Express & Star

Becky Hill, O2 Institute, Birmingham - review

"I'm heading home to Bewdley for the weekend after this." Rising star Becky Hill knows home's where the heart is.

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Becky Hill

With friends and family cheering from the crowd, her Brummie gig proved to be a joyous night for the homecoming queen.

Birmingham's O2 Institute was bouncing last night as Bewdley's finest served up a feisty and fierce blast through her chart-bangers.

It's no holds barred show with Becky. She's sweary, she's loud and she brings her devoted fans along for the ride.

Two years ago she was packing out the much smaller Institute 3 room at the venue.

But her star is rising and now in the main room, more than 1,000 fans jumped and danced to her infectious beats.

It was a fast-paced hour-long dancefloor tear-up of her biggest chart hits and a showcase for tracks which are sure to rock festivals this summer.

And this gig proved how far she had come.

The swagger and self-confidence was evident when the-then 18-year-old burst from Bewdley onto our TV screens on the BBC's version of The Voice

But now she has the stage presence to hold the crowd, dominate the stage and lead her band with the all the poise of a seasoned star.

And that voice. Wow. It still has the power to knock you off your feet.

From the first bars of Rude Love you knew the singer was at the top of her game.

I Could Get Used To This and Sunrise in the East are brilliant tracks showing how she far she has come.

Piece of Me and Back and Forth with DJ and producer MK were cheered with gusto.

And Afterglow, Powerless and Gecko (overdrive) were also crowd-pleasing highlights.

Hundreds of mobile phones were held up capturing the scenes, with Becky gleefully sharing many of them on Instagram afterwards.

There was even time to sing a rousing version of Happy Birthday for her friend Josh in the crowd.

It was a real love-in with shout-outs for her friends and laughs as Blakedown, Bewdley and Kidderminster got a cheer.

Her support, the soulful Ryan Ashley was slick and chilling singing from a stool on stage.

And fellow support act Millie Turner gave a electro-pop fused set which contrasted nicely.

Becky Hill will be a sure-fire festival favourite this summer - but only after she's popped home for a brew.