This was my first time going to see Jim Moray when he wasn’t playing second fiddle to someone else, so I was excited to see whether my opinions of him remained high as the main act.

I needn’t have worried. A mixed set, incorporating tracks from across his albums, saw him cross the full folk genre, from rap-infused to close-to-trad in an exciting manner. His stage presence is undeniable, whilst always coming across as a bit shy at the same time. He was ably assisted by James Delarre on fiddle and Nick Cooke on melodeon, also introducing the new added feature of a full drum kit. This gave more depth to songs, but sometimes the sound levels made the percussion a little overpowering.

The crowd was an odd mix, with few obvious folkies, and a fair student element. It was telling that my friend and I were the only ones willing to cheer morris dancing, or know what a night visiting song was. But then, that’s Jim Moray’s strength, he really does take folk to a whole different audience, far removed from arran jumper stereo-types.

It was a great night, with the audience producing a creditable version of the All the Pretty Girls chorus, and absolutely demanding an encore. I hope he comes back this way soon.