SOUL maestro Alexander O'Neal is among the great singers of his genre with a robust voice in the Otis Redding groove.

O'Neal rose to fame in the 80s with a number of smash hits including the top five single Criticize and holds the record for the most consecutive sold-out gigs at Wembley Arena by an African-American singer.

The now British-based singer hit the peak of his success with his 1986 album Hearsay, which went platinum in the UK.

The Base Sessions team caught up with him for a backstage chat following his headline show at the Upton Music Festival.

During our exclusive video interview O'Neal lifts the lid on his love of performing and how he gives songs of all styles from other performers the O'Neal treatment.

Visit the Base Sessions to see reporter Martyn Smith in conversation with Alexander O'Neal.

The Base Sessions is recorded and produced by Base Media in Stourbridge.

Listings

Thursday October 3

Comedy Night - The Holly Bush, Cradley Heath.

Rock and Blues Vinyl Night - The Mitre, Stourbridge.

Open Acoustic Night - The Garibaldi, Stourbridge.

Open Mic Night - The Cross Inn, Kinver.

Daniel Sloss - The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton.

Catapult Club feat. Almost Easy, Rejuvenate, The Souls For Gold, Akheron plus All Ends Beneath - O2 Academy 3, Birmingham.

Andy Askins, Junior Simpson plus Craig Murray - Glee Club, Birmingham.

Shappi Khorsandi - Glee Club Studio, Birmingham.

Jazzlines: Dave Stapleton and Neil Yates - Bramall Music Building, Birmingham.

CBSO: Mahler's First Symphony - Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Jesus Christ Superstar - NIA, Birmingham.

Blessthefall plus Oceans Ate Alaska - The Asylum, Birmingham.

Drive Time Showcase - Cellar Bar, Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.

Pat Travers Band plus The Laurence Jones Band - Robin 2, Bilston.

Friday October 4

Rhythm Beat 25+ - Benjamin's, Halesowen.

Sean Hughes - Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton.

Glasvegas - The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton.

Diamond Head, Uli John Roth plus The Mighty Wraith - O2 Academy 2, Birmingham.

Foxes - O2 Academy 3, Birmingham.

James Mullinger - Old Joint Stock, Birmingham.

Chevy Chase Stole My Wife, The Borgias, Hysterics, Red Spektor plus Clockwork Rifle - Base Studios, Stourbridge.

Andy Askins, Junior Simpson, Peter White plus Tanyalee Davis - Glee Club, Birmingham.

Tony Law - Glee Club Studio, Birmingham.

Jazzlines: Sam Slater's Nearly Hot Four - Symphony Hall Cafe Bar, Birmingham.

Mark-Anthony Turnage - Town Hall, Birmingham.

Tygers of Pan Tang - Moochers Jailhouse, Stourbridge.

The 2 Tonics - The River Rooms, Stourbridge.

Action Against Alzheimers with Of Kings and Captains - Cellar Bar, Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.

Finntroll, Tyr plus Skálmold - Robin 2, Bilston.

Saturday October 5

China Rats - Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham.

Definitely Mightbe plus Adored - The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton.

Salvation, Fury, Fortress, Bullitstorm plus Zombie Extras - O2 Academy 3, Birmingham.

Katie Jane - Ex-servicemen's Club, Dudley.

Andy Askins, Junior Simpson, Peter White plus Tanyalee Davis - Glee Club, Birmingham.

Gary Slade - Sports and Social Club, Cradley.

Russell Kane - The Public, West Bromwich.

London Concert Orchestra: Crazy For Gershwin - Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

The Commandments - The River Rooms, Stourbridge.

Let Live - The Asylum, Birmingham.

Three Blind Mice - Cellar Bar, Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.

Pr Duo - The Laurels Social Club, Colley Gate.

Kick Up The 80s - Robin 2, Bilston.

Sunday October 6

Viv's Vinyl Jukebox - Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.

Songwriter's Circle - David Murphy's, Stourbridge.

Free and Easy with Mel Thomas - The Laurels, Colley Gate.

Ellie Goulding - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton.

Reckless Love - Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton.

Emmure, Carnifex, I Killed The Prom Queen, Betraying The Martyrs, Hundredth,Northlane plus Hand Of Mercy - O2 Academy 2, Birmingham.

Romeo's Daughter - O2 Academy 3, Birmingham.

Mark Stone - Ex-servicemen's Club, Dudley.

Poetic Piano feat. Janine Smith and Helena Cavan - Christian Community Church, Stourbridge.

Barbara Nice - Glee Club, Birmingham.

BICS Thomas Trotter's 30th Anniversary Recital - Town Hall, Birmingham, 3pm start.

Adam Hills - Town Hall, Birmingham.

Crosby, Stills and Nash - NIA, Birmingham.

Live Band of The Year 2013 - Robin 2, Bilston, noon start.

Wishbone Ash plus The Blue Road - Robin 2, Bilston.

