Ernest Aines is a singer songwriter from Australia, and is back In the UK for his fourth tour in just 18 months. By the look of the crowd tonight, he is already building a steady fanbase too. Being a church, it is a vast space to fill, both musically and with your own presence. No real stage to create a separation, but he manages it perfectly, along with the intimate chat it feels like if could be in your front room at times.

Though coming across as confident, he confides this is not how he always felt and feels lucky to be in position that he has people coming to hear him play his songs. Having spent 20 years busking, honing his craft, though busking has got to be one of the best ways to do so, always a new audience who don’t know what to expect. The songs are just him and a guitar, with trusty guitar tech coming on between songs, so generally quite paired back.

There are a whole range of subject matters for said songs too, from his favourite Englishman, which happens to be David Attnebouroiugh (hard to argue with that one). To love, both good and bad sides of human relationships. The tour itself is supporting the latest single ‘Just Once’ one of those songs related to matters of the heart that didn’t go so well. I don’t want to give away all his stories, you can check them out when you see him, pleased to report I get the idea things are in the personal life now.

Earnest has a natural style with the audience and songs from the heart, it’s not hard to see why he’s building that fanbase. He even wowed the crowds at Celtic Connections this year, taking the folk music back to it’s homeland. It the small things too, like standing up for the gig, so everyone could see. I certainly look forward to seeing him next time, think he might be standing up for more gigs from now on, as the venues are only going to get bigger.