Centre stage a girl holds a microphone stand with both hands. She's tall and gangly, yet cute as a button. Her big brown eyes close for a moment, she tilts her head back and starts to sing. It's this voice that I've fallen in love with.

Every now and again a voice will come across the radio that just COMMANDS you to listen to it. A special voice that has the ability to hit you right where it hurts, in your heart. Beth Orton has one of those voices. What kind of voice? Well, think John Martin, think Van Morrison, think Nick Drake, think Jonie Mitchell - her voice is THAT special.

The band obviously know this and do enough on stage to make themselves feel important, filling the room with a lush, grandiose tapestry for Beth to work on top of. Lush strings, throbbing bass lines, playful, quiet drumming and melodic soulful keyboards but they also hold themselves back enough to make sure that they never steal the limelight from Beth. Not that they have a chance though, because Beth's voice is hypnotic and it hits you in the heart like a bullet.

The liking to John Martin is a good one, because there's a sensual, troubled drawl to her voice that, whilst it is at times hard to decipher exactly what it is she's singing, the feeling in the voice hits home.

Tonight we're treated to a selection from across her three albums, with old faves like Someone's Daughter and She Cries Your Name being dressed up nicely by the band, but it's the new stuff that really shines. Most of the new album Daybreaker is showcased tonight and as a collection they prove just how much her songwriting talents have blossomed.

Paris Train sounds like the soundtrack to a summer rain shower. Cool, calm, beautiful and it all just seems so natural. Carmella skips along merrily and the playfulness of the guitar playing brings Joni Mitchell to mind. This One's Gonna Bruise delivers it's promise.

As Beth sings I start to feel guilty for having hurt her - and I don't even know her! Anywhere is a low point. Losing the rhythm and key half way through, the band look in a hurry to get it over with and it becomes a bit sloppy for a moment.

Daybreaker is better tonight than it is on record though. Her voice filled with passion and sexuality, Beth turns it into a powerful, sensual experience that's enough to bring tears to your eyes. This is intense, stirring stuff.

The highlight though is new single Concrete Sky which is an absolutely stunning encore. Stripped of it's drums and keyboards it loses the elements that bring Deacon Blue to mind on the record and is slowed into a hauntingly beautiful arrangement that brings out the best in Beth. When she sings 'it's harder than a heartbreak too' you really believe her. She feels like she's falling, she's not the only one.

Tonight has been emotional, in the best possible way. I need a hug.