Already named British Break Through Act and the Critic’s Choice at this year’s Brit Awards, Rag’n’Bone Man, aka Rory Graham, is riding high less than one year after his debut studio album Human dropped in February 2017, as he arrives in Manchester on the first of two nights at the O2 Apollo.

The 32-year-old former carer’s debut single, also named Human, shot to number two in the UK charts, destining the man, who is unexpectedly named after the endless re-runs of Steptoe and Son he liked to watch when younger, for the acclamation he now rightly enjoys.

Tonight is a set heavy with highlights.

Rory walks onto the stage, circumspect not brash, to rapturous applause as his band strike up, and even if is his entrance is subtle, his voice is anything but.

Thunderous vocals instantly radiate around the venue as the set opens with tracks Wolves, No Mother and Ego.

Your Way or the Rope and The Fire go down a storm, as Rory’s vocals crescendo before a shredding guitar solo closes.

But almost paradoxically it is the tracks that Rory terms “depressing” that really lift the mood and push the atmosphere to new heights.

Lay My Body Down is heartfelt and emotion driven, and despite its lyrics, “don’t shed a tear for me”, Rory nearly has every eye in the house doing just that.

Odetta is another vocal masterclass.

Rory then launches into a couple of what he calls “happy songs”, as previous vocal acrobatics have got the crowd going and full of energy.

“This is one of the places, when I come here people show up in force and you never let me down,” Rory declares.

He playfully jokes with audience throughout the night and thanks anyone who has his album “even if you nicked it.”

With only a piano and his voice, Rory has the Apollo spellbound before the audience echo Skin to him, as the show soars, earning the biggest applause of the evening, and from here the set and Rory hit even more into their stride.

New song Run With The Beast has a different feel to other material and hints at the exciting direction Rag'n'Bone Man's future music might head in.

Main set-closer Humans is given a makeover as Rory performs a live remix of the single, during which he goes back to his early musical career and rapping - showing how dexterous he is as a vocalist and performer.

The crowd eagerly welcomes Rory’s return to the stage for the encore, as just him and his guitar perform another new song, Don’t Set the World On Fire, which he says “doesn’t actually exist yet” - before he is joined by his band for Bitter End.

Final song Hell Yeah has a funky swagger and is a great way to end the night as everyone leaving the Apollo tonight wishes they had a ticket for Tuesday.