The warm-up, Newton Faulkner, was a husky voiced singer-songwriter from Surrey. One man on stage - even if he does have impressive dreadlocks - with an acoustic guitar could struggle to command attention. But Faulkner's playful banter and beautiful voice ensured even those determined to talk through the start of his performance were soon gripped. The diverse set included a beautiful rendition of Massive Attack’s Teardrop and the SpongeBob SquarePants tune. The applause was raucous and I was genuinely sad to see him go. It was the best response I’ve ever seen for a support. Headline actWith the young crowd warmed-up, recent Brit Award winner James Morrison should have been able to sweep in and use it to his advantage. His trademark raspy voice filled the UEA as he worked his way through his debut album, Undiscovered. Morrison has a gorgeous voice, and an album of rather good songs. Wonderful World was the biggest crowd-pleaser and uplifting tracks like You Give Me Something and Under the Influence proved he’s not another whining bloke with a guitar. Unfortunately, after Faulkner's rounded entertainment, the headliner’s minimal contact of 'Are you alright?' and 'This next song’s called...' subdued the crowd. But Morrison is a musician and it was clear this performance was all about the sounds. Little rapportAt least it should have been until he then tried to strike up a rapport with the audience - he failed, and I began hoping he'd revert to his low-key approach. By the encore it was time for an injection of fizz - making the order of his songs a baffling mix. Having used his stock of hit singles too early, Last Goodbye - his album's longest and most depressing track - was followed by a song for the 'old school' who were a minority in the audience. Even the rocky, energy-packed Call The Police couldn't redeem it. It’s not that I wouldn't recommend seeing James Morrison - I definitely would - his voice is a pleasure to hear live, but I'd suggest a re-think of the set list and employ a less captivating support act. James Morrison performed at the UEA, Norwich, on Friday, 9 March, 2007.Photo credits: Ben Piper. | 
