Jim Moray specialises in the unexpected. Twelve years ago, he shook up the British folk scene with his heavily amplified debut, Sweet England. Then he switched to a more acoustic approach, developing his skills as a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, before joining forces with Sam Carter to return to experimental folk-rock in the excellent new band False Lights. They are already planning a second album together while also continuing solo careers, and it’s clear that Moray is changing direction again; his next solo offering, Upcetera, will concentrate on traditional ballads.

False Lights’ violinist Tom Moore played the opening solo set. Sampling his own work, he added extra layers of sound with help from his ingenious “Automatic Trio” – a violin and cello played by bows mounted on bicycle wheels. It looked remarkable and sounded odd but effective.

There was no such gimmickry from Moray, who started with a confident solo reminder of why he is one of the most inventive figures on the folk circuit. He showed off his acoustic guitar skills with a reworking of the False Lights version of The Wife of Ushers Well, and switched to piano for songs that included his weepie Wishfulness Waltz, written for his sister Jackie Oates. Returning for a second set, Moray was joined by Moore and two members of the Doret Ensemble on viola and cello. Some of the new material was over-hurried, but included an elegant treatment of the Child ballad Fair Margaret and Sweet William and a suitably tragic Another Man’s Wedding. Still a work in progress, maybe, but I look forward to the new album.

• Jim Moray is at Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, 26 November. Box office: 01273 464440. Then touring until 14 April 2016.