Jessie J performs at Sherwood Pines, Edwinstowe on Friday 13th June 2014.


Last night, deep in Sherwood Forest, a large crowd had been entertained by Boyzone who had delivered a slick professional performance; but tonight it was time for the youngsters to get permission to stay up late and dance the night away to Jessie J. For many, this was the first taste of an outdoor festival, and thankfully the sun shone on them. This was a lovely, family friendly introduction to outdoor music, with picnics and lemonade aplenty.

Having sold out the Capital FM Arena in October 2013, it was again, a very enthusiastic crowd that welcomed Jessie J back. This young audience roared with appreciation when she took to the stage dressed in striking blue hot pants and crop top. With a genuine welcome, she immediately got the crowd going with Sexy lady and Domino. Her tracks were backed by a band who were unobtrusive, but who had no difficulty keeping up with this firecracker of a singer.

From the start it was an energetic show with Jessie J lively throughout, pulling out all of the stops to entertain. It’s My Party and Nobody’s Perfect were rapturously received and as Jessie J took the opportunity to deliver motivational speeches between songs, the youngsters hung on every one of her words, and the parents in the audience nodded in agreement.

The much predicted rain had kept away, right up until the point when she sang the line from her hit Wild; “then the rain starts pouring”. But even the drizzle did not distract from what was a special evening for her fans. She seems to demand that they enjoy themselves, and of course she does seem to have a very special relationship with them. Her interaction with the audience is brilliant and at one point she actually signed her hat and threw it to a youngster in the crowd.

Jessie’s voice was immaculate and her band top notch. The one concern was whether the set would be sufficiently different from her recent tour. In fact it was, with a different running order as well as the showcasing of four new songs, (one of which, Ain’t Been Done, featured the most difficult piece of audience participatory singing ever attempted!)

The new songs blended well into the set, and augured well for her new album. But of course it was the old favourites, Laserlight and Excuse My Rude, which went down best, along with Conquer The World which blended seamlessly into Wonderwall. Jessie’s powerhouse r ‘n’ b vocals shone through as she turned on the swagger for her performance of Do It Like a Dude, and as she finished with Price Tag, she showed off her undeniably huge vocal range.

For me it is her vocal talent that sets her apart from so many other female pop stars that are around at the moment. That, twinned with her relentless enthusiasm means that this young appreciative crowd are likely to grow old with her.