PAUL Lamb loves his snakeskin shoes, which is only right when you're the leader of a band called The King Snakes.

"I've been wearing them for a long time now. I had them made in Hong Kong," he explains.

This is one of the many places the bluesman and his band have toured over the years, steadily building up their international profile.

But tonight, they arrive in Worcester feeling royal after the release of their latest album Take Your Time and Get it Right.

And you would be proud, if you'd secured the vocal talents of Earl Green, whose rich heavy voice alongside Lamb's harmonica stand out on this seventh album.

"We were really lucky to get Earl," explains Lamb.

"Our former singer got married and decided a life on the road wasn't the thing for him any more, so we parted on very good terms.

"Earl's voice is a lot different. He was born in Jamaica, so it's obviously quite a heavy voice."

Lamb, who hasn't lost his Newcastle accent despite moving to London 15 years ago, became hooked on the blues as a teenager.

It led to the discovery of classic exponents like BB King and eventually the chance to play alongside heroes like Sonny Terry.

Since then, he has recorded with fellow Geordies Mark Knopfler and Jimmy Nail as well as the infamous Stock, Aitken and Waterman.

"But you always come back to what you know best and we have a good track record of touring Europe," he points out.

This latest tour will take the band right across Europe, from Spain to Poland, and then into Scandinavia.

And if ever the band fell short of a guitarist, they might not need to look much further than Lamb's 14-year-old son Ryan.

"He is a really hot on the guitar and into the blues as well.

"As far being on stage together, I would really like to see that - but I wouldn't force him into anything."

Paul Lamb and the King Snakes play the Marr's Bar, Pierpoint Street. Call 01905 613336 for tickets.