Being labelled ‘the Welsh Bruce Springsteen’ can be a blessing and a curse – huge respect coming your way but ultra high audience expectations.

Martyn Joseph carries his burden with ease; the charismatic singer-songwriter performing from the heart, railing against injustice and hoping, in some small way, to put the world to rights He is an intense folkie of 30 years trading, but this was very much soul music; powerful, utterly heartfelt songs straight from his soul with nothing of him left behind.

That he turns in an excellent show is without question – a one-man protest machine lining up targets and knocking them down with clever wordplay and utterly intoxicating guitartistry.

But to think it was all placards and megaphones would be to misunderstand. Joseph is also very much a compassionate and intimate performer – witness songs such as Clara, about a child lost for 70 years, Her Name Is Rose, a present for his mum, Bobby, about the loss of Bobby Kennedy and Nye, a tribute to Aneurin Bevan, founder of the NHS.

He did weave some Springsteen into the show – One Step Up being an audience request and Dancing In The Dark part of an early medley, but mostly this was wholly original material.

Joseph dubs himself the ‘miserable Welshman’, but he’s far from it – he’s articulate, passionate, campaigning, spirited, optimistic, humorous; choosing subjects that resonate and expertly delivering challenging songs.

And it’s not all just art and meaningless platitudes – he practises what he preaches through his Let Yourself Trust, a not-for-profit charitable organisation funding community projects across the world since 2014.

More than anything, though, Joseph puts on a fantastic show, drawing the audience into his world, engaging in traditional folkie sing-alongs and blitzing us with his musicianship.

Don’t take my word for it – grab the recently released acoustic version of his album Sanctuary or make a date for January 29 when he plays the Brook, Southampton. You’ll be changed as a person…in a good way.