A magnificent seven chart stars, including a sexy vegetarian, a one-time decorator and a former medical student, wowed Birmingham’s LG Arena NEC last night – in a high-energy show boasting the best of current British pop.

And although it was a shame that A Team singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran had to pull out, the line-up of the big BRMB 2011 spectacular still included an X Factor winner and the cream of those who have made it on their own.

Kicking off the show was sexy 60s-influenced singer Pixie Lott, who went upbeat with It’s All About Tonight and a cover version of Stevie Wonder’s Isn’t She Lovely? In cropped high-waisted shorts, the answer to that question was a definite ‘yes’ judging by the high-decibel screams from the capacity crowd.

Next came R&B star Emeli Sande, a former medical student turned songwriter for Leona Lewis and Susan Boyle. She looked a little lost on the vast black stage but debut single Heaven tingled the spine.

Grime rapper Tinchy Stryder was far too loud but had the whole arena waving arms, singing along and wanting to hug the No 1 hoddie, whose four songs included the promise Never Leave You.

Painter and decorator turned 2010 X Factor winner Matt Cardle opened with album track Pull Me Under, which is perhaps why he looked like a scruffy Big Issue seller in a bin liner. Great voice, though, especially on Run For Your Life.

Malvern’s own Cher Lloyd, eager to prove that finishing fourth on last year’s X Factor was no bad thing, opened with Ur Love, her bare stick-thin, semi-tattooed arms clashing with her white-on-black pattern jumpsuit, purple belt and shoes.

While Cardle needed four band members to fill his stage, Cher could have managed without the six dancers who joined her for a chaotic Swagger Jagger.

After the interval Midland hero James Morrison arrived, armed with two backing singers. At last, the show was less like X Factor and more like a real gig. Morrison proved he’s the real deal with an edgy opening and closing lyrics “the only way is up”.

Boy band The Wanted, whose Jay McGuinness was recently voted ‘sexy vegetarian of the year’, finally created lift-off with All Time Low raising the decibel level, and both Lightning and Glad You Came getting everybody jumping.

Boxing Day’s single, War Zone, the first written by Nathan and Tom, bodes well for their musical maturity.

The big finalé came with X Factor favourites JLS.

Mentored by Louis Walsh and second only to Alexandra Burke on The X Factor in 2008, Aston Merrygold, Oritsé Williams, JB Gill and Marvin Humes now have five Number 1s under their belt, including set opener Everybody In Love.

Eyes Wide Shut and Take A Chance maintained the relatively low tempo start, but for sheer stage presence, styling and showmanship they deserved their top billing.

Hey, with a chirpy, bow-tied band member like little Aston, and the whole audience singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Oritsé – he celebrates his 25th birthday on Sunday – it’s as if they belong here.

Source: SundayMercury.com