Grammy award-winning singer Alicia Keys gives an intimate performance in front 1000 people in Manchester Cathedral. MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK (SEPTEMBER 24, 2012) (MTV NETWORKS EUROPE) - Global superstar Alicia Keys performed in front of just a thousand people on Monday (September 24), when she headlined the "MTV Crashes Manchester" music event. The singer treated the intimate audience to songs from her upcoming record, titled 'Girl on Fire'.Celebrating Manchester's long musical heritage and contribution to UK youth culture, the event was held in the city's unique and iconic landmark cathedral. The Victorian, Gothic-style church provided a wonderfully contrasting setting for the New York-born singer's back catalogue, including a performance of her 2009 Jay-Z collaboration 'Empire State of Mind'. "Like the minute that I walked in it's just so beautiful there's something about walking into any place of worship or cathedral or church, there's just an energy that's there and the structure and the way that's it's built and the way that it looks - it's just different from anywhere else, so I am very excited." Keys said. The show marked the 14-time Grammy winner's first UK performance of songs from her highly anticipated new album, which is set for release on November 27. Excited ahead of her performance, Keys said: "Manchester is incredible, definitely a favourite city of mine to play, so and then in this space and this venue it's going to be the coolest once in a lifetime thing." Mercury Prize nominee Lianne La Havas supported Keys, playing tracks from her new record 'Is Your Love Big Enough'. "I am a huge fan (of Alicia's) and have been since I was 12 years old," she said, adding: "I feel absolutely honoured and privileged." MTV Crashes Manchester was a free, ticketed live music event, created in collaboration with Manchester City Council and filmed for MTV World Stage - a global series that brings multi-genre talent with global relevance to audiences around the world through MTV's extensive global network. 31-year-old Keys has sold over 30 million albums worldwide since the release of her debut 'Songs in A Minor' in 2001. |
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