The Alesha Show (tour)

Background

Tickets went on general sale in May with members of Dixon's official website having access to the tickets 48 hours before the general sale.

In July 2009, it was confirmed that Dixon would become a judge on Strictly Come Dancing. Because the show is broadcast live on Saturday nights, Dixon had to reschedule three shows in Lincoln, Southampton and Brighton. Tickets purchased for the original dates remained valid. Dixon said her official website, "I'm so sorry to all my fans for having to change some of my dates. I'm really looking forward to playing live. I can't wait for the tour to start as I have been working so hard for a long time to achieve my dream of my first solo tour. I hope everyone can understand due to the emotional connection I have with the show, it was an exciting opportunity I could not turn down."

Concert synopsis

The main theme of the concerts was a showgirl theme, which Dixon followed throughout, dressing in various showgirl-style costumes and using props such as canes and top hats. The shows typically lasted approximately 70 minutes (excluding the supporting acts' time onstage).

Dixon started the show performing the aptly named track "Welcome to the Alesha Show" whilst descending onto the stage sitting on a giant swing wearing a sequin-clad leotard combined with fishnet tights, which also had sequins sown into them in places.

David Sinclair of The Times commented on "an air of mild hysteria" among the audience at the shows. Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian commented on the show's themes, writing, "Her stage act is best thought of as a Venn diagram that incorporates the showgirl elements of Kylie Minogue and the sassy oomph of Beyoncé, with a set-jawed determination that is hers alone." She continued to note that "the production budget, too, is a fraction of the Kylies and Beyoncés of this world: she makes do and mends with just one costume change and a tireless six-man band." Sullivan reviewed the Shepherd's Bush Empire show, awarding it 4 out of 5 stars, and complimented its "good deal of burlesque-style embellishment". She also complimented vocal ability in concert, writing, "it was her singing that made the impression: she's more powerful than you would imagine, and when pitted against her band at their most blaring, she more than held her own."

Supporting acts

• Elviin
• NICOL aka Nicole Dash Jones

Setlist

Act 1:

1. "Welcome To The Alesha Show" (Introduction)
2. "Fired Up"
3. "Let's Get Excited"
4. "Cinderella Shoe"
5. "Chasing Ghosts"

Act 2: Costume change

1. "Breathe Slow"
2. "Can I Begin" (Acoustic version)
3. "Don't Ever Let Me Go"

Act 3: Costume change

1. Mis-Teeq Medley ("All I Want", "B With Me", "One Night Stand", "Why?")
2. "Scandalous"
3. "Hand It Over"
4. Dance Break (contains elements of the N.E.R.D song "She Wants to Move")
5. "Play Me"
6. "Lipstick"
7. "Knockdown"
8. "To Love Again" Encore:

Costume change

Dance Break

1. "The Boy Does Nothing"

Tour dates

;Notes a The Lincoln, Southampton and Brighton dates were rescheduled due to Dixon's role as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing.

Alterations

• During the Manchester concert, Dixon invited 13 members of the audience to dance to "Knockdown" with her on stage.
• During the Birmingham concert there was a technical problem with the live band, which led a delay in the concert. During this time Alesha performed a freestyle rap apologising for the problems, which were resolved during the rap.

References

References

1. (7 November 2008). "Talking Shop: Alesha Dixon". BBC News.
2. http://www.aleshadixon.co.uk/news,ticket-ordering-problems-this-morning_95.htm{{Dead link. (May 2019)
3. "Alesha confirmed as new Strictly Come Dancing judge".
4. Sinclair, David. (23 October 2009). "Alesha Dixon at the Hexagon, Reading". [[The Times]].
5. Sullivan, Caroline. (13 November 2009). "Alesha Dixon Shepherd's Bush Empire, London". [[The Guardian]].
6. "The Alesha Show Manchester Tour Post".
7. (June 2018)