IT’S throwback to yesteryear in Glasgow as singer Gabrielle kicks off her UK and Ireland ‘Under My Skin’ tour in the Old Fruitmarket on Wednesday night.

The crowd is older - but that doesn’t mean folk aren’t ready for a party. But we’re here for one main reason: to relive one of the best decades in music with some of the Hackney girl’s biggest hits. The ones we all used to listen to at the weekend before hitting the pub. However, Gabrielle recently brought out a new album so we’ll have to give her the courtesy of listening to tunes from that too.

She comes bounding onto the stage with her trademark hair covering her right eye and dives straight into the jaunty ‘Thank You’ from album ‘Under My Skin’. The sound is too loud and, with Gabrielle known for favouring lower tones, her voice gets lost at times. Although a catchy tune, the sound quality does not bode well so far.

Then it’s right into ‘Show Me’ - another catchy track from her latest album. After finishing, there seems to be a wardrobe malfunction, causing the giggling singer to dart behind a screen to adjust herself, much to the delight of the crowd which roars with laughter.

Then the big moment comes, pure nineties nostalgia, as the song many of us danced to while getting ready to head out at the weekend echoes through the veue, finally bringing the now electric crowd to its feet: ‘When a Woman’.

With the crowd dancing and singing along, Gabrielle takes advantage as she jumps into ‘Give Me a Little More Time’, further ramping up the atmosphere in the historic venue.

‘Sunshine’ is the next well-known hit. By now, the crowd is ready to overdose on their favourite Gabrielle tunes. Sadly, at the end of the bridge section, Gabrielle fails to hit the high notes. An indication of time taking its toll on the old vocals, perhaps?

The next two songs bring the mood right back down as the crowd takes its collective seat, with people starting to engage in conversation with one another and checking their phones. It’s ‘Under my Skin’ and ‘Put Up a Fight’ from the latest album that have caused this. Although good songs, the audience - including myself - is not sold.

Gabrielle takes a seat as she adjusts her shoes which have been causing her some bother.

‘Don’t Need the Sun to Shine’ teases the crowd’s attention, although the sound is awful by this point. Gabrielle’s low notes are doing nothing as we struggle to make out the lyrics.

Her two backing singers steal the show as Gabrielle nips off stage. Their rendition of Sister Sledge’s ‘Thinking of You’ has us on our feet and partying like there’s no tomorrow.

Gabrielle returns, this time donning sunglasses, citing “awful makeup” as the reason why.

The evokingly powerful ‘Every Step’ from her latest album has the audience eating out of Gabrielle’s hand as she reveals: “I wrote this song for a friend still in a toxic relationship. When you’re in a bad relationship, you put up with bad stuff and just get used to it.” We all know someone who’s been in this position. After a bit of a rocky time tonight here and there, things are definitely on the up.

Those first few chords of one of her biggest hits has the entire crowd up on its feet. ‘Rise’ is arguably the pinnacle of the night as we’re all transported back to 2000 when the single was all we heard - and couldn’t get enough of - for months.

You guessed it: ‘Out of Reach’ and, finally, ‘Dreams’ end the night on a massive high as we leave the venue singing and humming all of Gabrielle’s favourite tunes. A bit unsteady at times, the night had its peaks and troughs. One thing’s for sure: our Gabrielle can still pack out a venue like it’s nothing.

Head to gabrielle.co.uk/tour to see 2019 her tour dates.