So rare is it for Robert Plant to perform in his native West Midlands that when he does it’s always an occasion to remember – an ‘I was there’ moment.

And so it proved again here as the weight of expectation on the former Led Zeppelin singer’s sold-out show threatened to reduce this historic venue to rubble.

Plant, in no-frills jeans and black shirt, and his Sensational Space Shifters, a mix of talented musicians plucked from various genres, picked up where they had left off with their critically-acclaimed shows in the States.

Taking the stage to the cinematic strums of Latino-style acoustic guitar, they opened with a cover of Joan Baez’s Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You and followed it with a dark, tribal rendition of Uncle Tupelo’s Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down.

Then came a hypnotic version of Plant’s own record Tin Pan Valley – a favourite of his previous touring band The Strange Sensation – eerily twisted by trip-hoppy keyboards.

They were well-received, almost like an encore, but it was obvious many in the crowd had come in the hope Plant would dust off some Led Zep classics.

And those in that frame of mind were not left disappointed as the hits from the legendary 70s rockers were here in full force.

First came Black Dog, delivered with an African heartbeat, then Going To California, stripped back to a poignant acoustic mandolin. Four Sticks and Friends rounded off the Zeppelin medley in fine style.

The slowed tempo on many of the Zeppelin tracks perfectly suited his age-old voice, which at 65 is showing no signs of breaking just yet.

Plant was as comfortable narrating mid-song as telling tales through his tracks.

After a short story of its roots in Mississippi blues came Fixing The Dye, a cover author Chukka White would be proud of.

Is his voice still there? What better way of testing it than Whole Lotta Love?

A test passed with flying colours. He’s still got it.

Robert Plant performs at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall with his band the Sensational Space Shifters
Robert Plant at the Wolverhampton Civic