NO Direction Home, Martin Scorsese's recent epic Bob Dylan documentary, did much to bring Dylan's unique reedy voice back into the public consciousness, at a time when many miss his politically conscious views.

Last night the voice was deeper, more worn and grizzled, but for a sold-out arena of Dylan fans, the folk singer could have hiccoughed in tune and still received rapturous applause, such were the levels of charisma that he brought to the stage. Songs such as Maggie's Farm and Stuck Inside of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again were broken down and beaten up to the extent of being unrecognisable, but unlike in 1965, the audience appreciated Dylan's inventiveness and rewarded him with cheers.

For parts of the two hour set, Dylan's voice crept closer to that of fellow bluesman Tom Waits, and his age began to show in some of the more laboured phrasing, but when he felt the need - as he did in the encore Like A Rolling Stone - the 64- year-old still produced a mighty roar.

There were no complaints about his use of an electric guitar, although Dylan himself spent the show behind his piano, leaving his band to create a full on rock and roll Highway 61 Revisited.

Alongside the classics were songs from his more recent albums, including Time Out Of Mind's Million Miles.

But the special thing was that Bob Dylan turned the MEN Arena into an intimate venue, proving his songs still make him the most important singer-songwriter of our time.

Kat Dibbits