James Vincent McMorrow, Grand Opera House

Despite torrential rain hundreds of fans turned up to welcome James Vincent McMorrow back to Belfast. After a sell-out gig in the Black Box in April, the Dubliner returned with a six-piece band.

The tone of the night was set by supporting act The Staves. Their perfect harmonies and hauntingly beautiful songs silenced the packed Grand Opera House audience as they watched in awe.

Fresh from a tour of America and Europe and claiming to be his 700th show of the year so far, the meek James Vincent McMorrow opened with the eponymous album track Early in the Morning.

McMorrow live is a treat, with the help of his band, he is something more than your average singer-and-a-guitar. Playing his debut album in full, the audience enjoyed songs such as Sparrow and the Wolf and If I Had a Boat.

James even treated the audience to a cover of Steve Winwood's Higher Love. The nervousness of the Dublin singer came across when he talked to his fans between songs, but this only endeared them to him.

For any fans who didn't make it to the gig, James revealed that he will be starting to work on a new album at the end of this year.