AN eagerly-awaited performance by one of the big names on the acoustic and blues circuits takes place in Stourport this weekend.

Adrian Byron Burns will be at the Galleon Acoustic Club on Sunday.

The man voted Acoustic Artist of the Year 1999/2000 by the British Blues Connection and Blueprint Magazine hails from America, where in the late 1960s he opened shows for the likes of Neil Young and Ritchie Havens.

Touring Europe led to him settling in England in 1974 and he signed a record contract a year later.

He has made nine albums and has averaged 200 concerts a year for the last nine years, including regular festival appearances alongside names such as BB King, Robert Cray, Nils Lofgrin, John Renbourne and Show of Hands.

The Galleon Acoustic Club is based at Stourport Boat Club, which is situated behind Stourport Leisure Centre.

It is run by Mike Smith, owner of the Muzo's shop in Kidderminster, and follows in the footsteps of the original Galleon Folk Club which ran from the late 1960s until the mid 1980s and was regarded as one of the most prestigious venues on the folk circuit.

Mike said: "Recently, Adrian has gained fame as a solo artist, both for the quality of his voice and his acoustic guitar playing.

"Along the way he has gained much praise for his fascinating interpretations of songs written by Jimi Hendrix, Sting, Lennon and McCartney, Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters.

"Throughout Europe he is considered to be one of the most exciting performers around today."