A CONVERSATION at the South By South West Festival in Austin, Texas, has led to Pocklington Arts Centre signing up Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith for an October 17 gig.

Manager Janet Farmer says: "I've followed Ron's career and been a fan of his for many years now, so I'm delighted to have secured a show here for his autumn UK tour. I've seen Ron perform several times at the SXSW Festival and on each occasion he received a fantastic response from the audience.

"I spoke with him after one of the shows about the arts centre and the possibility of him performing in Pocklington but as it was the same year he was at the Royal Albert Hall it was a big ask. I guess good things happen to those who wait."

Self-deprecating almost to a fault, Sexsmith released his first album, 1991's Grand Opera Lane, under the name Ron Sexsmith And The Uncool. Twelve studio albums have ensued since 1995, plus a Rarities (CORRECT) collection in 2003, and on the way Sexsmith has won the admiration of major league songwriters such as Elvis Costello and Paul McCartney.

He looks back on the aforementioned Royal Albert Hall concert, headlining there in 2013, as a significant moment. "My career was given a much needed kick in the pants, which I didn't see coming," he says. "I thought those days were gone for me, but it definitely reawakened a dormant fan base, especially in the UK.”

Now 51, Sexsmith released his latest album, Carousel One, earlier this year. It locates him in surprising territory for a songwriter often pigeon-holed as a downbeat balladeer: he sounds contented on a warm set of songs with Seventies echoes of Phoebe Snow and Gerry Rafferty, showcasing not only his empathy and occasional sentimentality, but also his often-overlooked playfulness.

Sexsmith will be playing a dozen British autumn dates, a quarter of them in Yorkshire: Sheffield Memorial Hall, October 13; Leeds Brudenell Social Club, October 16; Pocklington, October 17, and Hebden Bridge Trades Club, October 18.

Tickets for the 8pm Pock show cost £25 on 01759 301547 or at pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk; Leeds, seetickets.com