The last time I saw John Bramwell in Leamington Spa, at the nearby Assembly, he told me it was the biggest room he was playing on that tour but also the most sparsely attended. This show, in the cosier confines of the Temperance Bar, was the polar opposite - long sold out and absolutely rammed.

Which is how it should be for a musician who has been one of the UK’s finest songwriters for the best part of four decades. Starting out as Johnny Dangerously, he fronted the wonderful I Am Kloot for17 years until going solo in 2016.

Covid delays aside he’s been turning up and playing shows in typically ramshackle manner ever since. This show was no exception. With a packed room waiting expectantly, he shuffled in with an “I didn’t think you were here yet”, sat down and instantly launched into a stunning version of Bigger Wheels, featuring some truly spectacular finger-picking guitar work. No wonder the guy in the front row was sat open-mouthed - a sight identified and acknowledged by the ever-jocular singer before announcing how brilliant his performance had been and how we’d had our money’s worth after one just one song. He was right.

The evening followed suit - wondrous readings of solo and Kloot material peppered with some riotous between song banter, ranging from tales of canine inspiration to rock star anecdotes that don’t bear repeating less they’re followed by a lawsuit. Musically the set ran the gamut from the first song he wrote that he was truly pleased with - a delightful rendition of Black And Blue (played by John Peel in 1987, the day after Bramwell handed him a specially-made 7” vinyl copy) - to When The Lights Go Out, an equally lovely new tune that pays homage to his late friend Bryan Glancy, aka The Seldom Seen Kid of Elbow’s 2008 album.

The beguiling song - and the (light) fantastic gig itself - were proof (no pun intended) that Bramwell genuinely remains at the top of his game, and while he was clearly being facetious when he said he might call his next album ‘Still Got The Magic,’ this performance offered plenty of justification for doing so. “Go on then” as one punter suggested, speaking for all of us.

Six stars

Reviewed by Steve Adams at Temperance Bar, Leamington Spa on Saturday 22 March.