British singer/songwriters Joss Stone and Corinne Bailey Rae stopped by Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, FL last night, bringing a wonderfully needed soulful night to the sunshine state. As performers, each has their own presence that is delightfully different.

Joss Stone started the evening. She was playfully coy with the audience, laughing every time someone yelled out that they loved her (and that happened quite a bit). Between comments on her “cracking tea” and coming into the audience to dance with people, she makes you feel like you are simply sitting in a living room with a hundred friends you don’t know yet. Her powerful vocals are entrancing. It may sound hokey, but that girl can really belt out a song.

After a brief intermission, Corinne Bailey Rae took the stage to thunderous applause. Her stage presence was so different from Stone’s. She had a quiet shyness that was almost vulnerable. Her voice has more of a tenderness to it compared to Joss’ powerfulness and it makes one almost melt into their seat. Not that anyone was that still. Some were standing and swaying and those that remained seated definitely weren’t still.

The tour will be crossing the south for the next few weeks, ending in Dallas on February 11^th.

Joss Stone: