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Dan Mangan is quite a big deal back in his native Canada these days. The twenty something year old scooped the ‘Best Artist’ accolade at Canada’s Verge Awards this year. Over here Dan is still somewhat of an unknown and is humbled to be playing to a full room at the intimate Wilmington Arms at the start of his UK tour in London.

Dan’s certainly got the presence and the voice (and now the songs too) to perform to rooms a lot bigger than this one but it’s up close and personal with his throaty growl making the hares on your neck stand up, that’s where you really want to see this guy. Tonight we’re treated to just that.

Dan launches straight into his biggest song yet, the thought provoking and insanely catchy ‘Sold’ from his forthcoming album ‘Nice, Nice, Very Nice’. It’s been topping airplay charts in Canada for a while but won’t get it’s release in the UK till next year. One to listen out for it is. ‘Sold’ instantly demonstrates Dan’s ability to switch his voice from all out attack to tender aside in the same breath. It’s pretty special.

His lyrics are another big selling factor. His songs vary from politically charged stabs at society (Somebody) to sentimental songs about his Grandad (Basket) but whatever the subject matter the lyrics are thoughtful and often raise a smile. ‘All the Kings Horses’ is a good example with the rhyming couplet ‘I’m a grown man in a manger, I get paid to be a stranger’.

Although he modestly has a go at his finger picking in comparison to impressive support act Jack Cheshire but Dan’s no slouch with his acoustic. With it being the sole instrument tonight, he also shows the ability to make it sound a lot bigger and varied than it should be able to.

There’s a good Canadian contingent in the crowd to see their fellow countryman and ‘We’re Not Us’, an homage to his hometown Vancouver, goes down a storm. ‘Robots’ isn’t our favourite of Dan’s songs but it always manages to lighten the atmosphere. If you’re afraid of a singalong though we suggest now is your time to exit as “Robots need love too, they want to be loved by you”. That’s right we tell you!

Everyone leaves with a smile on their face. Verdict: Canadians are nice.

Dan is back in London for a few more dates next week, check his myspace for details.