SCOTTISH musician Eddi Reader came on stage praising the 'local mermaids and the Wirral sunsets.'

She sure knows how to get the audience on her side.

Eddi has a fabulous personality that shines like a mirror ball on stage.

With a super slick five-piece band - including her husband John - she weaves her way through folk, pop and soft rock but you simply cannot pigeon-home her talent.

Support act Dan Whitehouse had already set the scene with his melodic, thoughtful songs.

One about a Syrian photographer called Close Up was a true acoustic gem.

Then, for two hours, Eddi ran through her vast repertoire.

She has no set list so every single show is different.

She talked about the poet Robert Burns and treated the wide-aged group audience to My Love is Like a Red Red Rose.

Eddi introduced her songs with short stories - some about childhood others about failed relationships.

Her easy-going and funny patter is reminiscent of that other Scottish national treasure Billy

Connolly without the strong language but with all the colour and imagery.

She featured many tracks from her superb album Cavalier.

Maiden's Lament, Starlight, the traditional Meg of the Glen and the aptly-titled Wonderful.

All left an impact.

There were many other highlights notably the wistful Maid of the Loch and the inspirational Touch The Sun.

There was something for fans of her time in the late 80s with the band Fairground Attraction with Perfect (dedicated to her dad) and the pop classic Find My Love.

She ended the show with a cool and sublime Moon River (for her Mum).

She left the stage saying she will return to see New Brighton again to see the mermaids and the Wirral sunsets.

Perfect, indeed.

Five stars

Exceptional Eddi!