Talk about punching well above your weight. Barnoldswick Music and Arts Centre has done it again.

Arguably one of the country's best keep musical secrets, this small, intimate venue continues to attract major international names and last night was no exception.

Unless you are a real blues fan the name Sugaray Rayford probably doesn't register. But this man is something approaching blues royalty in the States. Just look at his pedigree - B B King Entertainer of the Year and twice voted Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year in the Blues Music Awards.

The first magical moment of a night packed with them was actually fitting Sugaray and his six-piece band into the venue. It was a snug fit and a major change from the big stages they have been playing recently.

Sugaray is a big man with a big personality. You feared he would do himself a mischief on one of the low beams but he emerged from the night unbruised and clearly delighted at the reception.

"Man, it's like MTV Unplugged is here," he said at one point, "I like it!"

Sugaray is on a mission to bring the soul back into the blues and his voice is a thing of true beauty. There's a warmth and a power to it that comes straight from the heart.

And what a band! All six members - keys, drums, bass, guitar, sax and trumpet -were so tight you sense they could handle anything.

"I don't do setlists," said Sugaray, "what's the point of singing the same songs every night? That sounds too much like work."

And so he guided his musicians through two sets pulled together on the hoof.

Songs from his latest album In Too Deep - recently voted Soul Blues Album of the Year - figured prominently as you might expect but he also reached into his back catalogue spanning six albums.

Barnoldswick was the 15th gig in eight days for the band but they gave it everything. It was a masterclass in playing hard in a small venue. The sound was perfectly balanced with Sugaray's vocals leading the way.

We were treated to slow blues, old school blues, funk and soul.

Highlights, of which there were many, included Invisible Soldier the funkiest song you'll ever hear about PTSD - Sugaray is a former US Marine and the song is written from experience - and a riotous encore of Little Milton's Grits Ain't Groceries.

This was a special night from a special performer in a special venue. What more could you ask for?