It's a bitter-sweet affair when Paul Tiernan is in town, his love songs, including How To Say Goodbye that was featured in the cult movie Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, are all tinged with sadness.

As he is one of the leading lights in the Sad Folk movement this is hardly surprising. His song-writing will be on show in Swindon's Beehive, Prospect Hill, Old Town on Friday, February 24 from 8.30pm.

His songs are of the same ilk as Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake and Paul Simon, but he has his own distinctive style which was honed in the Irish band Interference. Their song Gold was used in the Oscar winning film Once which is now a Broadway hit.

Paul also lends his mandola skills to such luminaries as folk giant Donovan and Swindon's own Nick Harper, Boo Hewerdine, Robyn Hitchcock and Glen Hansard.

He was also called upon by Morcheeba to play on their 2010 hit album Blood Like Lemonade.

Last year he toured Germany, Switzerland and Holland with John Lester and earlier this month he was back with Interference and Glen Hansard in Ireland.

His Swindon gig begins at 8.30pm and is free entry. For more details call 01793 523187 or visit www.bee-hive.co.uk - Flicky Harrison