An evening with Glenn Tilbrook is almost a return to the days of musical hall and variety.

While the subject matter in his songs may be bang up to date, the former Squeeze singer retains an element of old-school entertainer as he bounces around the stage between songs, shouting to the audience away from the microphone, automatically reducing any venue to an intimate gathering where the crowd are drawn in to the performance rather than kept at a clinical distance.

Immediately encouraged to participate, you lean closer and concentrate harder to join in the good-natured banter with the toussle-haired troubadour on the stage.

As any Squeeze fan will tell you, the songs are all about real people and real emotions, perfectly packaged into three minute snapshots of everyday life Up the Junction, Labelled with Love and the exquisite Some Fantastic Place.

The newer songs show that Glenn can write lyrics to match those of his long-time songwriting partner Chris Difford, notably Ray and Me from the solo CD Transatlantic Ping Pong.

Halfway through the evening, Glenn pulled his masterstroke. Having just flown back from a one-off benefit gig in Singapore and feeling a little "spaced-out", he led the audience in true pied- piper style out in to the bar, where he clambered up onto the low wall of the cafeteria and proceeded to perform stunning versions of Goodbye Girl and Tempted.

He only agreed to the latter if we all learned the "proper" backing vocals, at which a fair attempt was made and he would probably still be there, had the Fairfield staff not coaxed Glenn back into the Ashcroft.

Shame it was a brilliantly impromptu moment that I guarantee none of the lucky people there will ever forget.

Lest we forget the support act, Cosmic Harmony, a new venture by Christopher Holland and Lisa Covington, Chris breaking away from the confines of his brother's big band into folksier territory.

One to watch.