Thea Gilmore released “Small World Turning” this week, but her world is certainly expanding, because she's on a tour.

And that tour will bring her to The Artrix in Bromsgrove next Wednesday, May 22.

A spokesman said: “Small World Turning” takes a sharp musical turning of its own, many may argue a new commitment to what Thea Gilmore does best, as it’s an album with an unashamed folk flavour.

"An artist of enduring international acclaim -Bruce Springsteen regularly names her as a favourite - and a justly revered lyricist, Gilmore’s musical settings have taken many ingenious detours in recent years.

“Murphy’s Heart (2010) arrived with a buffed-up radio sheen, 2013’s Regardless was luscious chamber pop and The Counterweight brought electronica flavourings to the table.

So what about this latest album?

“Small World Turning nails it’s colours to a very different wall from the get-go. Acoustic guitars are back to the fore, and a quintessentially rootsy array of instruments frame them - fiddles, whistles, mandolins, tenor banjos are all in abundance."

So now we know.

Given the reverence in which Gilmore is held among contemporaries it will be no surprise that UK folk royalty including Cara Dillon, Seth Lakeman, Sam Lakeman, Katriona Gilmore, Jamie Roberts and BBC Radio 2’s Young Folk Award winner 2013 Ciaran Algar all step up to contribute.

Moreover the engine room of the record - which contains no traditional kit drums - is a stellar and diverse Transatlantic rhythm section of Matt Owens (Noah And The Whale) and Michael Blair (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello).

Tickets for The Artrix gig: 01527 577330.