ANOTHER full house and another great night of music saw the Brook Street Music Club move into its third year of live music at this increasingly high profile venue, writes Kevin Jardine.

Martin Stephenson was the first act to play live at the club back in 2010, and his hat-trick appearance was off the back of a successful UK tour celebrating 30 years of music with his band the Daintees.

However, before the main act took to the stage, the club lived up to its commitment to local talent when Knutsford-based singer/songwriter Gus Glynn grabbed the attention of the crowd with a set of self-penned numbers.

The charismatic musician, who is originally from Galway, played to an appreciative and attentive audience, his rich mellow voice and virtuoso guitar work reminiscent of Roy Harper, Christie Moore and John Martin, not a bad ‘Holy Trinity’ to be likened to.

Then to the main act. Having previously only played the Brook Street Club solo, Martin returned on this occasion with fiddle player Jimmy Morrisson and north east guitar legend Jimmy Hornsby.

From the moment they took the stage the trio’s skill and experience shone through with a mixture of tunes summed up by his second pressing – Gladsome, Humour and Blue.

With a set ranging from old country tributes to Doc Watson and Merle Travis, a Leonard Cohen cover, but mostly comprising Martin’s own tracks, the trio entertained with as tight an improvised set you could ever see. The guys don’t have a set list, so each show goes wherever they and the audience take it.

From traditional bluegrass stomps to the classic Daintees track Rain, played in complete darkness, the night was one joyful journey through the world of country, folk and English roots music.

If you would like more information about future gigs at the Brook Street Club visit brookstreetclub.

co.uk.