JAMIE Lawson plays York Barbican on Monday, a year on from the Plymouth singer-songwriter rising to the top of the charts with his self-titled album on the back of the single Wasn't Expecting That reaching number one too.

The album has sold more than 250,000 copies, the single, 400,000, as Lawson has struck sudden gold at the ripe old pop age of 40. After opening for One Direction on their final UK arena tour and playing a sold-out of solo dates earlier this year, Lawson now returns to the road for 18 shows from Tuesday this week to October 27.

The last time he played York, if his memory serves him well, was at a House Concert, maybe three years ago. "It's a really intimate setting to play there," he says, recalling the night he performed in a York front room.

His life has changed beyond recognition since then, all on the back of being the first signing to Ed Sheeran's label, as his fellow singer-songwriter recounts.

"I first became aware of Jamie Lawson a few years ago, after hearing his song Wasn’t Expecting That. I very rarely get emotional over a track, but that song stopped me dead. He manages to put across such raw emotion within his work, and I knew immediately that I wanted to work with this guy in some way," says Sheeran.

York Press: Ed Sheeran performs at the event

Ed Sheeran: signed Jamie Lawson to his label

"Having decided to start my own label, Gingerbread Man Records, with my label Atlantic Records, the first artist I had to sign was Jamie. Starting Gingerbread Man Records means I can put music I love out there on a huge platform, and Jamie seemed like the perfect choice for my first release.”

Lawson remembers the moment he put pen to paper. "The actual signing happened at last year's Ivor Novello awards: the only time Ed was in the country," he says. "I got kind of taken along there by the record company as a day out."

Wasn't Expecting That had been a hit already in Ireland as long ago as 2011, so Sheehan could see its potential. "We first met in 2010, me and Ed, but we met only the once and it wasn't until four years later that we got asked to do a secret show in Dublin, and after that he asked me to support him on his tour."

Jamie Lawson may have come on to the mainland radar only last year, but he has long been a singer-songwriter. "Yeah, I've always been making music: the latest album is my third record and I've made a living in music, paying my rent through music, while living in Ireland, Cornwall, London and Manchester," he says.

"You do have to have a lot of faith in yourself as a songwriter and as a performer but I never lacked that; what I lacked was radio play. You could argue that the song [Wasn't Expecting That] was that good that it just had to be heard, but there was a certain amount of luck in Ed coming along when he did, though you also have to stay in the game and as a singer-songwriter it's easier to do that."

How did it feel to top the charts? "Having a number one album was a very special feeling; I couldn't believe it at first. I had to see it in the shops to believe it was true, and to see it there, with Ed [Sheeran] at number two, was really special," he says.

After a summer of festival appearances, Lawson is now touring with his band, incorporating a horn section for the autumn dates and maybe a new song or two. "I'll be recording again in November, so hopefully there'll be new material that I'll be showcasing on the tour," he tantalises.

Jamie Lawson plays York Barbican on October 10, 7.30pm. Tickets cost £19.80 on 0844 854 2757, at yorkbarbican.co.uk or from the Barbican box office in person.