HERE he was, the little man with a big voice, back at the Tivoli halfway through his Just a Boy at 70 tour.

That’s a slight misnomer now as the veteran singer-songwriter turned 71 last week, but shows little sign of slowing down.

The voice sounds no different to 40 years ago, the hair looks suspiciously the same and he remains the cheeky chappie on stage, wisecracking at will.

Dressed in red jacket, red shoes and white shirt and trousers, the ebullient Sayer was backed by a competent four-piece band all in black. There was even a half-time costume change to an all black outfit.

Beginning with Thunder In My Heart and finishing with I Can’t Stop Lovin’ You, he packed 19 songs into a near-two hour show, with rarely a dud among them. He also played harmonica a lot, often duelling with guitarist Dave Day.

Ever-grinning, ever-joking, ever-engaging, he meandered through all the hits – Moonlighting, One Man Band, More Than I Can Say, Orchard Road, When I Need You, Long Tall Glasses, Raining In My Heart, How Much Love and Have You Ever Been In Love.

You Make Me Feel Like Dancing got the audience up, but highlights for me were The Show Must Go On from back in 1974 and Giving It All Away, the song he wrote for The Who’s Roger Daltrey.

There was also time for a rendition of Happy Birthday to his stalwart UK manager Jan Riley.

An Australian citizen since 2009, but touring here regularly, Leo – real name Gerard – says he doesn’t want to grow up. I think there’s every chance he won’t.