HE wrote in a way that nobody had done previously and, in all honesty, a way that nobody has done since."

If anyone has the authority to talk about Nick Drake in that way, it is Keith James.

James has spent six years submerging himself in Drake's incredibly fragile, melancholy world of music and later this month, he and double bassist Rick Foot will visit Huntingdon Hall to perform The Songs Of Nick Drake.

The music has been described as "some of the most atmospheric and emotive" you will ever hear. Playing both Drake's better- known material as well as lesser known songs that never even made it past demo stage, it will certainly be a memorable one.

Drake is now held up as one of music's most tragically romantic figures. But when he committed suicide, at the age of 26 in 1974, the music industry barely batted an eyelid.

It is only over the past two decades that Drake has become a major influence, with artists including Belle & Sebastian, Damien Rice, Badly Drawn Boy and David Gray citing him as a major influence.

"These songs have never really been played live," said James, referring to Drake's well documented dislike of performing in front of people.

"I think he was very timid, nervous singer.

"My relationship with him, in his posthumous state, is that I consider him a truly unique writer.

"He was a particularly good guitarist and a really great lyricist.

"He was living in a vacuum. I think because of his upbringing, in the upper middle class, he was in a personal sense very fragile.

"He didn't really have to fight, so to speak.

"That didn't give him a good grounding and in the extremely chaotic circus of the music industry you have to stand up tall."

The Songs Of Nick Drake is at Huntingdon Hall, on Thursday, June 28, at 8pm.

Tickets, £12, are available from the Worcester Live box office on 01905 611427.