As winner of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards there is already a buzz surrounding this singer/songwriter.

Centre stage at a lunch time concert set in the beautiful surrounds of Lewes castle, Chadwick's emotion laden lyrics allude to a lifetime of experiences which seem incongruent with his apparent fresh faced youthfulness.

Belting out a range of blues and folk Chadwick switches effortlessly between genres and tempos.

Politely he asks the audience for guidance on pronunciation of words, Chadwick opts for a northern accent on some words, and he apologises in advance for his grasp of French for a song he had learnt the month before.

Despite Chadwick's obvious skill both vocally and on guitar, at which he is technically fantastic, he often seems to surprise himself.

Leaning back as he belts out his final song, an upbeat blues number, Chadwick, breaks off to apolgise for the volume of his voice.

Throughout the hour long gig Chadwick nods to some of his influences.

With covers of fellow festival artists, John Smith and Richard Thompson, Chadwick finishes by asking the audience what they would like to hear.

Batting away suggestions of Oasis, 'I don't want to get stabbed' he finally plumps for Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah - perhaps most famously recorded by Jeff Buckley, someone I am sure James Chadwick would not be ashamed to be associated with.

Tomorrow (Friday) the castle will play host to Biel Ballester Trio, a young modern jazz trio playing upbeat gypsy swing.

The lunchtime concerts, which move to Grange Gardens for Saturday and Sunday, are free.

For more information visit www.lewesguitarfestival.co.uk