Landlords and party hosts must despair when they see Elvis Costello coming – boy can he milk an exit.

The songsmith closed his Dome show with a five-part, nine song encore, not that anyone in the audience was disappointed or ready for him to leave the stage.

The extended finale included Good Year For The Roses and Olivier’s Army with harmonious backing from brothers Rory and Ronan McManus, a foot-stamping Pump It Up performed inside a giant TV screen, a stripped-back I Can’t Stand Up and a rousing jam on Peace, Love and Understanding.

It was some closing for a show that had started on slightly shaky ground with underwhelming acoustic renditions of Red Shoes and Lip Service.

But it’s not long before it sprang into life with a poignant Shipbuilding, Watching The Detectives which sees Costello jamming with himself with the aid of a loop pedal and She sang through a golden age of Hollywood director’s megaphone.

Costello is a fantastic raconteur, dropping in little jokes, family tales and stories behind the songs including how a taxi ride into Mexico led to Accidents Will Happen.

He tells the audience he has 400 songs to choose from and he may well have played them all but for the Dome’s 11pm curfew.

Four stars