Friday’s sell-out concert at the O2 proved to be a triumph for the Hereford-born singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding.

As with many tours, the pandemic required a postponement, and these rescheduled dates in UK and Ireland are in support of last-years album, her fourth, ‘Brightest Blue’.

We have waited five years for ‘Brightest Blue’, arguably her best so far, and Ellie’s pulling power has proved to as great as ever with the crowd in the O2 a testament to that.

This album of low key, but artistically complete recordings, demonstrate how her songwriting has matured over time.

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The show starts with three songs from the new album, ‘Start’, ‘Power’ and How Deep Is Too Deep’, all of which were enthusiastically appreciated.

Her followers have had years to grow with her and 15 months to enjoy the new album, actually wanting to hear the new tracks.

However, it is the hits which the audience demand and ‘New Love’ receives the singalong response intended.

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The lighting, previously subtle and atmospheric, changes to bright pink signifying the changing mood with undeniable brashness.

The show becomes more upbeat from then and Ellie takes the audience with her on her journey of anthems, accompanied by band and supporting vocalists.

It would be impossible to recreate the full lush sounds of ‘Brightest Blue’ without a full orchestra.

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However the two violinists perform an admirable job of performing the intricate and delicate parts to supplement and enhance the basic band sound without detracting from the overall power of Goulding’s vocals.

After all, her phenomenal and unusual vocal sound, which is a significant part of her dominating stage presence, are why we have turned up to see her.

She performs an exhausting routine for the crowd with plenty of posing, interaction with the other musicians and full use of her stage to consolidate her entertainer credentials.

Finishing a run of pure exciting pop tracks, the climax of the main set was a barnstorming rendition of ‘Anything Could Happen’ which had the crowd singing, stomping along and generally eating out of Ellie’s hand.

Smiling happily at her adoring crowd, Ellie left the stage with a sense of achievement, knowing the pleasure she had given.

The crowd demanded an encore and would not have left without one.

Ellie one again provided the goods and the crowd rocked along to the crowdpleasers ‘Lights’ and ‘Burn’ before departing as a sea of satisfied faces.