I’ve seen the TV show, and heard the albums, but I had not witnessed Parks in front of a paying audience before. My expectations were high but I finally decided to ask a few members of the audience what she was like live. And would you believe it, everyone I asked had not seen her live before… As I secured my place in one of the most populated pits outside of a festival I have experienced, the lights dimmed, and as Tom Baxter’s beautiful She Cut Her Hair faded out, the screams from a capacity audience commenced. First on stage were the two guitarists, keyboard player and drummer, who performed a short intro before Parks joined them. The intro turned out to be the opening instrumental passage of Lie, the first HONESTY album track.

But what’s this? A little nervous maybe, but this little lady’s engine was already warm as she gave a beautiful, perfect rendition of the song; as though she was near the end of the set, not at the beginning of it! Well, that pretty well set the scene for the show and my gob was well and truly smacked. Next came Out Of Touch (from the new album HONESTY), and she moved seamlessly from a dense, beats-laden song to a slower, highly emotional one. At this point I should state that the band was uncannily in-tune with the singer, played with great skill, while almost duplicating the album sound – something I thought would be difficult to accomplish.

By song three, single Looking For Water (with the clever lyric, “You’re looking for water in a well you’ve run dry.”), Parks was flying and ‘looking for water’ from her mineral water bottle. With my three-song photo quota spent I was obliged to leave the stage and deposit my gear, and then re-enter the venue… No bad thing actually because it meant that I missed the song that seemed so out of place on HONESTY, her second single, and title track Honesty. From the venue’s upper balcony I caught the very beautiful Lost Without A Name (from the new album), and a vocal performance overflowing with expression and range as she ploughed a contemplative, painful furrow. Parks chatted comfortably (and economically)with her audience throughout, while her performing style was to stay anchored behind the mic, letting her powerful voice, passionate delivery, and music tell the story.

I looked down on the audience to establish what sort of people were Parks fans. Half the audience was male, and the age range was as diverse as hell. But I also noticed something else. The support acts had to play through a pretty noisy crowd that was now silent as they took in the performance. The rocky Get Out (also from the new album) rang out with its strong guitar riffs, hefty drum rhythm, and another change of vocal gear from the little lady. Then another smooth gear change as the haunting, gentle Moment echoed through the venue. One of my favourite new album tracks was next, the mellow love ballad Sweeter And Sweeter which boasts atmospheric keyboard backdrop, as Parks travels the vocal scale; whispering one moment, soaring the next.

To this point the menu comprised of songs from the new album, then Parks sang Cry from the debut album, INTRODUCTION - one of my favourite tracks… It was performed with respect as though it meant something very special to her. Then another original song, Wandering Soul, also from her first album followed by the song that started her recording career, Maybe That’s What It Takes, which ended the set.

The demand for an encore was one of the loudest and longest I’ve heard, and it took a while for Parks to re-emerge accompanied only by an acoustic guitarist. The song was So Emotional and that’s just the way it sounded as performed by this great young artist. Parks also proved in those few precious minutes that she is equally at home playing a one acoustic guitar as with an electronic band. When the full band appeared to play out the night, it was Lie and Parks introduced it with thinly disguised angst in closing the show. It was a wickedly strong and venomous rendition, with the band playing a key part in helping guide this bullet to its target.

I have heard strong rumours that the Alex Parks and Polydor marriage may be coming to an end. I ask myself the question, ‘How on earth can a label lose an artist like Parks, who has just given one of the finest performances I have ever seen from a UK singer/songwriter?’ As Yul Bryner famously proclaimed in the The King And I movie, “Is a mystery.” I am of the firm belief that if the night’s show was taken to the States, it would cause something of a stir; it was that good. Good? It was awesome, and my photos show what a moving, sincere and passionate Parks performance it was.

The shy teenage talent contest winner has blossomed into a feisty and mature performer. The last couple of years for Parks have been turbulent, but I believe through crisis and experience she has become a more confidant, independent and authoritative singer/songwriter. And perhaps the artistic path ahead may seem a little clearer. When all is said and done, there’s only one person who can decide what the future holds, and what steps need to be taken to get there, and that’s Parks herself. Tonight’s show will remain in my memory for years to come, as it will for everyone lucky enough to have witnessed it.