Rob Clamp is an artist at the white hot edge of “loud folk”, on the verge of greatness and carving out a new space from the crowded and compressed folk landscape, like a glacier.

Rob and his outstanding band ‘The Ashmen’ sit at the convergence between ‘electrified’ festival folk, and the cosy intimacy of the folk club. Walking this musical borderland in a way which, in the moment feels more natural than breathing, and on reflection is one of the most interesting, invigorating and inspiring cocktails of musical styles on the circuit today.

Returning from a three week, hugely successful European tour, to play his first London headline show with the full band, Rob opened the show, typically, with “the rules of the gig” just incase anyone was in any doubt of how to behave… This brazen and newly electrified version seemed to inhale the whole room, starting the show in remarkable style, it was one of those spine tingling moment when you realise that you are in for a special night.

Moving on quickly, I had to do a quick double take to realise that spectacular drummer, Sam Weeks, had swapped his sticks for a banjo as Rob delivered a text book rendition of Icarus. Lyrically this song is so strong and in Rob’s hands tonight this song seemed to take flight lifting us all to a new place and shifting the room to a more engaging place altogether.

Now fully settled into his seat, guitar on knee and open hearted, Rob seems to relax, allowing us to join him in what felt like a wonderfully safe place. We are invited to follow him down to “The Riverside” one of my favourite tracks from his great musical songbook, dedicated to his mum this intimate moment was intoxicating and Robs delivery of this exceptional track was chilling.

As Rob toyed with the audience he introduced us to another remarkable soundscape, as his outstanding mandolin and keyboard player, Ben Reid, gave up the keys for a staggering and mountainous slide guitar intro to the explosive, electro-folk belter “Adelaide”. It is so clear to see that Rob and the band are now fully charged as each of them begins to open up to reveal their musical skill. This is a band that fully knows itself, and presents unashamedly as a unique, genuine and distinctive collective.

Little did we know, that Rob has another trick up his sleeve.

In a sensational act of defiance to the lively, powerful, enthralling sound they have worked so to hard to build, the entire band unplugged and joined the audience in the centre of the venue. The band forming a circle in the centre of room, surrounded by the soft glow of phones illuminating the astonished and disbelieving faces. We are transported instantly from the throbbing festival fields, to the most intimate of candlelit folk clubs. Playing completely acoustically (with the exception of the phenomenal Ed Bentley on his gorgeous electric double bass, which is silent without power) they played an amazing set showing their raw power without the fuss of a stage and mics. Their unplugged sound was brilliant.

There is such a wide landscape of music in Rob’s collection, if lyrics are your thing then this is a song book you can plug into, if stomping good festival-folk is where you are at, Rob has barrowloads of it. If it is tender finger style guitar you need in your life… you will not be disappointed.