Fairweather days for Trefor

But that, along with a call centre stint, was where he spent his early days having fallen for the city during weekends with mates.

"I actually moved up about eight years ago to join a band," says Trefor, now happily working as a teacher. "They were called Shoko and they were terrible. I was in a band when I was 16 and they all moved here so I used to visit. Then, after uni, I didn't quite know what I was doing."

After a spell in various jobs - at one point he even applied to become a vicar - Trefor decided to settle and get a career, before rediscovering his passion for making music two years ago.

Now he has an album out called Fairweather. It's a mature and thorough-sounding record which equally balances the songwriter's weakness for Bob Dylan, Nick Cave, Ryan Adams and Tom Waits with a basic desire to touch on subjects others will connect with.

Take midway track Nightclubbing Emptiness. We've all had that time in the early hours in the middle of a soulless dance shed when we've thought: "Don't want to be here".

"Exactly," says Trefor, who looks a tad vicar-like on Fairweather's inner sleeve. "When I first moved here I went clubbing quite a bit and, to be honest, I hated it. I was in Bed dancing and I thought 'I wish I wasn't here' and I wanted to get that feeling across. In fact, I was really glad to get married and not have to go to nightclubs anymore.

"Lots of people who hear the song really identify with it. Most people can relate to being miserable in a nightclub. People are looking for something they cannot necessarily get there; they're looking for love or to belong but they don't get it - they get drunk and go home."

Fairweather, recorded at Sheffield's Mosaic Studio, is far from a 'grumpy old men' exercise, however, although opener I Lost My Dreams is born of the frustration of ending up somewhere only to find yourself lost, as Trefor did when he first moved north.

"I'm trying to sing about real things but in a way that is positive and uplifting. If you are singing about things in a real way it is much more valuable. But there's nothing worse than listening to an album and it makes you depressed - I want to be entertained and feel good."

Trefor believes the album may appeal to people who enjoy the artists he cites. "This may sound pretentious but I am 30 this year and you find your own voice. I really liked Dylan when I was growing up and was a big Billy Bragg fan, although I don't think I sound like him."

Trefor has played local acoustic venues with wife Rosie on piano but expanded the band for recording and future live activities. He and the album's producer, Andy Baker, have also started a new bi-monthly acoustic night (next one Nov 16) at Sheffield's Lantern Theatre, venue for Fairweather's launch.

Trefor is keen to point out his album is far from a Christian rock record. Musically it is well built, makes intelligent references and carries a tune with Trefor supplying bass, banjo, Hammond and harmonica alongside an often gruff vocal. But it doesn't preach.

"I love being a Christian and that goes into my writing. In a gentle way I want people to have that experience, but in a genuine and honourable way. I've not got an agenda; I am a Christian but music is my art so you wouldn't know from listening to it."

Fairweather is available from local independent stores, www.treforjonesmusic.com and iTunes. Trefor appears at Rotherham Open Arts Festival in All Saints Square a week

on Sunday.