Steve Earle and The Dukes at O2 Institute, Birmingham – review

On his latest visit to Birmingham he dug deep into that reservoir as he and his band The Dukes delivered an enthralling and exciting show of nearly two hours.

He is touring to promote his latest album, So You Wannabe and Outlaw, and the first five songs on the night came from that, opening with the title track.

The 63-year-old country, folk and rock veteran was in great voice as he and the group rattled through nearly 30 songs.

Sporting a bandana and black T-shirt, the grey-bearded singer-songwriter was in complete control as superb song followed superb song.

The Dukes were augmented by husband-and-wife duo The Mastersons, who also delivered the support set.

Guitarist Chris Masterson delivered some great lead guitar throughout the night with Eleanor Whitmore's fiddle adding greatly to the outlaw sound. Ricky Jay Jackson on pedal steel and accordion was another great addition with long standing Dukes, drummer Brad Pemberton and bass player Kelly Looney as good as ever.

Highlights of the set included a thrilling Copperhead Road, Guitar Town, I Ain't Ever Satisfied, The Galway Girl , Johnny Come Lately, Jerusalem and new song The Firebreak Line – dedicated to those currently fighting wild fires in California.

The 90-minute set finished with a cover of Hey Joe with a reference to Donald Trump's wall added in.

The audience at the O2 Institute's wild applause brought the band back for a three-song encore of Dixieland, Ben McCulloch and the new album's The Girl on the Mountain.

Before the final song, a solo Earle explained the absence of new 'political' songs promising a new album addressing the state of America and the world in time for the 2020 US Presidential election, after he and the band return home to record a new collection of Guy Clark songs.