BOLTON'S own bewhiskered musical genius Badly Drawn Boy returns to the North-west tonight (Friday) to perform his brand of shy, shuffling folk-pop to a sold out audience at Manchester's Carling Apollo.

Badly Drawn Boy, real name Damon Gough, released his fantastic third album, "Have You Fed the Fish?" last month, affirming his status as the prince of untidy entertainment.

His early live shows were criticised for their rambling nature, but this has become the staple of every gig, more an intimate and welcoming peek into Gough's world than a rigidly structured performance.

People are now aware that his appearances follow no expected routine.

It's hard to imagine the humble star surrounded by PR people, management types, agents and stylists, and this is what makes his music so credible, that he appears so far removed from the commotion of the music world.

Having emerged in the late 90s with a few EPs on his label Twisted Nerve, now the highly priced treasure of E-bay collectors, Gough became a much sought after press favourite.

He takes his name from a TV cartoon character in "Sam and His Magic Ball", who was annoyed at the fact that he was a child-like scribble. This idea of being the underdog inspired Gough, and spurred him on in his aims and his debut album "The Hour of Bewilderbeast" won the Mercury Music Prize of 2000, its year of release.

Gough describes playing on home turf as "claustrophobic," which must be a genuine worry that local critics, as well as those who have known him, will expect success and progress to be paraded in front of them for first hand experience.

But however much these worries present themselves, Badly Drawn Boy's shimmering melodies will always be warmly received by most of a local crowd because he is a hometown hero to many, reminding people not to forget where they started out.

Expect a sandwich of material from both "The Hour of Bewilderbeast" and its successor "Have You Fed the Fish?" with a good portion of Gough's specially crafted soundtrack to Hugh Grant's "About a Boy" providing the filling.