TOURING in celebration of his third album, Love Always, Shane Filan returned to York Barbican for a third time on Thursday.

Since his solo debut in 2013, the Westlife singer has more than proven that he can hold his own as a performer with the release of three chart-topping albums, with his second, Right Here, reaching number one in the Irish chart too back in 2015.

Multi-award-winning Australian singer-songwriter Guy Sebastian served as the opening act, performing songs from across more than a decade of his music. Despite his many accolades, however, his 30-minute set proved to be underwhelming, the stripped-back instrumentals and frequent name drops between songs impacting on a rather pedestrian outing.

The main event kicked off in spectacular fashion, with Filan and his new band taking to the stage in dinner jackets and bow-ties following an explosive cinematic introduction, setting the tone for the set.

Filan’s natural showmanship, charm and clear love of performing for his adoring fans gave him an exceptionally compelling stage presence and lent an infectious energy to the general proceedings. The audience were on their feet and screaming, right from the off.

Whether performing cover versions of his favourite love ballads or original material from his new album, Filan’s obvious talent and genuinely affecting vocals made for a sweeping, exciting night of fantastic entertainment. Fans of Shane Filan are justifiably excited about his new tour; he is definitely a star to watch out for.