Years and Years, Arena Birmingham, review

With Olly Alexander and Years and Years in town get ready for some sass – and some Cher.

Arena Birmingham was throbbing in dayglo heaven when the pop trio arrived in the city for the latest date on their UK tour.

But you don’t just get frontman Alexander, and multi-instrumentalists Mikey Goldsworthy and Emre Turkmen.

This is a stage show; no make that a theatrical sermon, with Alexander baring his soul to the devoted masses.

The synth-pop group scored a breakthrough smash in 2015 with their debut album Communion.

And with their second album, Palo Santo, released earlier this year, the band are ready take the crowd on a thrill ride with their new tour.

Opening with Sanctify from their second offering, Alexander is glamorous, yet has an aching vulnerability which creates that emotional bond with his audience.

From little winks and looks to points and smiles, he picks out people in the vast arena making it as intimate as a show in your front room.

Sporting a nude top, complete with provocative tattoos and designs, and a dazzling diamante choker, this show is sexy and sensual and far from shy.

Dancers gyrate, swirl and leap around him like moths to a flame.

This is performance art set against a neon backdrop, with Far Eastern symbols mixed with night skylines.

At one stage, Alexander rises high above the band and dancers below with a shimmering gown endlessly ascending up to a glistening moon.

For an encore, the group perform All for You, new single Play with DJ/producer Jax Jones and the joyous King.

The costume changes aren’t done as Alexander arrives in a sparkling, tasseled white jumpsuit which he likened to a sexy lamb and even laughed "I feel like Cher".

With Alexander’s personality and a bag full of hits ready for any dancefloor, Years and Years can only rise and rise.