SHEFFIELD'S man of soul, Paul Carrack, is off on his never-ending travels again, this time in support of a Best Of compilation packaged expressly for supermarkets at a fiver.

The intention is to tempt the occasional dabbler in a single to go for the 24-Carrack gold experience, although his abiding quality over the years already ensures an exuberant crowd on the opening night in Harrogate, notably of women of a certain age, happy to leave their partners in the stalls while they dance at Carrack's feet.

He is a no-nonsense Yorkshireman but with a romantic heart – the best kind, surely – who takes a bow, assumes his seat behind his keyboard and breaks into Satisfy My Soul, a song that is as much a mission statement as the ideal opener.

He will indeed be satisfying souls through the months ahead with a line-up that includes two percussionists, one of them his son Jack, fellow keyboards player Paul Copley and a saxophonist in Steve Beighton whose every contribution is a gem.

Carrack swaps between keyboards, piano, assorted guitars and melodica, conducting the set at a fair old lick, always building momentum, with the usual suspects to the fore, such as The Living Years and Over My Shoulder.

First night rawness meant a fluffed opening to first encore Tempted. "What key are we in?," said Carrack, abandoning it in favour of an extended How Long. He wasn't tempted to return to the wreckage, but plenty will be tempted to head to York Barbican next weekend, especially all those woman who adore a man in a fedora.

Paul Carrack, Harrogate Royal Hall; also playing York Barbican on November 9, 7.30pm. York box office: 0844 854 2757 or yorkbarbican.co.uk