YOU could have been watching a college band – all floppy hair, jeans-T-shirt combo and borderline moody demeanour – but there is nothing post-adolescent about the way Jake Bugg plucks the strings of a guitar.

A 21st century revamp of fifties folk with contemporary rock riffs thrown in, his performance at Manchester Academy last Thursday night had feet tapping from the off.

I was surrounded by men more than twice Bugg’s age trying to be Paul Weller, or Noel Gallagher, or even both, suggestions maybe of where he is coming from.

When I first heard his often skiffle, sometimes country, sound, saddled next to his throaty voice and the use of ‘momma’ in ‘Two Fingers’, I assumed he was American. More fool me.

His roots, in fact, hail from Nottingham’s Clifton, a housing estate that once bettered every other in Europe in the size stakes, and his songs tell the story of growing up there.

Rumours abound the 18-year-old – born Jacob Kennedy – turned down calls to join the Britain’s Got Talent brigade to make a name gigging, and I would like him for that alone.

Happily, there are plenty of other reasons to take time out of your day to listen to his stuff.

Tracks like Someplace and Country Song, belies a tender side, while Lightning Bolt is the crowd-rouser every good gig needs.

You get the feeling he is just the kind of character a plastic pop world is badly in need of.