Richard Hawley is a raconteur of such calibre that you’d pay to see him even if he never played a note.

His between song banter was on fine form for his return to Brighton. Thankfully, his timeless melodies were more than a match for his witty and heartfelt asides.

Unsurprisingly the set was dominated by cuts from his latest album, Hollow Meadow, which returned to the familiar tender sound of his earlier records.

Which Way and Heart Of Oak were even more bombastic live than on record, but the set was evened out by soothing versions of What Love Means and Tuesday PM.

Some couples dotted in the stalls were even moved enough by the romantic ambience during a warmly received Open Up Your Door to begin swaying. All that was missing was a flickering lighter.

Hawley’s band looked more like The Skinnerettes than a salivating rock and roll band, but they never shied away from cranking up the volume.

Despite a return to his crooning sound, the live show still leaned largely on the heavier material from previous long-player Standing At The Sky’s Edge.

Even despite his love of a raucous guitar solo, he was more likely to inspire his audience to consider early retirement and a holiday home than to learn three chords and lead a revolution.

That said, you couldn’t help but fall in love with Richard Hawley.

Four stars