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Sam and Me (photo: Ged Camera)

Sam and Me at the Albert Bowling Club, Didsbury - 7/10

The band鈥檚 philosophy is one of 鈥渨riting beautiful songs and taking them onto the live circuit.鈥� They've succeeded with the latter due to their regular touring with, amongst others, the aA crowd, and they are working on the former with the release of Sonic Boomerang.

Sam and Me (photo: Ged Camera)

The air of earnest seriousness that can overtake the traditional image of acoustic songwriters is immediately defused as the duo of Sam Pridell and Rowan Dawes take what passes for the stage, (more like an alcove) wearing John McEnroe headbands and looking remarkably like a pair of Mark Knopfler tribute artists.

With smiles all around, there's an upbeat feeling generated by their light, jaunty melodies that has the (aA) regulars bouncing along as the bemused (local) regulars peer over from the other side of the bar, whilst the landlord watches on with an air of bemusement as he saw his bar taking quadruple by the transient crowd that can't believe that they are able to get two bottles of beer for 拢3.50.

With all the efficiency of a flash mob, the aA crowd disperse into the night air, humming the tunes they've just heard, as they make their merry way onto the after show party.