JESSIE J is a trouper. Headlining the North East Live 2014 music festival, she walked on stage and began to take off her kimono, only for it to become tangled around her wrist. It had to be freed by a backing dancer. Instead of throwing a hissy fit, she rolled the offending article up into a tight ball and threw it into the audience. It’s probably on eBay already.

“Let’s start again,” she said, exiting stage right, before returning to an even more rapturous welcome.

Throughout the day, the steadily growing crowd had been in the same good humour; people of all ages determined to enjoy themselves. Outside, there was a fairground and two (count them) mobile Domino’s Pizza lorries next to a couple of beer tents. Sunday afternoons don’t get much better.

Rising American singer Austin Mahone started the show and was followed by boyband Rixton (when they had finished their set they mingled with the crowd – leading to many young girls fearing hallucinations had set in). Up-and-coming girl band Neon Jungle were well received as were omnipresent X Factor stars Union J, who seem to be everywhere these days.

Katy B, The Vamps and The Saturdays all delivered polished sets, but when Rizzle Kicks came on, the tempo – both on stage and in the crowd – definitely moved up a notch.

For a band that doesn’t seem to have been around long, they know how to work an audience. But not like penultimate act Jason Derulo, who makes everyone else look like dad dancing at the wedding.

Then came the finale. It seems a ridiculous thing to say about a professional singer, but Jessie J has a fantastic voice and had the crowd with her throughout her hour-long set.

As darkness began to fall, she finished with Price Tag – the whole Stadium of Light singing along before departing into the night, content that the ticket for North East Live 2014 had indeed been money well spent.

Philip Storey