Tina's a true star in sparkling show

Tina Turner

Birmingham NIA

Review and photos by Nicky Butler

Watching Tina Turner explode onto the stage at Birmingham NIA for the first of two nights of performances, you would struggle to believe she will be celebrating her 70th birthday this year.

Wearing a black sequinned off the shoulder top with matching capri leggings, a circular steel platform lifted her high above the stage as the curtains opened and she began her 2hr 30min set with Steamy Windows.

Looking fabulously toned, with her trademark lioness hairdo that only Tina can seem to pull off, accompanied by red lipstick, she gyrated around stage in unforgiving heels accompanied by four scantily clad dancers.

By now you were thinking "What's age got to do with it?". Thirty minutes and the first of many costume changes later, Tina appears on stage in a long red chiffon gown for What's Love Got To Do With It? The packed arena sings along at her request.

The gown is removed to reveal a sparkling little red dress for Private Dancer. The set is amazing; with a selection of fireballs and fireworks, she emerges after her third costume change wearing her film debut outfit from Mad Max and performs We Don't Need Another Hero.

After a 30-minute interval, Turner reappears in a gold sparkling top and leggings to perform a slow, soulful take on The Beatles classic Help! Turner's voice is pitch perfect, with coarse grit and that trademark growl.

Let's Stay Together was followed by Creedence Clearwater's Proud Mary and out with it came the fabulous four dancers wearing fishnet stockings.

The seven-piece band were awesome. Another costume change for a long black gown came ahead of James Bond theme Goldeneye.

Then came her cover of Addicted To Love, followed by Simply The Best. The audience rose to their feet to dance and sing along. "Thank you for your attendance, thank you for your response, and thank you for the applause," she said.