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Cheesier than a quattro fromaggio pizza and just as tasty, it was impossible not to surrender to Elaine Paige’s consummate professionalism and skill. The perfectly drilled band, the candy-coloured lighting, that distinct whiff of schmaltz; the crowd adored her and she gave it her all. The jazzier second half was, perhaps, the more satisfying for the show-tune phobic. Paige’s voice really opened up as she purred and roared her way through each number. ‘Memory’ inevitably provided part of her encore (it was clearly the song the audience had come to hear) and she delivered it with a remarkable freshness and passion. It ain’t rock and roll but I liked it.

Congress Theatre, Eastbourne, 3 March
5/5
Gary Mepsted

With candles on tables and low lighting, The Ropetackle became an authentic jazz club for Alyson to launch her latest tour. Mixing contemporary numbers with the classic American songbook, a sultry, Afro-Cuban ‘Sway’ was followed by Elvis Costello’s ‘Almost Blue’, which showcased her pleading vibrato. The trio were given plenty of space but I felt that Joss Peach’s fine solos were dampened by the upright piano. Stevie’s’ ‘Another Star’ was radically reworked into a slow bossa while ‘Fever’ had a lustful late-night feel. The choice of songs was well received and Kirsty MacColl’s latin pop classic ‘In These Shoes’ rounded off an assured performance.

Ropetackle Centre, Shoreham, 3 March
4/5
Steve Clements

The Green Door Store is rapidly becoming Brighton’s new Freebutt: gritty, with a magnetic draw for ever-more ridiculous hipsters and quality bands alike. This night showcased both. Meat and two veg post-rockers The Last Days Of Lorca offered some great, if a little generic quiet/loud dynamics. A decent support, unfortunately Brighton’s own Munich, following, didn’t keep the pace. Dull, sub-Coldplay preening without the necessary hooks deservedly failed to impress. Just a handful of people stayed for the headliners, Scottish lads Penguins Kill Polar Bears. Endearingly direct guitar thrashing and drum-crashing with blasts of screamo intensity made for a thrilling climax, criminally unnoticed by all but a lucky few.

The Green Door Store, 3 March
3/5
Nick Aldwinckle

boundaries of what contemporary dancing can really be. The audience couldn’t help but dance in their seats to the gospel hymns that accompanied some of the dances, not shying away to be drastically different from other dance troops. What was so beautiful about this piece was not only the sheer brilliance of the choreography or the splendour of the music, but watching these dancers perform in a way that only you could dream of.

Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, 28 February
4/5
Sarah Wade