TOM RUSSELL is no stranger to these shores, but Thad Beckman, the new guitarist accompanying him, is.

And what a splendid player and a more than able vocalist who gave Russell’s work a lift.

With a wealth of recordings behind him, Russell worked through only a small proportion of his back catalogue after he’d performed a healthy selection from his current album, Blood And Candle Smoke.

In an upbeat mood, Russell laughed and joked more than I ever recall as he spoke of his life in song.

How, in 1969, he taught in Nigeria and then learnt his craft playing the clubs in Canada in 1970. Latterly, he has soaked up Mexican heritage like blotting paper absorbs ink to write some of his best work.

From the opener East Of Woodstock, West Of Vietnam through to the grand finale and Haley’s Comet, he had the packed venue buzzing.

With Beckman fleshing out the music, it was a night to treasure. His story-telling and the slot when Beckman mimicked the guitar style of one or two blues legends and he did likewise vocally – as way of tribute to his old friend Ramblin’ Jack Elliott – were fine, but I would not necessarily yearn to hear it all again.

An excellent observer of blue-collar values, Russell’s genial talent never shone brighter than when he performed Blue Wing, with Beckman doing some of the smartest finger-picking you could wish for.

Maurice Hope