They could easily sell out arenas. Instead, Sugababes’ current tour – at 30 dates over eight weeks, the longest in their seven-year career – takes in civic halls, assembly rooms and leisure centres.

In part, the plan was to cater for fans who live off the beaten pop track – Blackburn, Brentwood, Grimsby – allowing them to see Britain’s most successful girl group and still get a decent night’s sleep before school. At the swankiest stop, the Albert Hall, another motive became clear. This classy but rarely flashy show was aimed more at adults than kids. Sugababes want to grow up.

The line-up may have changed three times – Keisha Buchanan is the trio’s only original member – but no incarnation of Sugababes has been able to execute even relatively simple choreographed routines with flair. Hats off, then, to whoever had the inspired idea of bringing in doppelgängers who could dance. It was they who appeared first, suggestively fondling a white sheet that fluttered above a platform centre stage. Only the keen-eyed were not surprised when the sheet lifted to reveal the real band, clad in brightly coloured cocktail dresses with gigantic puffball skirts that, ironically, made them look like mannequins.

As searchlights swooped over the crowd and five male musicians sprang into action either side of the stage, Sugababes mechanically wiggled their hips. While their rivals Girls Aloud are unquestionably sexier, Sugababes had the upper hand as soon as they started to sing. Stripped of their studio sheen, the set openers Hole in the Head and Round Round lacked a little punch, but the vocals were outstanding – powerful, soaring and, in the case of Heidi Range, the smiley Scouser, surprisingly raw.

In place of props were gimmicks and clever costume changes – the outside of the dresses were ripped off to reveal netty, black numbers underneath and, for In the Middle, the trio donned skirts that might have been mirrorballs sliced in half.

The lack of usual pop tack was refreshing. But as Kylie Minogue, whose stylish concerts are an obvious inspiration, could have told Sugababes, a pop show requires some big set pieces to sustain its momentum. By the time the doppelgängers were preening through pretend mirrors for the ballad Ugly, the children dotted throughout the crowd in flashing bunny ears were back in their seats, looking bored. Sonically, Freak Like Me was superb but lack of action on stage meant it failed to start a party.

The glitz finally arrived in a glorious encore of Push the Button and last year’s mega-hit About You Now. Pyrotechnics, confetti canons and huge puffs of steam had the audience on their feet screaming, while Sugababes, blimey, even did a bit of dancing.

City Hall, Newcastle, Tuesday; Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, Wednesday; Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Friday

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