IT was a Manchester crowd oh-so familiar with Liam Fray on Friday night.

So familiar at times that the Courteeners front man’s solo gig at the Albert Hall almost seemed like he was performing in his front room to extended family and friends.

A little nod to someone on the gig floor, a glance to the balcony, a packed venue hanging off every strum of his well-oiled guitar and blaring out every note of a carefully constructed set.

The Courteeners have enjoyed their big nights at the likes of Manchester Arena and Old Trafford in becoming one of the north west’s most sought after bands, but Fray stripped it back to basics on Friday, and with fantastic results.

One man and his guitar. An audience anticipating every word. The Middleton-raised singer eased his way through an acoustic set that encompassed all five of the band’s studio albums.

From the thought-provokers to the nostalgia-wrenchers; singer-songwriter Fray is as sharp with his lyrics as he is with his strings, and the home faithful lapped up the likes of An Ex Is An Ex For A Reason, Acrylic and Are You In Love With a Notion.

Moving through the gears with unfathomable energy for a man who was bringing to an end a 14-date tour, Fray steered the crowd through an exhibition of his finest work and fantastic talent.

Dressed the part and sounding it too, the 32-year-old has more classics in his repertoire than an Oxford University library… tub-thumpers like Modern Love and Please Don’t really raised Albert Hall’s charming roof, then a few from the back catalogue to engage the most-hardcore Fray fanatics.

But if you thought Fray had played all his cards before the encore, think again. It was a hand to clear the table, and surprise even the most ardent of his captivated following.

His guitar drifted seamlessly into Pulp’s Disco 2000 for an acoustic cover that reverberated around the wooden beams and rocked the stained-glass windows of one of Manchester’s most iconic venues.

There was just one piece missing from the jigsaw, but when Not Nineteen Forever slipped into place for a resounding finale, it completed the perfect picture of a homecoming well spent, and ever more well received.