IF you need a cure for the winter blues then Mica Paris has the prescription.

It had been a dreary drive through waterlogged roads to Eastleigh’s Concorde Club.

But it did not take long for the soul superstar to lift the January gloom as she swept on stage for her debut performance at the Stoneham Lane Club.

She hit the ground running with Like Dreamers Do, the second single from her debut album, followed with another of her hits Breathe Life Into Me.

And the Concorde audience became her backing singers as they joined the chorus for this 90 minute set packed with soul classics, backed by her superb band.

They did such a good job that a delighted Mica said: “You guys are great. The best we’ve had.”

The soul songstress grew up singing in her grandparents' church and by her mid-teens was making regular appearances with The Spirit of Watts gospel choir.

It is easy to see why the range, power and sheer soulfulness of her singing made an immediate impact on the UK music scene in the late eighties with her debut platinum selling album So Good.

Since then she has travelled the globe, has had a string of worldwide hit albums and singles, and has appeared in front of royalty.

She was honoured as an Icon at Windsor Castle by the Duke of Edinburgh and sang at his 90 th birthday celebration That infectious love ballad Two In a Million was the cue for the Concorde audience to sweep their chairs to one side, hit the dance floor and savour every drop of this intoxicating potion of soul music.

It included If You Want Me To Stay from the Sly and The Family Stone song book, Summertime, Where Is The Love and a wonderful interpretation of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins I Put A Spell On You.

Mica rounded off the evening with her first top ten hit My One Temptation. Calls for an encore were rewarded with another dance floor filler, Let’s Stay Together.

After a night of soothing soul and romantic ballads that journey home did not seem too bad.