Gabrielle at Bridgewater Hall 2019

With her brand new album 'Under My Skin' out now and showing a real return to form, Gabrielle has taken her 'Under the Skin' tour on the road and with great support from AMiR arrived at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall and we were there;

26 years since she first stormed the UK charts with 'Dreams', Soulstress Gabrielle make a triumphant return to the Manchester stage last evening at The Bridgewater Hall.

Ably supported by new name Amir, who gave us a sample of 4 songs, demonstrating some real talent with a strong and audible voice.

It is difficult not to make Jacksonesque comparisons with his Fast spins and deftly choreographed Moonwalks across the stage, but there are signs of a real breakthough artist.

Despite some initial nerves, Amir entertained an unusually large (for a support artist) audience, who despite their clear maturity of age seemed to thoroughly enjoy his brief set.

Watch out for his name.

After a 45 minute break, it was time for the gourmet main course.

The simple set indicated 4 band members, who then took to the stage joined by 2 girl singers, who all together were to compliment the Chanteuse Gabrielle who then arrived to a warm, enthusiastic welcome.

With trademark hair covering part of her face, and dressed in Black,  wearing massive wedged heels, this formidable figure embarked on the Gabrielle songbook of the last quarter of a century +.

And wow did she deliver.

Tracks old and new were to follow and a packed to the rafters, audience loved every minute of it.

very early in the set, she encouraged the crowd to take to their feet and dance and so they did.Populated by a majority 40 plus demographic, the dance floor as it became was jam packed and we showed our adoration.

The set was peppered with new tracks from latest Album 'Under ny Skin', together with all those classics 'Sunshine', 'Rise', Out of Reach' and the anthemic 'Dreams'.We also loved her rendition of the Womack and Womack classic 'Teardrops'.

After an absence of several years, Gabrielle is back with a vengance and boy didn't the Bridgwater know it.

Mention too to for the excellent front of house service delivered by Team Bridgewater.

Iain Scott for Canal St Online.

For more information about Gabrielle and to buy the new album, click here. 

Published: 25-Mar-2019 (5315)