IT made for quite a spectacle, hearing the audience singing along to the chorus of Rotterdam, but no-one could compete with Alison Wheeler, from The South.

Her voice is one of the best in pop and I'd even pay good money to hear her sing the phone book.

The band certainly proved there's life after Paul Heaton when they played the Waterside Arts Centre, treating us to a mix of new material and Beautiful South classics.

Dave Hemmingway never used to strike me as a natural born frontman, leaving it to Heaton to engage and enthuse the crowd during the band's first incarnation. But he's certainly up to the task, appearing on the stage clad in an anorak and forging an instant rapport with an enthusiastic crowd. His vocals were at their best during Song For Whoever, a brilliant piece of pop irony,

I must confess I was really there to hear the Beautiful South stuff, from Perfect 10, a dig at society's obsession with the body beautiful to my favourite, Good As Gold (Stupid As Mud), the final song of a gig I could, quite easily, have stood through all over again.

There are many reasons to admire The South. They may have dropped the 'Beautiful' bit but I hope they thrive and prosper, producing songs that make us think as well as putting a smile on our faces. A fabulous night - gig heaven.

* Star rating - ***** Anyone interested in finding out more about live music at the WAC should visit watersideartscentre.co.uk.