NEVER have I seen such a modest, unassuming rock star - and yet his gifts as a vocalist and musician are second to none.

Rea played his own "support", or rather crept almost unannounced onto the stage with his band The Delmonts to play back-to-back instrumental blues without any fuss or any introductions.

In fact, Rea did not utter a single word to the audience, or his band, for the entire 105-minute performance.

And yet he held this capacity crowd spellbound in the palm of his hand.

In casual vest and trousers he appeared as if engrossed in a jamming session, enjoying and celebrating the iconic 1960s Hofner guitar.

Guitars hung from the ceiling like balloons as on stage he worked his way through an amazing number of stringed instruments - from slide guitar to banjo - intent on achieving an absolutely perfect sound.

It was when he finally started to sing that the audience came alive though.

That instantly recognisable husky voice with its smouldering bluesy tones just gets better.

While initially impressed with the musicianship of the Middlesborough maestro, I did enjoy the more commercial songs that followed - all the crowd-pleasers were there. Josephine, Easy Rider, The Road to Hell and Let's Dance eventually had the audience up dancing, only for the concert to end just as the party got started.

Considering he was playing farewell concerts two years ago, this was a welcome return of a real superstar.