Because, unlike some who simply stand mic in hand and offer little beyond that, here's a performer whose burlesque cabaret apprenticeship has clearly served her well.

There's nothing particularly lavish about the show, a four-piece band and two backing singers including Liverpool's Jetta John-Hartley, but Paloma herself filled every inch of the Phil's stage with personality and theatricality.

There's a genuine rapport with the audience too, which lets them in on the act from the very beginning.

"Hello Liverpool," she announced, gazing admiringly at the Art Deco surroundings. "And welcome to the Harvest Assembly ... that's what it feels like. Don't get me wrong, it's amazing, but then some of the best Harvest Assemblies are."

It was a typically quirky opening gambit from someone who, with St Trinian's girl on the acting branch of her CV, clearly doesn't take herself too seriously.

Next in line for a little Paloma teasing was audience volunteer, Andy. He found himself centre stage, being kissed, cuddled and generally serenaded with the ode to the demise of old fashioned chivalry Romance Is Dead.

There's nothing comic about Paloma's voice, though. It's an absolute belter.

Her debut album's title track, Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful, showed she can rock out with the best of them, while a cover of David Guetta and Akon's Sexy Chick was an unexpected and unlikely pleasure. There's something appealingly old fashioned about Paloma's style, as if it's been plucked straight from a smoky 1940s jazz club.

A beautiful take on Etta James' At Last My Love Has Come Along proved her torch song credentials, although Ella Fitzgerald's Black Coffee sounded a bit too much like a try-hard impersonation of the original to do either singer real justice.

The anthemic album favourite Stargazer had the sell-out audience waving their arms, and a hometown homage to The Beatles - You Never Give Me Your Money - had them on their feet.

Paloma encored with her biggest hit to date, the irresistibly sing-a-long New York. She promised a return later this year, with a spectacular stage show. Now that's got to be worth seeing.

9/10 Act of Faith 9/10