Rollover Barbirolli

Steve Earle played the Bridgewater Hall tonight as part of his Townes tour, just him and acoustic guitar. At first I was disappointed that there was no backing band but his energetic playing and big personality filled the auditorium.

The guy clearly idolises his late friend and mentor Townes Van Zandt – with whom he shares some pretty self-destructive traits – and most of the set was devoted to him. Between songs Earle shared his refreshingly liberal political views and gave the audience a glimpse of his wayward past – heroin addict, alcoholic, jaibird.

A great evening, but what Hallé conductor Sir John Barbirolli would have made of this troubled troubador playing here I cannot say.