JOAN Armatrading returns to the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall later this year as part of her new solo tour.
The three-times Grammy-nominated, Brit award nominee and Ivor Novella winning singer-songwriter brings her Not Too Far Away show to the city centre venue on Friday September 21.
When Joan last took to the road in 2015 it was to be her last big world tour and 235 dates later that was it, done and dusted.
But with no plans to retire Joan is now preparing for a much smaller tour.
Her Liverpool Philharmonic show is one of 33 taking place across the UK from September 10 through to the end of October.
During the concert, Joan will take her audience on a musical journey through her catalogue old and new.
Looking ahead to the performance during a near sell-out run at the City Winery in Boston, Massachusetts, the 67-year-old West Indian-born singer (pictured, below) told the Globe this afternoon: "I always said I would never stop touring, I would just make them smaller tours.
"I really enjoy touring, never tire of it. The audience reaction is fantastic.
"I've played in Liverpool many times. I really love the city; it's like my second home, I spend a lot of time there.
"I'm an Honorary fellow of John Moores University and supporter of LIPA."
Her dynamic guitar work – she was the first UK female artist ever to go straight to the top of the Billboard Blues Charts – and her distinctive vocals will be very much to the fore.
The show will feature all the big hits will be there including Love And Affection, the song that first made her famous around the world 42 years ago.
Joan’s approach to album production was different this time.
She explained: "This is the first time in my whole recording career that I have ever written all the words first before putting music to a whole album. I generally don't do it in that order.
"Sometimes, I write the words first, sometimes the music first, sometimes both together. But for this one I decided not to write any music until the words were ready.
"This was a very different, very deliberate approach to album production.
"As a result, I think the album has a thread to it and is almost as though I'm telling a story.
"I try to give myself challenges, it gives me something to do.
"In all of my albums I'm the constant, that's always there.
"This is my 21st album, and you can't make every album personal, it’s just that I write in a very personal way.
"I try to write in a way that everybody can relate to.”
In a career spanning 42 years, Joan (pictured, above) has released 21 albums, including Show Some Emotion and Me, Myself, I.
She also provided backing vocals on Queen's 1986 album, A Kind Of Magic, featuring on the track Don’t Lose Your Head.
Joan's many hits include Love and affection, Willow, Drop The Pilot and Me, Myself I.
In 2005, she was awarded the MBE for services to music.
Her performances in the new tour will include songs that span her entire career so far.
During her long and illustrious career Joan has been successful in all musical genres, Pop, Blues, Folk, Reggae, and Jazz.
Her audience of newly attracted and long term fans are as loyal to her as she is faithful to them.
On her music legacy, Joan said recently: "I'm hoping that people will remember my music for a long time to come and that the songs will endure.
"I want people to be inspired by my music. People get engaged, using my music as a backdrop.
"I find it an honour to be able to have played a part in their lives.
"I've also heard from fans who say my songs have mirrored situations in their own lives."
Tickets for Joan's show at the Philharmonic Hall are from 0151 709 3789
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