Sarah McLachlan delivered a sensational show at The Astor Theatre, to an auditorium filled with fans.

Appearing alone on stage, the Canadian singer sat at a grand piano and played ‘Possession’; one of her first notable international hits from the mid-’90s.

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Soon a band joined McLachlan on stage as they began a journey through the singers impressive list of hits including ‘Building a Mystery’, ‘Adia’ and ‘I  Will Remember You’.

Throughout the show McLachlan switched from playing the piano to strumming an acoustic guitar.

On one one number she showed off her skills with an electric guitar too.

Getting personal with the audience the singer answered questions that audience members had put in to a hat.

McLachlan invited some lucky competition winners to join her on stage. Among those climbing on to the stage was the very recognisable face of The Greens’ MP Lynn MacLaren.

One of the lucky fans who got to take to the stage shared that she’d requested ‘Silence’, McLachlan’s collaboration with fellow Canadians Delirium to be played at her funeral.

McLachlan confessed that she no longer knew the words to the song even though it was a massive hit.

The singer joked with the crowd that writing slow depressing songs was her “happy place” and admitted that they often struggled to find upbeat tunes for her records.

McLachlan then revealed that one of her biggest hits, ‘Sweet Surrender’ has begun life as a much slower morose tune. The singer then performed the tune in it’s original incarnation, as hauntingly beautiful ballad.

Throughout the show the singer chatted with the crowd, discussing her charity work and the different stages of her career. She told the audience that while she had enjoyed her two week tour around Australia she had also missed her daughters who had remained at home in Canada.

McLachlan acknowledged her partner, former ice hockey player Geoff Courtnall, dedicating the song ‘Brink of Destruction’ to him.

Leaving her instruments behind the singer sang the powerful tune ‘Fear’ her voice transcending to another level. It was an amazing crescendo for a concert that was a simple presentation of great music.

Bass player and support act Butterfly Boucher joined McLachlan for the singer’s most loved song ‘Angel’. The ode to the Smashing Pumpkin’s touring keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin, who died of a heroin overdose in 1996, had lost none of its poignancy and tenderness, despite becoming a staple of radio play since it’s release 18 years ago.

The show was closed off with a three song encore that began with a heartfelt tribute to the singer’s father who passed away a few years ago. The beautiful and simply titled ‘Song for My Father’.

The crowd got to sing-a-long with the playful fan favourite ‘Ice Cream’ before McLachlan brought out a ukulele to play the whimsical ‘The Sound That Love Makes.’

A well earned standing ovation honoured McLachlan who delivered a straight forward show that was all about the music and connecting with people.

Graeme Watson