Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald last performed in York after the release of her first album; This Is The Life, in 2007.

Now, six years later and with three albums under her belt, she returns to wow a full house at York Barbican with her folk-rock.

Following her band of five, Macdonald stepped out in sky-high heels and a fitted dress to raucous applause before breaking straight into 4th of July from her new album, Life In A Beautiful Light.

If there were any doubts about whether she would be able to fill the cavernous Barbican, they were dispelled as soon as she opened her mouth.

Macdonald possesses a powerful, passionate voice which reverberated throughout the building.

Peppering her set with remarks about her Glaswegian heritage, making Mumford & Sons jealous and the audience’s dancing reminding her of her parents, she commanded the space effortlessly.

Macdonald is outstanding live, singing with a rawness which is not as clear on her recorded tracks.

The set mixed songs from all three albums, soft acoustic ballads and high-energy anthems and surprise covers of Jackie Wilson and Bruce Springsteen.

It was her older tracks though - This Is The Life and Let’s Start A Band - which got the whole audience on their feet.

Unfortunately, an overzealous use of moving lights left audience members continuously stunned for the wrong reasons.

Nevertheless, on purely musical terms, Macdonald and her band hit all the right notes in a highly entertaining performance which might signal her return to form on the British music scene.

- Stephanie Faye Bartlett