From an Anastacia show, one can expect several things - belting pop-rock anthems, some sincere interactions with the audience and a thoroughly good time.

With her well-known fight against breast cancer and a renewed sense of defiance following the Manchester and London attacks, the 48-year-old Chicago native pulled out each and every stop with a heartfelt, bombastic performance.

Despite all her hits, it took a rousing rendition of the Foo Fighters classic Best of You to get the crowd fully on its feet.

From that point on, things didn’t slow down. I’m Outta Love, Not That Kind, Left Outside Alone and Paid My Dues were given the appropriate injection of rock and soul thanks to a strong backing band and some stunning support vocalists.

Thanks to a recent turn on the Strictly dance floor, and a back catalogue of Top 40 singles to rival most artists, Anastacia remains a great entertainer with a strong following.

There’s nothing subtle about her, but that’s why her fans love her 17 years after she first burst onto the scene.

Read entertainment writer Wayne Savage’s chat with her here.

Ellen Brown