On his road to success as a credible white soul singer, half-Italian Scotsman Paolo Nutini has not been blessed with the most helpful associations. Dreamboat looks and a shared record label saw his debut album filed alongside the generally loathed James Blunt in 2006, though that didn’t stop it from glueing itself to the top 40 for over a year.

More recently, Jade Goody spent her final days as Nutini’s biggest fan. He respectfully declined a request to perform at her wedding but recordings of two of his songs were played at her funeral.

A consistently excellent new album on 1 June, Sunny Side Up, should finally tickle the ears of those who fancy themselves more discerning.

Last night’s overlong set, part of a UK tour previewing his new material, probably offered too many sneak peaks for those patiently waiting for old hits such as Jenny Don’t Be Hasty, but some songs were so obviously future favourites he was easy to forgive.

The ragtime roll of Pencil Full Of Lead had a silliness that was hard to resist, while the horn-packed reggae of Ten Out Of Ten and breezy ukelele of High Hopes should convert summer festival crowds with ease if the sun shines.

Nutini, hunched and hollering with a formidable rasp, proved that this broadening of musical horizons merits an equivalent expansion of his fanbase.