"I've been playing this song for ...," counts on his fingers, "... 57 years."

Martin Carthy was awarded an MBE for services to English folk music in 1998.

Aged 74, he continues to rove the UK in his role as a vital bloodline between the British folk heritage and folk such as those packed into the Ropetackle.

An evening with Carthy was time spent with a master storyteller, each song preceded by its own authoritative history.

The song itself contained its own story whether it was the highwayman Young Morgan or the sailor Sir Patrick Spens.

Then further was Carthy's own relationship with the song, its history and its composer.

The retreat instrumentals had fascinating backgrounds, as different armies fought each other while playing the same tunes.

Carthy's love for the music and its history was palpable.

His vocal has travelled well, his articulation was quietly immaculate.

Everything Carthy did was effortless and downplayed, including his technically complex and unique guitar technique. When he made a mistake during Bill Norrie, he stopped, blamed a fine apple crumble consumed shortly before the show, then finished the song.

It was a consummate performance that delighted throughout. The man truly is a national treasure.

Five stars