Tomos Lewis and his band make a comeback at Cardiff Arts Institute

After almost a year of musical dormancy Tomos Lewis and his band roared back into life with a vigorous performance at the Cardiff Arts Institute on Wednesday night. Vocalist Tomos said: "We are heading in a good direction now, dusting off the cobwebs and coming back with a new album."

The band are a finely honed four-piece who seem to have spent years becoming the musical unit they are. But in reality, the band is essentially newborn and transient and each of the members is, in effect, a hired hand. Nonetheless, the folksy rhythms, influenced by the likes of Damien Rice, are a kaleidoscope of sound.

Alongside Tom is John Godwyn on the Kahjon (chair-come-drum) Joe Grant on bass guitar and Sally Greenwell on viola and violin. Tracks such as Man To Do - slated to be the title track on their forthcoming LP - truly emphasise the acoustic delicacies and harmonies of the group.

This is a band destined for greatness and the sound is even more remarkable considering Tomos himself started playing guitar six years ago and began, not unlike the famed Seasick Steve, with just three strings - gaining the full compliment of six at the age of 21.

In another guise the band played alongside Charlotte Church and Jonathan Powell at the Norwegian Church in July last year and have kept up a regular slots in pubs around Cardiff ever since.

Supporting Tomos and the band was Gruffydd Russell-Jones who took to the stage fizzing with enthusiasm.

The man from Dolgellau bounced and beamed as he played a cocktail of foot-stomping, twangy blues tunes. His refreshing sound embraces themes from washing up to war and everything in-between and is well worth turning an ear to.