REVIEW: Adele, Manchester Arena

Her band was hidden behind the screen for the first two tracks – allowing us to concentrate on that awe-inspiring voice. And it worked. Just two songs in, and the audience were hers.

She proved herself the voice of a generation – and it all looked so effortless.

Her glass of honey and water, and doctors orders to avoid curries, shows it must take a toll, but Adele has no sense of self-importance. There’s no diva attitude here, just someone who wants desperately to share her music and what it means with her audience.

She’s almost too self-deprecating in her chats with the audience: this lady’s got a hell of a voice and she – as we do – should rejoice in it.

There’s personable banter with the crowd – helping one announce her pregnancy and hoisting a girl – at her first concert – on stage for a cuddle.

But back to the music. There’s a wonderful country-esque acoustic set, after that tremendous Oscar-winner Skyfall. And the finale features an emotional Set Fire to the Rain amidst an on-stage shower of rain, and the crowd-pleasing Someone Like You

Note-perfect throughout, Adele was still angry at the technical fault that affected her Grammys performance.

She’s a talent worth seeing and one who will be around for years to come – make no mistake.

CHRIS DIXON