Monday October 7

Open Mic Night - Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge.

Open Stage - The River Rooms, Stourbridge.

Wheatus plus MC Lars - Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton.

Ben Montague plus Kristyna Myles - O2 Academy 3, Birmingham.

Women at The Edge - Old Joint Stock, Birmingham.

Russell Brand - Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Petula Clarke - Town Hall, Birmingham.

Dana Fuchs Band plus Rosco Levee and The Southern Slide - Robin 2, Bilston.

Tuesday October 8

Folk and Acoustic Night - The Plough, Wollaston.

Singles and Friends - The River Rooms, Stourbridge.

The Illusionists - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton.

Ahab - Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton.

Black Spiders, Hawk Eyes plus Baby Godzilla - O2 Academy 3, Birmingham.

Amateur Transplants - Glee Club, Birmingham.

Russell Brand - Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Al Stewart - Town Hall, Birmingham.

Jazzlines: Liam Noble Quintet - MAC, Birmingham.

Jay Z - NIA, Birmingham.

The Sam Draisey Sessions - Robin 2, Bilston.

Wednesday October 9

Jam Night - The Maverick, Amblecote.

Open Mic Night - Plough and Harrow, Kinver.

Irish Session - Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.

Open Mic Night - David Murphy's, Stourbridge.

Open Mic Night - The Laurels Social Club, Colley Gate.

Nadine Shah - Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton.

The Quireboys, Bonafide plus Bad Touch - O2 Academy 2, Birmingham.

Up and Brumm-ing - Old Joint Stock, Birmingham.

CBSO feat. Christian Teetzaff: Beethoven's Violin Concerto - Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Hawklords plus The Roz Bruce Infusion - Robin 2, Bilston.

Thursday October 10

Comedy Night - The Holly Bush, Cradley Heath.

Rock and Blues Vinyl Night - The Mitre, Stourbridge.

Open Acoustic Night - The Garibaldi, Stourbridge.

Open Mic Night - The Cross Inn, Kinver.

Acoustic Brew - Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.

Doc Brown - Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton.

Dreadzone - Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton.

Goldie Lookin' Chain plus Chip Daddy - O2 Academy 2, Birmingham.

Passenger plus Stu Larsen - O2 Academy, Birmingham.

Catapult Club feat. Methodemic, Eagles Born Vultures, English of The Sixth plus Kritical Charge - O2 Academy 3, Birmingham, 6.30pm start.

Daniel Townes, Steve Gribbin plus Bethany Black - Glee Club, Birmingham.

Joe Lycett - Glee Club Studio, Birmingham.

CBSO feat. Christian Teetzaff: Beethoven's Violin Concerto - Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 2.15pm.

Limehouse Lizzy - The River Rooms, Stourbridge.

Luke Concannon plus Jimmy Davis - Cellar Bar, Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.

The Martin Barre Band - Robin 2, Bilston.

Friday October 11

Rhythm Beat 25+ - Benjamin's, Halesowen.

Jimmy Carr - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton.

Joe Longthorne - Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton.

Paul Foot - Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton.

The Shrewsbury Jazz Orchestra - Bonded Warehouse, Stourbridge.

Sleeping With Sirens, The Summer Set, Hands Like Houses plus The Getaway Plan - O2 Academy, Birmingham.

Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre: Socks in Space - Old Joint Stock, Birmingham.

Daniel Townes, Steve Gribbin, Bethany Black plus Tom Toal - Glee Club, Birmingham.

Roisin Conaty - Glee Club Studio, Birmingham.

Jazzlines: Mick Coady's Synergy - Symphony Hall Cafe Bar, Birmingham.

Daniel O'Donnell - Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Bruno Mars - NIA, Birmingham.

Fred Zeppelin - The River Rooms, Stourbridge.

Grainne Duffy Band - Cellar Bar, Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.

The Shrewsbury Jazz Orchestra - Bonded Warehouse, Stourbridge.

Jean Genie plus Target By Numbers - Robin 2, Bilston.

Saturday October 12

Midlands Metal Crusade with Breed 77 - Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton.

MC Trigga - O2 Academy, Birmingham.

Wendy Lester - Ex-servicemen's Club, Dudley.

Fourmidable - Old Joint Stock, Birmingham.

Daniel Townes, Steve Gribbin, Bethany Black plus Tom Toal - Glee Club, Birmingham.

Paul Birch - Sports and Social Club, Cradley.

Mid-day Mantra feat. Rishi Chowdhury, Jasdeep Singh Degun plus Kaviraj Singh Dhadyalia - Symphony Hall Cafe Bar, Birmingham, 1pm.

CBSO and Ex Cathedra: Beethoven's Missa Solemnis - Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Ultra 90s - The River Rooms, Stourbridge.

Three Blind Mice - Cellar Bar, Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.

Paul Ritchie - The Laurels Social Club, Colley Gate.

The Edwin Starr Band - Robin 2, Bilston.