A KYLIE UNUSUAL GIG

NOTCHING up 31 Manchester Arena shows to date, Kylie Minogue has officially performed at the city’s biggest music venue more times than anywhere else in the world.

This time around it’s a rather more intimate affair as the Aussie pop icon gets up close and personal with a crowd of 550 at Gorilla.

Her mini tour - along with gigs in London, Barcelona, Paris and Berlin - will preview new material from her forthcoming album, Golden, before her full-scale UK tour spins around and brings her back to the Arena later this year.

Recorded in Nashville, the album marks another reinvention for the soap star-turned-singer, layering her glossy pop with a new country twang.

Visiting Music City for the first time last summer, Kylie found herself worshipping at what she calls ‘the altar of song’ - walking down Music Mile and spending time in the legendary Bluebird Cafe and The Listening Room.

The inspiration she found there is clear to hear on lead single Dancing, co-written with Steve McEwan (Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban) and Nathan Chapman (Taylor Swift).

“It’s a flavour that I love. I can’t unlearn or take out of my system what I now have from the experience of making this album,” she told Rolling Stone.

Now she is promising to bring the energy and intimacy she found in Nashville to the stage at Gorilla.

“I’m so excited to perform songs from my new album Golden in these iconic European clubs,” she says.

“Each of these venues is very special and - just as I found making the new album in Nashville to be so energising these shows will be new, intimate and fun. I just can’t wait to bring these new songs to life and of course, throw in a few surprises for my fans.”

Kylie has form for surprising fans with intimate shows as in 2013 she performed two shows at the 2,000 capacity Manchester Academy at a week’s notice.

She returns to Manchester to perform at the Arena on October 1 as part of a 13-date UK and

Ireland tour. Kylie Minogue Gorilla, Whitworth St West / thisisgorilla.com / Wednesday March 14, 7.30pm / Sold out but Manchester Arena tickets still available at ticketmaster.co.uk