"I'd hang up my spurs if I didn't have something new to play," says Bonnie Raitt. So her latest album, Souls Alike, takes a her on a different route.

Featuring what she calls "thorny, adult themes," the recording was emotionally challenging for the country blues queen.

This, her 18th album, signals her debut as producer and has a more contemporary feel - although she still finds room for some old-time New Orleans funk and shuffle.

"Not many people play this kind of music anymore," she says. "It's kind of my job to help keep it around."

The nine-time Grammy winner served her musical apprenticeship under the likes of Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker.

An institution in American music (she was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2000), Bonnie is a tireless campaigner for environmental and human rights organisations.

Raised in Los Angeles, Bonnie was brought up respect the arts, Quaker traditions and social activism.

Three years after starting college, she left to commit herself full-time to music and became an opening act for blues musicians.

Word spread quickly. Warner Bros tracked her down, signed her up, and in 1971 released her debut album.

Over the years, she has worked with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Stevie Wonder, BB King, Tony Bennett and Willie Nelson. Her most notable collaboration, however, was Do I Ever Cross Your Mind, a duet with Ray Charles, which featured on his final release Genius Loves Company.

The album won a Grammy, as did another of Bonnie's collaborations, True Love, with Toots and Maytals.

Tickets £27.50, starts 7.30pm. Call 01273 709709.