It is not easy following in the footsteps of a legend, so Vieux Farka Touré can perhaps be forgiven for the curious way in which he launched his career. The 25-year-old son of the late Ali Farka Touré, one of the finest guitarists in African music history, Vieux recorded a startlingly fine debut album, but followed that up with a messy first British appearance, at which he transformed the haunting music of Mali into what sounded like a 1970s blues band session.

Now, after asserting his individuality by releasing a remix version of his album, he is back, headlining this year's Heatwave tour with the Anglo-Brazilian band Zeep, a technically impressive bunch of musicians who could do with stronger material. This time Vieux got it right, after an awkward start. Heatwave artists are expected to collaborate, and he came on to join Zeep on an unremarkable improvised Latin workout. Then he brought on his own band and proved that he can be a very fine live performer and a charming, natural entertainer. A burly figure dressed in long gold robes and wide-brimmed hat, he was backed by a rhythm section that included bass guitar and long-haired rock drummer, and only seemed happy when he had persuaded the audience to start dancing. Instead of following the stately and soulful style of his father, he transformed his desert blues by reworking the rapid guitar flurries and sturdy riffs as good-time party music. It was a brave, even audacious approach, but this time round it actually worked, thanks to the young Farka Touré's apparently casual but virtuoso guitar playing and some impressive help from his band. The finale with Zeep was something of an excitable mess, but that didn't matter. Vieux Farka Touré had established his reputation at last.

· At Pavilion Theatre, Brighton (01273 709 709), tonight. Then touring.