Competition is fierce on the acoustic scene nowadays, so it’s always interesting when an act breaks through.

Harry and Alfie Hudson Taylor are brothers from Ireland who started out busking on the streets of Dublin and who have recently reached No.3 in the Irish charts with their new album ‘Singing for Strangers’ (to be released here in the UK March 30).

Hudson Taylor play infectious ‘folk-pop’ and their fanbase are a mixed bunch, none of whom were put off by the terrible rain last night in Bristol last night and turned out at the Trinity Centre to see them perform.

Some are familiar with the duo thanks to their numerous appearances at festivals over the past couple of years, as well as support to the likes of Jake Bugg, Kodaline, and even the Rolling Stones, but others have only heard of them via YouTube and Vevo. And that’s what made this show at the Trinity Centre so interesting.

Gone was the naïve innocence of a pair of buskers with guitars, replaced instead with the nervous energy of up and coming pop stars, complete with backing band. Of course, add an appearance by Alfie’s girlfriend Gabrielle Aplin into the mix and you’ve got what should be a recipe for mainstream success.

The 90-minute set was the perfect sounding board for their album, including the songs Just A Thought, Weapons, Second Best, Don’t Tell Me and the band’s next single World Without You.

Mixing loud and proud (and perfectly played!) pop with unplugged acoustic and even a cover of AC/DC’s Back in Black, this pair made sure they covered all bases with something for everyone.

I have a feeling that the best is yet to come for Hudson Taylor, so be sure to catch them next time if you missed them last night.