MIGHTY Manc Ian Brown arrived on stage to greet a sea of up-for-it fans eager to sample his raw sound.

He launched straight into My Star and the crowd were stomping and swaying in appreciation.

A string of tunes from both solo albums, Unfinished Monkey Business and Golden Greats, were competently sung by Brown, whose live performance was slacking in places but an improvement on the last time I saw him live, at V99. With his trademark funky swagger, he stormed through Love Like A Fountain and Dolphins Were Monkeys and the baggy-clad crowd lapped it up. The highlight had to be his version of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean, which was the tune I had been waiting for. He definitely saved the best till last with this one, with a top-rate spin on the legendary pop tune. I missed the Stone Roses live first time around but Ian Brown live has to be some consolation.

RACHEL PINDER