Connan Mockasin @ Soup Kitchen, Manchester, 24 January

In what could be seen as a homecoming of sorts, Whalley Range resident and psych-pop raconteur Connan Mockasin brings his latest record Caramel to the intimate setting of Manchester’s Soup Kitchen.

Sidestepping the charming heckle of “Get your dick out” – “Fuck off back to Australia” and “No more church music” are further choice words thrown at the New Zealander, later, it turns out, from his housemate – Mockasin dives straight into a collection of tracks from both his most recent offering and his previous Phantasy release, the tremendous Forever Dolphin Love. For a show well sold out, the crowd in attendance initially prove difficult to win over; but a rousing rendition of the sultry Do I Make You Feel Shy? helps push aside any early worries.

Dressed head to toe in white, and backed by his four-piece band, it’s easy to see why interest in Connan has risen significantly over the past six months. While still maintaining his earlier work's hypnotic qualities, Caramel stands as the more accessible counterpart to its predecessor and, in turn, shifts into the live arena with ease.

After an emotional dedication to his temporary home – including his local branch of Asda – the crowd parts to allow Mockasin to join them for a seated performance of Why Are You Crying? before he dishes out a final ‘slice of caramel’ (we know): a blistering version of I'm The Man That Will Find You, and a frantic but finessed Forever Dolphin Love. [Chris Egan]