Richard Dawson: Rough Trade East, London

RICHARD DAWSON OPENS his short, early-evening show at Rough Trade East with a traditional folk ballad, 'The Cruel Ship's Carpenter'. A contrary choice, perhaps, for a performance to launch his latest album of new material, Peasant, but the story of a ghostly damsel who tracked down her slayer and "snatched him and catched him and tore him in three, saying that's for the murder of my baby and me" sets the tone splendidly. Dawson sings it unaccompanied and the audience stands still and silent, breath held.