Two things leaped out at the observer during last night's eagerly-awaited gig: there were no handbags on the floor for young women to dance around and Heather Small had dispensed with her customary embellished beehive, letting her hair hang loose. This proved to be portentous, as M People belted out the songs to an adoring capacity audience.

The energetic and effervescent Ms Small, who belies her surname with an incredibly rich vocal tapestry, demonstrates an almost unique talent among contemporary performers in that her voice is as powerful and lucid on stage as it is in studio. The rest of the band followed her lead and consequently were not to be put in the shade. In fact, they actually looked like they were enjoying themselves.

The hits boomed out, with A Sight For Sore Eyes compelling the crowd to sway in unison with arms outstretched, almost as if trying to grab the music as it passed through the air. One of the biggest cheers of the night accompanied the early strains of Search For The Hero Inside Yourself.

Ms Small started the show in a long, figure-hugging evening dress, but soon swapped this for a sequined top and a pair of leggings, which gave her the freedom to bounce around and traverse the stage from one end to the other, much to the delight of the audience.

The stage-set was a curious affair made up of what looked like three giant waffles strategically positioned behind the band, all surrounded by what could best be described as a larger-than-life pair of silver drawers ripped at the seam.

The atmosphere, not to mention the music, was infectious, and only manically depressed cynics would have failed to enjoy themselves. Feelgood music does not get much better than this.