It was great to see Paloma Faith at Bournemouth’s Windsor Hall.

The show was a rescheduled event from October 21 and follows hot on the heels of her fifth studio album release, Infinite Things.

This evening’s show was early on in her The Age of Optimism Tour and kicked off with special guest Zak Abel who delivered a polished set and made sure the crowd were warmed up and ready for Paloma.

Bournemouth Echo: Paloma Faith at the BIC. Pictures: rockstarimages.co.uk Paloma Faith at the BIC. Pictures: rockstarimages.co.uk

Paloma and her band took to the stage to resounding cheers silhouetted behind a stage-wide gold curtain which, after an extended introduction of, you’ve guessed it, Gold, dropped to the floor to reveal Paloma resplendent in a black and white outfit with a huge black bow in her peroxide hair.

Bournemouth Echo: Paloma Faith at the BIC. Pictures: rockstarimages.co.uk Paloma Faith at the BIC. Pictures: rockstarimages.co.uk

The first three songs all from the latest album got the crowd on their feet early on in the evening and there they stayed dancing away for the rest of the evening.

A couple more songs and then we were treated to a more intimate arrangement of just the keyboards and guitar while she performed a few shortened versions of some of her back catalogue including her first single, Stone Cold Sober, Freedom and culminating in an audience participated Upside Down.

Bournemouth Echo: Paloma Faith at the BIC. Pictures: rockstarimages.co.uk Paloma Faith at the BIC. Pictures: rockstarimages.co.uk

Paloma has a likeable and chatty personality which shone through during a couple of lengthy orations even though they were about loneliness and insecurities and a heart wrenching tribute to Kevin Banks (band member, and dear friend) who recently passed away.

Bournemouth Echo: Paloma Faith at the BIC. Pictures: rockstarimages.co.uk Paloma Faith at the BIC. Pictures: rockstarimages.co.uk

A cover of Prince’s Beautiful and Damned was dedicated to Banks.

Bournemouth Echo: Paloma Faith at the BIC. Pictures: rockstarimages.co.uk Paloma Faith at the BIC. Pictures: rockstarimages.co.uk

The seven-piece band were spot on and a perfect complement to Paloma’s soulful jazzy tones.

It looked fun on stage as the set climaxed with some more raucous songs including a spectacular cover of Another Little Piece of My Heart and Lullaby.

Bournemouth Echo: Paloma Faith at the BIC. Pictures: rockstarimages.co.uk Paloma Faith at the BIC. Pictures: rockstarimages.co.uk

The encore which was well advertised before the end of the main set to “make sure we didn’t leave before the show was over” quickly followed with Can't Rely on You, Changing and Only Love Can Hurt Like This.