AFTER more than four decades in the music business, the man who gave us Streets of London still has an enthralling timeless quality. Born Ralph May, his stage surname borrowed from the brilliant blues guitarist, Blind Willie McTell, McTell is a man for all seasons.

Part folk and part country blues, his wellcrafted songs and charming anecdotes validate his legendary status proving that his early success was no one trick pony. His evening’s work began with Walk into The Morning, a particularly beautiful song about his bohemian days; followed by a story about his grandfather, Charlie, who signed up for the First World War at the age of 14 and inspired him to write The Lamplighter.

All McTell’s songs seem to have a story behind them, making his career into a song-writing journey. His voice still has that distinctive lilt that holds on to the baritone notes and makes him so instantly recognisable.

He admits to being obsessed with guitars and has lost count of exactly how many he has in his collection. His first, a classic 1950s Gibson J45 is still his favourite, he calls it Miss Gibson and didn’t have to adjust his tuning once in almost two hours. He certainly makes the bass lines, melodies and counter melodies of his wonderful finger-style guitar playing seem very easy.

The evening raced by, filled with classics like Reverend Thunder, The Ferryman, The Girl from the Jersey Ferry alongside songs from his latest album, Sofa Noodling, and finishing to roaring applause with Michael in The Garden, a song about an undiagnosed autistic child that he once knew.