Steve Earle - aristocrat of new country music

Colin Wilson Grammy Award winner Steve Earle returns to the UK following on from his sell-out UK tour earlier in the year and plays the Theatre Royal, Norwich on Sunday (7.

Colin Wilson

Grammy Award winner Steve Earle returns to the UK following on from his sell-out UK tour earlier in the year and plays the Theatre Royal, Norwich on Sunday (7.30pm).

A protégé of legendary songwriters Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clarke, Steve Earle quickly became a master storyteller in his own right, with his songs being recorded by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez and countless others.

1986 saw the release of his debut record Guitar Town, which shot to number one on the country charts and immediately established the term “new country”. What followed was an extremely exciting and varied array of 11 releases including the biting hard rock of Copperhead Road (1988), the minimalist beauty and perfection of Train a Comin (1995) as well as the politically-charged masterpieces, Jerusalem (2002) and the Grammy Award winning The Revolution Starts… Now (2004).

After a rare three-year break from recording Earle released Washington Square Serenade, an album of new music, in October 2007.

The long-time Nashville (via Texas) resident, recorded the album in New York City, his new home. Recorded in the legendary Electric Lady Studios, the introspective album, inspired by NYC, is Earle's first produced by John King of the Dust Brothers (Beck, the Rolling Stones, Beastie Boys).

Special guest is Earle's wife, singer-songwriter Allison Moorer.

t 01603 630000 (£24.50/ £23/£21), www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk