Anyone who has heard him on Radio 4's topical comedy The Now Show will know of his ability to capture current events in song, and that no one is safe from his satire.

In the intimate setting of the Studio at the Hawth, the audience was rewarded with a thoroughly enjoyable performance featuring the best of those news-inspired tunes - including the genius track Get Out Of That Tree about Stones rocker Keith Richards' fall from a palm tree - and some favourites fans would recognise from his albums including one of my own favourites, a rap version of Shakespeare's Macbeth.

Among the latest things to come in for a grilling were TV talent shows which provided inspiration for the title track for the tour and his new album Sing Like an Angel, and a scathing reworking of the John Lennon classic Imagine.

And I am truly sorry that copyright restrictions have prevented him including on his CD his rock opera on The Very Hungry Caterpiller - something that really has to be heard to be believed!

The diverse crowd who turned out for the show demonstrate the wide appeal of Mitch's music - from the sharp satire to the plain daft, you can't help but laugh.

Although it's through the radio that most people have come to know this performer, I'm glad we had the chance to see him live - and I get the feeling from the way he was glad to chat to his fans in the foyer afterwards that he thoroughly enjoyed it too.


Gina Stainer