PERFORMING at Wolverhampton's Civic is always a homecoming for the UK's own queen of R `n' B, Beverley Knight.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers scarf draped around her mike stand emphasises where her heart is and the audience is eager to welcome back one of their own. She does not disappoint, blending old and new songs in just over an hour and a half that flies by.

Tracks from her latest album, Affirmation, are liberally sprinkled throughout the show and an eclectic mix they are. From the rock chicky Come As You Are, that marks something of a departure in style, to the current single, Keep This Fire Burning, Knight shows that she does not stand still musically.

That is underlined in another new song, Salvador, which draws heavily on Brazilian samba rhythms and inspired by a trip to South America. Supasonic, also from Affirmation, is more in the R `n' B vein, where the singer's roots lie.

Slightly older material is rapturously received, particularly the reflective Shoulda, Woulda Coulda, pondering on missed opportunities.

Knight prefaces her performance of Gold by paying tribute to her former primary school teacher, who is in the audience, and inspired her to follow her dream of becoming a singer.

There is an added bonus in her interpretations of other people's songs, with a soulful rendition of the Beatles' Let It be and a powerful rendering of Janis Joplin's (Take a Little) Piece of My Heart, to round off an excellent show.

PM