While Billy Connolly was across the city at the Royal Concert Hall, for the first of two sell-out shows, fellow folk club graduate Richard Digance was raising a few laughs at Nottingham Playhouse on Friday night.

It was by no means a full house but the audience appreciated his banter in-between the songs that gradually took over as the evening's central focus.

Sauntering onto the stage with no announcement, Digance did the unique trick of appearing both laid back and nervous at the same time.

He apologised for a dodgy throat, the result of a recent cold. Worrying then that this was the first gig of a 104 date tour.

The first half was dedicated to new material, some of it still in the experimental stage, Digance again apologising, this time for not having finished a couple of the numbers.

He admitted that the first half was a slow burner and that things would step up a gear after the interval.

Only the most dedicated fans would have been familiar with the songs played in this half, one of which he ended with simply saying "Jedward", a punchline that was met with thunderous applause.

After the interval, it was down to business with a heavier emphasis on musical comedy, including the first song he ever wrote. The audience were invited to sing along to witty choruses, which they did with aplomb.

Digance ended the show on a high, and thankfully his voice held out. Only 100 or so more dates to get through then.