CHERRY Ghost has been one of Manchester's best kept musical secrets for a couple of years, so it was great to see him out on the road on the opening date of his first national tour at Fibbers.

Recently signed to Heavenly and with his debut single out in April, Cherry Ghost (real name Simon Aldred) is on the cusp of big things, and his performance in York did nothing to take away from that.

His band has a relaxed vibe and gels well together. Their sound is at times very much like Neil Young; county-tinged folk rock, as in the gorgeous Roses, with its swelling guitars and sweeping piano.

At other times, it's very dreamlike and reminiscent of the Flaming Lips or Mercury Rev, such as forthcoming single Mathematics, with its melodic guitars and tinkly glockenspiels, though the live version was much meatier and rocked up than on record.

The lyrics are beautiful, with the focus on love imagery. Take song Mountain Bird: "I want you to be my mountain bird/ spread your wings across my window", performed with real heartfelt feeling.

Singer-songwriters are ten a penny, but outstanding ones are not easy to find, so it was great to hear in Cherry Ghost someone who has not only a collection of heartbreakingly beautiful songs, but the skill to perform them well with a great band to back it all up.