Reviews

Night and Day has seen and nurtured its share of home-grown talent but Fretwell is the epitome of local boy made good (despite him being the original out-of-towner), and on Wednesday night, his fans were more than a little proud to welcome him back to the stage where he really got going.

The boisterous beat of 'Coney' kicked off the set as a case in point, a comic and endearing tale of a night on the tiles. Other songs from his new album, 'Man On The Roof', recorded during last year’s sojourn in New York, promise to surpass the accolades he received for the gold-selling 'Magpie'.

Even on such a bitter evening, the lyrics of the short but sweet 'Scar' couldn't fail to inspire, while 'San Francisco Blues' floated in a reflective mood that almost subdued the would-be comedian heckling in the front row.

'Darlin' Don't' was a poignant and beautifully rendered highlight, and the instantly recognisable 'Emily' became a very British pint-raising anthem.

Despite playing the same venue just a couple of weeks before, the sell-out gig was testimony to Fretwell’s faithful fan-base. Let’s hope Stephen’s first bite of the Big Apple doesn’t tempt him back too soon.