PERFECT weather awaited former X Factor finalist and Liverpudlian lovely Rebecca Ferguson at Westonbirt Arboretum on Sunday night.

Despite glorious sunshine and an uplifting hour of warm-up act Philippa Hanna‘s own songs, the mixed aged crowd was disappointingly sparse as the soulful singer appeared on stage in a vibrant pink kaftan.

Despite being well into her third pregnancy, Rebecca, who was the runner up in the 2010 series of X Factor, performed a full 90-minute set of hits from her two successful albums, Heaven and Freedom, as well as numerous covers of some of her favourite songs.

From belting big numbers Shoulder to Shoulder, her latest single I Hope and All That We’ve Got to beautiful ballads Teach Me How to be Loved, Mr Bright Eyes and My Best, her repertoire was a painful journey through past relationships and intimate feelings which she delivered with style and passion.

Her raspy voice, likened to greats such as Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone, was a joy to listen to and fitted her emotional songs perfectly with no better example than in a haunting, almost a capella version of Freedom.

But it wasn’t all poetic swaying among the trees at Westonbirt, Rebecca and her two backing singers packed in some upbeat hits with a cover of Katy Perry’s Roar and Raspberry Parade by Prince, one of the Liverpool lass’ favourite artists.

Tom Odell’s Another Love was a more obvious choice but she surprised us all with a version of the mighty Rolling on the River, by Tina Turner, in an impressive encore.

The evening ended with her biggest hit to date, Nothing’s Real But Love, which had everyone singing along and wishing one of the nice ladies in pop the very best.

The Forestry Commission is staging further gigs from July 18 to 20 including Boyzone, Deacon Blue and Katherine Jenkins. Visit www.forestry.gov.uk/music for more details.