IT seems that everyone has a secret affection somewhere in their soul for Shakin' Stevens – which perhaps explains how he came to be the most successful UK singles artist of the Eighties.

But let’s be honest that affection was always tempered with a view that Shaky was harmless and fun but also a little bit naff with his would-be Elvis look at a time when Spandau, Duran Duran and the Human League were the cool kids in town.

Fast forward over 30 years and Shaky has undergone a miraculous transformation showcased perfectly by his live tour.

It would be all too easy for him to cash in on the success of over 30 top 40 singles and play a major part in the numerous retro festivals springing up all over the place.

But for this, his biggest UK tour ever, Shakin’ Stevens proves that he is very much a credible artist with something to say. This is most definitely not Shaky the heritage act.

The basis of the show is his Echoes of Our Times album released last year to considerable – and deserved – acclaim.

Inspired by his research into his family history, it’s rich in blues and roots music.

For the Lowry – only the second date on the tour - Shaky was backed by a magnificent seven-piece band and two female backing singers. They were all superb and were worth the ticket price alone.

And he’s looking good. He may be 69, but the stance is unmistakable to anyone who watched Top of the Pops.

Opening with two songs from the new album – Down in the Hole and the title track Echoes of Our Time - he signalled his intentions from the start. Initially it seemed as though he was engaged in a minor battle of wills with some of the audience, many of whom had clearly been with him from the early days, possibly from his time with the Sunsets.

Shout outs for various hits gradually faded as they realised that what was going on in front of their eyes was a darned fine show.

Although he has moved into roots music over the years there were some pretty hefty nods to his rock and roll past. A cover of Hot Dog (actually his first single), and It’s My Own Business to mark Chuck Berry’s passing showed that when he wants to he can still do it.

After an interval, Echoes of Our time again formed the basis for the set and it has to be said that occasionally the voice was a little shaky (no pun intended). But this was only the second date of the tour and maybe the old vocal chords just need to get ‘match fit’ for the long run ahead.

A cover of Creedence’s Have Your Ever Seen the Rain was followed possibly the most bluesy song on the new album Down Into Muddy Water.

Shaky’s not one for spending too much time on between-song patter but he did announce “here’s one you might recognise” before the band launched into the most delicious swamp blues version of This Old House. Forget the cheesy pop version, this was a song transformed and one of the highlights of the night.

For the diehard fans we did get Marie Marie and Lipstick Power and Paint done pretty straight and as part of a three-song encore Green Door brought the crowd to their feet, although again it was rearranged and far more bluesy than the hit version.

I have to say I didn’t know what to expect from this show. I loved last year’s album but feared we’d end up with a horrible clash of styles as fan power forced Shaky to turn the clock back.

But thankfully the artist in him is alive and kicking. Sure the voice was occasionally dodgy but the show was so good you could forgive him that. And that band, wow. Just a shame that Shaky didn’t spare the time to introduce them all to give them the credit they deserved.

So before you file Shakin’ Stevens under heritage or worse, novelty act, get along to one of the dates on the tour. He’ll change you preconceptions completely.