AMERICAN bluesman Seasick Steve will play York Barbican on April 24 next year on his first British tour in four years.

The 73-year-old Californian will be armed with a batch of new songs from his seventh studio album, Sonic Soul Surfer, set for release on March 23 on the Caroline International label.

Produced and written by Seasick Steve and recorded in his front room on the little farm where he lives, his most ambitious work to date features his long-time drummer, Dan Magnusson, along with Mississippi All Stars’ slide guitarist Luther Dickinson on two tracks, Georgina Leach on fiddle and Ben Miller on jaw harp on Summertime Boy, a song celebrating the life and sunshine of California.

Further tracks will be Roy’s Gang; Bring It On; Dog Gonna Play; In Peaceful Dreams; Swamp Dog; Sonic Soul Boogie; Right On Time; Barracuda ‘68; We Be Moving; Your Name and Heart Full Of Scars.

“The whole record is mostly me and Dan sitting there drinking and playing,” says Steve. “There ain’t a whole lot of producing going on ,but I know what I’m doing and I know what I want.”

Since appearing on Jools Holland’s Hootenanny on BBC 2 on New Year’s Eve 2006, Seasick Steve’s career both on record and on stage has gone from strength to strength. Born Steven Gene Wold in Oakland, California, he plays mostly customised guitars and often sings about his early life doing casual work. His last album, 2013’s Hubcap Music, was bolstered by contributions by Led Zeppelin bass player John Paul Jones and former White Stripes guitarist Jack White.

Next spring, he will be on the road for 14 dates in Britain from April 8 to April 29; tickets for York are on sale on 0844 854 2757 or at yorkbarbican.co.uk