SPANISH poet Federico Garcia Lorca will be remembered for his hurried, haunting, dramatic works.

Leonard Cohen cited him as his greatest influence, naming his daughter after him and, in 1986, attaining a number one in the UK charts with a translation of Pequeño Vals Vienés (Take This Waltz).

Now, continuing the theme of setting Garcia Lorca's passionate poetry to music are British musicians Keith James and Rick Foot, who have already enjoyed success with their tribute to Nick Drake.

At the end of this month the pair return to Worcester's Huntingdon Hall with the show The Poems of Garcia Lorca.

On their website James, a singer songwriter, says it is reasonable to accept that he is "one in a long line of would-be disciples who, having discovered the work of Federico Garcia Lorca, feel seduced by it's beauty and passion.

"I have taken it upon myself to delve into his most acclaimed body of work - his poetry - and put a collection of poems to music using the simple arrangement of myself on vocal and guitar - mostly classical - and Rick on everything he can do with a double bass."

Describing it as a once-in-a-lifetime project, James and Foot have also released an album of their work.

"It's been hard dealing with a man's writing from 80 or so years ago," said James.

"I started out thinking that generally the poetry may need to be set and framed in some Spanish musical order and flavour but actually it turns out not so.

"Mostly they are more thoughtful, romantic and searching in a language free of all habitual confinement and endemic small-mindedness.

"They lead you towards them in a way modern writing, for the most part, does not." The Poems of Garcia Lorca is performed in Worcester on Thursday, February 28. For tickets call Worcester Live Box Office on 01905 611427.