One of Ireland's best-kept secrets - but probably not for too much longer - Wexford's Clive Barnes hitches a ride across genres, his genius lap steel guitar playing and hypnotic vocals always making sure that he'll have plenty of company whichever path he chooses. With blues and jazz the starting points for any of his trips, Barnes has found himself praised in the same company as JJ Cale, Ry Cooder and Kelly Joe Phelps, but his gift is so special that you could also compare those other artists to him.

A natural performer with some-finely tuned, self-deprecating stage banter, Barnes is a great believer in improvisation, never playing the same song the same way twice. "In some ways it's like walking a tightrope," he explains. "I was looking for a way to be free with the music as a solo player." But Barnes is also a gifted storytelller, and if you can prise your eyes and ears away from his fretwork, you'll get sucked deeper and deeper into his lyrics.

A veteran of the touring circuit in the US (stop-offs, he says include Dismal Swamp and Skunk Hollow) Barnes has supported the likes of The Blind Boys of Alabama, Solomon Burke, David Crosby and Dr John and undoubtedly gave them a hard act to follow. His second album 'Welcome to Farewell' was awarded Homegrown Album of the Year 2002 by Acoustic Guitar Magazine in America and he released his latest album 'Goldtooth Cinnamon' in 2004. By the time his next album comes around many more people will know his name.

www.clivebarnes.com