Sinead O'Connor @ Manchester International Festival 2011

Ireland's Sinead O’Connor did 3 nights in the intimate pavilion theatre at the MIF (Manchester International Festival) performing material from her forthcoming new album and classic tracks crossing the span of her now lengthy and controversial career.

The first thing that struck me was her appearance. This wasn’t the pale faced young skinhead of the Nothing Compares 2 U video from 1990. Sinead is now a chubby 44 year old with hair cut into a kind of scruffy bob. She looks pleasantly like a middle aged mother of 4 who has had a hard life but is now comfortable in herself and that's what she is. She looks different but as soon as she started singing it couldn’t have been anyone else. There is a strong but vulnerable beauty and purity in her voice that's impossible to define.

The Protest songs are great but a night of nothing but anger can be a drag. Thankfully there is much in the new material that speaks of motherhood and relationships and this balances out some of the more political elements of the older songs. Sinead is still however, an inspiring independent and opinionated woman. The opening song called Take off your Shoes is an unapologetic protest against the Vatican and the child abuse scandal but at other points Sinead filled the room with a poignant Christian spirituality.

Nothing Compares 2 U is still a highlight and sounds as fresh and moving as it did all those years ago. It really is one of the greats. It was a hair standing on the back of the neck moment that will stay with me for a long time.

Sinead genuinely seemed to enjoy herself. She chatted between songs (some of which was outrageously funny) in a relaxed manner that hinted at a new confidence, and she has every reason to be confident. The new songs are excellent and her voice is as enchanting as ever.

Set List:
1. Take off your shoes
2. I had a baby
3. The Emperor's New Clothes
4. Never Get Old
5. The Wolf Is Getting Married
6. Jealous
7. No Man's Woman
8. Reason with Me
9. I Am Stretched on Your Grave
10. Something Beautiful
11. Three Babies
12. Black Boys on Mopeds
13. Untold Stories
14. V.I.P.
15. The Healing Room
16. Petit Poulet
17. 4th&vine
18. The Lamb's Book Of Life
19. Nothing compares 2 U
Encore:
20. The Last Day of Our Acquaintance
21. Thank You for Hearing Me