Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Tom McRae's last show in Belfast was a complete triumph - a reverential and besotted audience, mouth-dropping performances from both Tom and the band, two encores and an artist clearly affected by such a wonderful night. So let's just say he had a thing or two to live up to.

There are so many stock reviewer-type phrases (like the ones above) one can use to describe a Tom McRae gig - flawless performance, rapturous crowd, stirring and heartfelt music, delicate and fragile yet delivered with an intensity and fervour borne of a true and genuine passion for his art...yadda yadda yadda. Yet all of these things are true, and then some. McRae really is a proper artist. He's not a miserable git, as he pointed out - he may sing songs of heartbreak and loss and whatnot, but he and his band have an incredibly good time doing what they do, and so does the audience as a result. It also helps that he has a great ease about him on stage and clearly likes to have a lot of fun with the audience.

From his keeping us laughing at every interval to breaking our hearts with quite simply stunning performances from both Tom and his cohorts, the gig really did run the full gamut of emotion. Stand-outs of the night were mostly songs from his first eponymous album (and if you don't have it, get it) such as "End of the World News", "A &B Song", "The Boy with the Bubblegun" and of course "Bloodless".

There's just something so lacking in pretension about young Mr McRae that seems to strike a chord with the crowd. He's no poseur, he has no air of affectation, conceit or pomposity - none of this awkward 'oh look at me, I'm a tortured artist' nonsense going on. Just exceptionally beautiful music, awe-inspiring performances and a very, very grateful and delighted audience. Just the way it should be.

Orla Graham