There has been a lot of meddling with ye olde folk - young whipper snappers, not even old enough to sprout a beard let alone wear a cardigan, splicing it up with acid beats, fusing it with electronica and making it all "twisted".

While 28-year-old Seth Lakeman is most certainly playing his part in this contemporising, he is doing so with a grace and passion which remains true to its traditional roots.

Whether singing of West Country legends or Cornish history, Lakeman makes each story his own.

Alongside his older brother Sean, and band mates Ben on double bass and smiley Cormac on bodhran, together they perform with a raw urgency which is totally thrilling.

There is also a powerful simplicity to the songs which could be explained by the fact their Mercury Music Prize nominated album Kitty Jay was recorded for only £300 in Sean's kitchen.

Despite Seth's boy band good looks, there is nothing fashionable about their wholesome jigs or banjo-driven ballads.

In fact, it's their lack of trendiness which makes the whole experience feel so genuine.

Sadly, a few technical problems hampered the gig with bizarre farty-sounding feedback infuriating the Devonshire singer: "I haven't even had a curry!"

Thankfully, a girl from the front row was on hand to help when his mic fell out of its stand during the climax of Kitty Jay.

But Seth was proudly to blame, when he brought the set to a close with some furious fiddle playing which left every one of his violin strings snapped and curled like a cat's whiskers.

A fiesty encore kicked off with Plymouth drinking song Send Yourself Away, which was dedicated to "our good friends" The Levellers, who were in the audience.

The final song was the boisterous Scrumpy Song, which they apparently play in their local pub in Yelverton to earn a couple of pints.

With his T-shirt soaked in sweat (or was it cider?), his violin bow in tatters and the crowd roaring, there can be no doubt Seth is a bright, new hope for British folk.