THE superstardom which arts pundits have long promised to Lucy Rose has eluded her thus far, but the classy pop starlet attracted more than enough early birds to Southampton waterfront.

Young couples and older connoisseurs politely rushed to the front rows of the Engine Rooms in time for opener The Half Earth.

Synthesisers too often coat the young songwriter’s spectacular falsetto, but at best, in pulsing electronics or heartfelt guitar breaks, she commands the room.

Lucy Rose is doubly authoritative, relishing applause from a loyal fan-base which has followed her from the side of indie stars Bombay Bicycle Club into a blossoming solo career.

The diminutive singer makes a fine bandleader, guiding her five-piece through tight grooves and tender acoustics from her second album Work It Out. New material takes longer to get to hooks – and is all the better for its subtlety – and the crowd didn’t warm until an instrumental rock segue dropped into singalong single Shiver.

But whether it’s acoustic or electric, Rose is in her element when voices raise and hands clap. Peppering the closing exchanges with favourites like Red Face capped a satisfying evening.