Starry Eyed Ellie back in town

Ellie Goulding

Birmingham Academy

words and pictures by James Watkins

Local pop star Ellie Goulding had an unusual way to get warmed up for her triumphant homecoming West Midlands gig - a three-mile jog with fans.

The BRIT Award-winning star took to the streets of Birmingham prior to Saturday night's gig at the city's Academy.

The former Lady Hawkins School pupil, from Kington, has come a long way from her first gig, at Pizza Express, in Shrewsbury.

Once, she hung out with friends in Bishop's Castle; now she rubs shoulders with JLS and other big name stars at the UK music industry's most glittering ceremonies.

The gig itself was fantastic, of course, and Ellie showed why she's the brightest star in the firmament. Her mixture of perfect pop beats with gutsy bass lines mixed with pretty vocals was a winning combination.

She even found time to take percussion into her own hands midway through one of the standout tracks of the night, Under The Sheets, where she banged her own small drum to the beat in between playing the rhythm on her guitar and singing her heart out.

Ellie was reminiscent of Florence and the Machine and showed real passion and enthusiasm for the music that she was creating, from the moment she appeared on stage in her fitted shorts and shiny silver shoes - definitely "Starry Eyed".

Song highlights were opener, Every Time You Go, Salt Skin and the fantastic The Writer, that sent shivers down thespine.

Ellie closed the show with Starry Eyed, her biggest hit to date off her now Gold-selling debut album Lights.