WHAT have household names such as Chris De Burgh, Jools Holland, Celine Dion, and Shirley Bassey got in common?

The answer is that singer-songwriter Martyn Joseph has been a guest on their tours, along with other artists such as Belinda Carlisle and Mike Oldfield.

When asked about the famous names with whom Martyn has rubbed shoulders, he does not give too much away.

Her refers to Belinda Carlise as "fine" and, when pushed, intimates "some of the them were more affected than others".

Martyn rose in to the public eye with the chart success of Dolphins Make Me Cry, followed by further chart singles Working Mother and Please Sir.

It goes without saying he has had plenty of his own headlining tours that have taken him to places such as North America and Canada.

Martyn will be playing Worcester's Huntingdon Hall at the beginning of December, where he will play songs from his new album Whoever it was that brought me here will have to take me home.

The album is his first studio album since 1999.

According to the musician, his new album is primarily written by himself and is more reflective than political.

"It's more of an intimate album," he explains.

"There is nothing directly autobiographical. I try not to write details about myself.

"There's no songs on there about a birth of a child for instance, but rather reflections on the fact I'm 43 years old and I think about life differently from when I was 23.

"It's about how we have our own ideals of where we should be, but you never quite get to them."

One of the songs on the album is called This Being Woman.

"It's a song that tries to recognise the value of people beyond the point that the world thinks they're beautiful," he says.

"A lot of women from middle age onwards tend to be shunned from society if they're not as attractive as they used to be.

"Everything is marketed for the good looking.

"This album is an album about issues."

Martyn describes his music as "miserable and sombre," but uplifting.

"I describe it as Bruce Springsteen without the band," he says.

Martyn, who was born in Cardiff, Wales and still lives there, wanted to be a professional golfer. He started playing golf at the age of 10.

When he realised that dream wouldn't materialise he made a go of his music career.

In his 20s he played coffee bars, recorded some of his own material and Sony music signed him in the 90s.

He describes his live shows as "nice and intimate with guitar."

Here is a musician who appreciates people who say something in their music, such as "thinking artists like Bruce Springsteen".

Catch him playing at Huntingdon Hall, CrownGate, Worcester, on Thursday, December 4. Tickets are £12.50, or £11.50 concessions. Details available from the box office on 01905 611427.