new single Penthouse Floor and a song he wrote for his daughter Luna, Right Here For You.

He invites a fan up on stage with him to dance to Slow Dance before the band slip into the old Curtis Mayfield classic, Superfly, which was apparently playing when his daughter was born.

He returns to the stage wearing a white jacket and thankfully his grand piano moves to the front of the stage so everyone can see him.

From there in it is a best of set, Ordinary People, Green Light (as he jumps on top of his piano) and of course All Of Me, Loves All of You.

As the piano rises up on his small hydronic stage he concludes the night with Glory. After two hours on stage with his 11 piece band it had been a gig full of showmanship and brilliance.