THE confetti cannons often mark the end of an arena gig. But they’re in full use by song two, the splendid anthem Greatest Day at Thursday’s debut solo performance in Leeds by Gary Barlow.

Primarily a production to compliment Barlow’s epic Since I Saw You Last album, he has a lot of catalogue to weave into his perfectly curated songbook.

By songs three and four Barlow put his own spin on latest Robbie Williams gifts, Candy and Requiem. Plucking a very lucky Israeli lady from the audience, our host quipped, “a local then...” before serenading her with A Million Love Songs.

Well not that many, but 29 great songs were superbly executed by Barlow and his nine-piece band, some condensed into the acoustic, swing and solo piano medleys.

Eliza Doolittle joined Barlow for Shine, Elton John appeared on screen for Face To Face and the Thornhill Community Academy Choir did a sterling job of Diamond Jubilee anthem Sing.

The inevitable Back For Good, Relight My Fire, Let Me Go and Never Forget closed the night with the news that Barlow will return to Leeds in 2015 with Take That. Exciting or what?