ANYONE who had popped into Melbourne’s Cafe St Edmunds on a Sunday afternoon a few years ago might have caught Vance Joy on his first professional engagement.

“I met my keyboard player when we used to play basically background music in this cafe,” remembers Joy, born James Keogh, who decided to adopt a stage name when he wrote his first ‘breakthrough’ as a songwriter Winds Of Change in 2009.

“I was going for any gig at all – it was a regular thing for a couple of months while people were having brunch, playing 40 minute sets. It was good to play in front of strangers.”

Everything changed at the end of last year, though, when he released his international breakthrough hit Riptide, which reached the UK top ten, and was a hit in Europe and the US as well as his native Australia.

Starting out as a few chords on a ukulele, the song, which features both on his new album Dream Your Life Away and his debut EP God Loves You When You’re Dancing, provided Joy with his first experience in a professional recording studio.

There was a danger that it could have become a millstone around his neck – something Radiohead experienced with their first international hit Creep.

“It’s hard,” he says. “If you have a song which is a commercial success you don’t know what the chemistry is – it’s a fluke.

“Leonard Cohen has a line on his new album Popular Problems where he says: ‘If I knew where the good songs were and where they lived I would visit more often.’”

The success of the song effectively put back the recording of Joy’s album, which finally saw the light of day earlier this month, as he found himself following Riptide around the world.

His debut Brighton show sold out months ago, showing the impact that one song had – although he says he worked hard to keep the new album consistent – with the songs ranging in age from two years to three months old.

Recorded largely with Lumineers producer Ryan Hadlock, the album is a stripped back affair – taking inspiration from one of Joy’s lyrical heroes.

“If I listen to a Bruce Springsteen song I feel like I’m focusing on the lyrics as the instrumentation is in the background,” he says. “The music fits the space, it doesn’t really take over from his voice, and that’s the principle I followed on the album and EP.”

He is now touring with longtime school friend Edwin White on drums, his fellow cafe keyboard player and a bassist he spotted playing live.

“It keeps getting better and more exciting as we get more familiar with each other,” he says, having played Glasgow the night before.

“We can interact with each other and build an energy throughout the set. It makes it fresh every time.”

For this tour Joy is in his first tour bus – and is learning the etiquette of the band on the road.

“You have to appreciate everyone’s space,” he says. “Get involved in group activities now and again. Basically it’s about being a good sharer.”

Essential info: Starts 7.30pm, sold out.
Call 01273 673311 for returns