Katy Perry, Arena Birmingham - review and pictures

Queues surrounded Arena Birmingham hours before the 33-year-old singer/songwriter was due to perform, with fans sporting sparkling cat ears and detailed costumes paying homage to some of the star's many looks throughout the years.

First up to warm the crowds however, was Los Angeles starlet Hailee Steinfeld with a collection of her catchy pop tunes.

She first made a name for herself during her role in True Grit before turning her attention to music, and last night she wowed the crowd with her stunning voice.

Through hits such as Starving and Let Me Go, the vocalist showcased amazing tone and range; made even more impressive by her energetic dance moves that remained precise throughout her entire set.

She was joined by English rising-star MNEK for a truly stunning version of Colours, which saw the venue illuminated by phone torches like stars in the night.

When she wasn't wowing the audience with her voice, Hailee frequently spoke to fans about acceptance, body confidence and female empowerment - as well as during statement track Most Girls - illuminating herself as a positive female role model in every aspect.

Despite only being the opening act, Hailee's dazzling performance set the mood for the entire evening.

The room was then plunged into darkness as a human eye was projected onto an LED screen to 'watch' the audience. Smoke billowed onto the stage as images of the galaxy and aliens flashed onto the backdrop.

I didn't think this spectacle could become more awe-inspiring, until Katy, dressed in a dazzling red sequin catsuit, floated up high on a mechanical star.

This grand entrance was just the beginning of what can only be described as a truly jaw-dropping and unmissable experience.

Beginning with a snippet of album-titled track Witness before bowling straight into Roulette, Katy danced across two large golden dice props with backing dancers tumbling out of each spot.

Dark Horse saw the music icon effortlessly move across a series of LED blocks, before she was joined by gigantic puppets with televisions for heads during Chained to the Rhythm.

These theatrics did not distract from her music however, as she executed each note flawlessly and demonstrated an unbelievable vocal range.

"How are you doing Birmingham?" the pop star asked the screaming crowd.

"I just love it here. I've had lots of cups of tea and even a pub lunch - you guys really know how to do cosy."

Katy had an effortless rapport with her fans, which made the atmosphere in the room seem even more electric.

Through hit tracks Teenage Dreams and California Girls you could almost hear the crowd above the singer as they screamed her anthemic lyrics proudly.

Katy even made time to speak directly to the crowd on a number of occasions, gifting 11-year-old schoolgirl Lily a signed fan and inviting Swansea audience member Alex on stage for a game of basketball.

This intimacy is not often seen at arena shows, and it's this love and care that makes the music star stand out among her contemporaries.

The show was split into four different themed sections, each boasting a number of mind-blowing props and catchy hits that transported the crowd to another world.

Dancers in pastel latex outfits, flamingo puppets and floating geometric shapes accompanied sugary sweet tracks Last Friday Night (TGIF) and Hot N Cold; and mechanical venus fly traps, a stilt-walking alien and confetti cannons elevated E.T., Celestial Body and smash hit Bon Appétit.

Retro gaming imagery followed flawless renditions of Part of Me and Roar, and Katy stunned the audience as she floated above the crowd on a replica of Saturn, surrounded by similarly dazzling planet models.

The attention to detail visible throughout the show was truly breathtaking, and demonstrated the sheer passion Katy has for her work.

Her Superbowl performance sidekick, Left Shark, even joined the star for a comical rendition of Swish Swish and a duet involving a gigantic piano the pair danced on to create music.

"We're not finished yet," Katy bellowed, before treating fans to a stellar encore consisting of new track Pendulum, and hit song Firework.

As the star sang from a model hand in the centre of the room, fireworks shot from the stage and illuminated the entire venue in one last stunning display to mark the end of the night.

Katy Perry's Witness tour was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Packed full of surprises and laced with outstanding music, the star put on a show like no other.