What gave you the idea to tour independent British coffee houses, Sylvia?

“I started playing in coffee and tea houses in and around London at the beginning of the year and the response was amazing, so I decided to extend this to the rest of the country. I feel I’ve tapped into a culture that’s been lost in the UK.”

How did the coffee houses react?

“Many coffee houses I approached had never hosted live music and were surprised. However, when I played them my music and explained the concept – the rich history of the coffee shop in the USA and the fact that Simon & Garfunkel, Suzanne Vega and Tracy Chapman all started in coffee houses – there was a lot of enthusiasm.”

What is the purpose of your tour?

“It’s about expanding my audience. The internet has made it easier for independent artists to distribute their music. However, without the budget or backing of a major label, it can still be a challenge to put on a tour but with coffee houses I have an organic and sustainable link to potential fans.”

Did you know?

Folk, soul and jazz singer Sylvia Powell is following in the tradition of Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell, who launched their careers in the Sixties coffee-house culture of Greenwich Village, New York. In Britain, the London folk scene that nurtured artists such as Nick Drake and John Martyn was centred on the Troubadour Coffee House in Earls Court, where Dylan and Simon also performed.

• Sylvia Powell’s Coffee House Tour perks up The Habit, in Goodramgate, York, tonight at 8pm. Admission is free.