Tom Robinson

Hailsham Pavilion, George Street, Hailsham, Sunday, October 25

TODAY Tom Robinson is best known for championing new music on his long-running BBC 6 Music radio show.

But earlier this year he decided to return to the fray and release Only The Now, his first album in almost 20 years.

And his experiences as the voice of BBC Introducing played its part in the completed 11-track album, which was part-funded through Pledgemusic, an internet crowd-funding campaign.

“Since I started working for 6Music in 2002 my music taste has changed completely,” he says. “There was this gap between the kind of music I knew how to record and produce, like War Baby back in the 1980s, but I had got out of touch with the record-making practices of the music I liked to listen to.”

It was a radio interview with producer Gerry Diver which started him back on the road to making music. He decided to take Diver up on a casual offer to get in touch if he ever thought about making a record.

“We tried out a couple of things including [recent single] Don’t Jump, Don’t Fall and Risky Business,” says Robinson. “I was really pleased with the way he worked.”

Robinson also introduced the folk producer to new experiences – including recording his first full drum kit with Faithless drummer Andy Treacey.

“He made it bigger, brasher and bolder,” says Robinson.

And it shows on the rabble-rousing highly topical protest song The Mighty Sword Of Justice – which is driven by an insistent drum beat, but also features Colin Firth as a newsreader reporting the abolition of legal aid, and a chorus including political songwriter Billy Bragg, folk legend Martin Carthy and relative newcomer Lisa Knapp.

When it came to making the album Robinson dug deep into his contacts book, with guest appearances from John Grant, TV Smith, Nadine Shah, Nitin Sawhney and even Sir Ian McKellen who provides the voice of God on Holy Smoke, and adds gravity to One Way Street.

One element throughout the album is Robinson’s use of spoken word – whether it be Firth and McKellen’s contributions or his own semi-spoken vocal delivery on songs like the tender Don’t Jump, Don’t Fall and Holy Smoke – the tale of a man who uses the pages of the Bible to roll joints.

It’s a world away from the more singalong choruses of his biggest hits 2-4-6-8 Motorway and War Baby.

“Spoken word is something Gerry is known for,” says Robinson. “He made a whole album called Speech Project which was an extraordinary spoken word, almost ambient epic.

“I wanted to bridge the gap between my music career and broadcasting career. People know me more now for my spoken voice than my singing voice. I was keen to bring the two together in some way.”

And it works – particularly on Don’t Jump, Don’t Fall, the tale of a suicidal alcoholic from a parental point of view with a story-telling verse and heart-breaking sung chorus featuring guest vocalist Lee Forsyth Griffiths.

When Robinson does sing, as on the duet version of Beatles favourite In My Life with Martin Carthy or gorgeous album closer Only The Now his sung vocal is packed with character, particularly served by Lewis’s minimal backing.

Elsewhere the sound is filled out by impressive string orchestration – making for a heartfelt and engaging listen.

“I made the album as much for my own satisfaction as for anything else,” admits Robinson. “I wanted to make a statement musically and make something I could be proud of. If anyone likes it that’s a bonus. I spent 30 years of my life on the road – from the 1970s to the 1990s – which is long enough really. I don’t envisage in my late 60s ending up being in a touring band full-time!”

For this live show fans can expect a mix of old and new songs – although Robinson admits he is updating the lyrics on hits Up Against The Wall and 1978 hit Glad To Be Gay.

“They need updating – not least with my own domestic situation,” he says. “I never expected to be a proud father in late middle age, so I have to adapt the lyrics as we go.”

As his 1996 album Having It Both Ways underlined he is not interested in labelling himself as straight, gay or bisexual. He met his future wife Sue Brearley in 1982 while at a benefit party for London’s Gay Switchboard help-line.

It was when his second child was born in 1997 that he took a break from touring, and instead built a new career as a radio broadcaster.

With BBC 6Music he has become a champion for new talent – listening to an average of 200 tracks every week to compile his hour-long BBC Introducing Mixtape of new music every Monday night.

“It’s the best time for any new artist with talent to get heard,” he says.

“When I started in the 1970s everything was controlled by gatekeepers.

“Now if you write the next Hey Ya and put it on YouTube quality will out.

“For the first time ever young artists can release a record free of debt. With a Pledgemusic campaign every copy sold is sheer profit, and the artist still owns the rights. That has never happened before.

“The longevity of a career is more difficult – but us so-called experts should help young talent and give them advice on the music industry.”

Doors 7.30pm, tickets £22.50. Call 01323 841414.