Being a musical durr-brain, I only knew Eddi Reader from her late-Eighties foray into the mainstream with her Fairground Attraction hit (It's Got To Be) Perfect - now a perennial favourite for TV adverts.

Backed by six musicians (bass and acoustic guitars, violin, double bass, accordion and percussion/drums), I didn't think it would get a look in but when Reader asked the audience for requests, it was inevitably shouted out.

As entertaining as the wholesome, earthy folk was Reader's tinder-box dry commentary.

She explained that, in her local Glaswegian karaoke bar, she often gets elbowed aside by the regulars, whose versions of Perfect supplanted the word in question either with "it's got to be/Nine inches" or "Celtic", depending on their peccadilloes.

The night was divided in two.

After a few of Reader's tracks, including Hallelujah and Patience Of Angels, the second half was a feast for Rabbie Burns fans.

In 2003, Reader paid homage to the 18th-Century poet with an album entitled The Songs Of Robert Burns. To perform them, a string octet orchestra and conductor joined her on stage.

What followed was an even older version of Auld Langs Ayne than Burns had known, plus some of his bawdy satires and love poems.

It was moving to hear and a perfect primer for the following evening's Burns Night.