The Cockpit in Leeds was a highly intimate venue for an equally intimate performance. 
The set opened with ‘Badman’, while the rhythmic pulse from his guitar seemed to run through the bodies of the audience.
His guitar is clearly an extension of his character and he fully utilizes every aspect of the instrument. He stands alone and yet produces the sound of an impressive band with his ability to juggle the sounds of percussion, bass and melody.
Performing such classics as ‘Dream Catch Me’ and his cover of Massive Attack’s ‘Teardrop’, Faulkner also treated us to several tracks from his soon to be released album and an acoustic version of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Superstition’.
Whilst I was sandwiched between teenage girls, couples in their mid 20s and middle aged men, it was clear to me that this was a collection of people who just appreciate great music. However, the gig was far more entertaining and hilarious than I think anyone would have anticipated. For example, his intense acoustic tones came to an abrupt halt whilst he stopped to pour himself a cup of herbal tea.
Despite his obvious and immense talent, Faulkner had an endearingly informal attitude. It was clear he had the same respect for the crowd as they had for him. There was a lot of genuine and unforced conversation with the crowd as he broke down the infamous barriers between stage and audience with ease, at one point even taking questions!
He returned with a well-deserved and unsuprising encore of ‘Gone In The Morning’ to close the set, leaving the room with a gentle buzz of gratification for the 95-minute performance.
There was no use of extravagant props or complex staging; it was simply extraordinary talent on show. His humble attitude in combination with his unquestionable skill and passion really made this a gig different from anything else I’ve seen.