Chris de Burgh, BIC

PERFORMING for over two and a half hours to a packed BIC, de Burgh gave his adoring fans a night to remember, mixing songs from a 33 year career with tracks from the impressive new album The Storyman.

It began in an understated, folky, relaxed manner. Half the evening was spent performing alone with guitar, piano or totally a cappella; the arrival of the band lifted the feel and pace of the show.

To some extent he threw away his biggest, iconic hit Lady In Red by haphazardly strumming it without the band and going walkabout in the crowd.

Passing through a sea of ladies dressed in red, he serenaded and smooched with many, including a delightful 97-year-old fan, Nora Bachelor!

He has written quite diverse songs for the new album The Storyteller, with uplifting songs such as One World, which preaches world peace and multiculturalism, and the eerily haunting Grace of a Dancer.

Older hits that went down a storm were High on Emotion, Missing You and Sailing Away.

His moving anti-war songs Borderline and Say Goodbye to it All were standout moments of the evening.