And although he celebrated his 60th birthday this year, the Barbados-based singer performed with the energy of a man half his age for a packed house at The Sage.

Backed by a superb band, including three charismatic female singers who danced throughout the concert, he had fans eating out of the palm of his hand within minutes of stepping on stage.

Playing electric guitar, Grant opened with lesser known numbers from his recent Reparation album before getting the audience dancing with such evergreen jukebox hits as I Don't Wanna Dance, Electric Avenue and the anti-apartheid anthem, Gimme Hope, Jo'anna.

Grant established a great rapport with the crowd, including winning a 50p bet over a particular song, and encouraging women in the audience to let their hair down as they danced.

After some Jimi Hendrix-style showmanship, including playing his guitar with his mouth and behind his back, Grant encored with his first hit for The Equals in 1968, Baby Come Back, which sent fans home on a high.