Joss Stone - Carling Birmingham Academy (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Joss Stone - Carling Birmingham Academy

IF it weren't for the giggling, you'd never know that Joss Stone was sixteen. And true to a schoolgirl she giggles a lot between songs, mostly as a result of praise from the crowds. "You're a star!" someone shouts. "You guys are so sweet." She replies, embarrassed and blushing on her candlelit stage.

During songs, however, she gives a performance that displays an understanding of the emotion of the music she sings clearly beyond her years. And her voice, nearer to the African-American soul singers that her album plays tribute to, is beautifully clear and pitch and timing perfect.

Her album, The Soul Sessions, is really an introduction to her talent. She sang highlights from this album of covers and previewed her self-penned tracks that we can expect on her next album anticipated later in the year.

With such an incredible voice, she performs confidently and blissfully, particularly on the funkier numbers such as Dirty Man and Wonderful. And it was Wonderful that provided the belting encore where she aptly sang her thanks to her superb band and backing singers.

It's hard to sum up Joss Stone. Considering this is her first UK tour, she is awesome. But a guy in the audience spoke for us all: "Victoria Beckham should give up!" he shouted. Joss Stone gasped, horrified and amused, and turned away. Giggling, she composed herself and said "Ok, next song."

REVIEW BY LOUISE BARNSLEY