BELOVED pop icon Marti Pellow is performing across Britain with The Private Collection Tour, celebrating three decades of Marti music.

Originally the frontman of Scottish pop group Wet Wet Wet, Pellow has enjoyed a successful career of critically acclaimed hits, as well as acting in musical theatre productions in both the West End and on Broadway.

Opening for Pellow, Ben McKelvey demonstrated great enthusiasm and a natural affinity for humble, sincere banter with the audience. Unfortunately, however, his performance was marred by derivative, samey-sounding music, making for an enjoyable but ultimately mediocre start to the night.

Pellow entered the stage preceded by his band to enormous cheers from the crowd, and it took little prompting from the singer to get his audience on their feet and dancing. The amount of energy on display was incredible, a testament to Pellow’s presence and infectious sense of fun.

Rattling through a varied mix of classics, fan favourites and changed-up covers, Pellow shows great versatility. However, he also reveals a more personal connection to his own music, and to the music that has touched his own life, through his commentary between hits. It’s rare to get a performer’s take on the music that has defined the moments of their lives, and Pellow’s frank and sincere reflections on the personal significance of various songs in his show are genuinely illuminating.

Marti Pellow delivers a cheesy, over-the-top performance interspersed with characterful commentary and a pervasive feel-good vibe. The audience were screaming for more, and it’s easy to see why.