It's funny how the 80s panned-out (apart from becoming the 90s of course). Some artists from this time have continued to stride onwards-and-upwards with hit after hit, tour after tour and continued adulation. Credibility has been deemed to be a dictatorial factor in who is 'cool' these days and who isn't. Depeche Mode have survived, Human League have just about survived and Howard Jones ..... where is Howard these days? [touring next week! - Ed] Nik Kershaw is a different kettle of haddock altogether. He was never cool or uncool and wrote a few decent songs in his time. Never was sure about the hair though....

Now he has a bit less of it (hair that is) and a lot of singing still to do and Kershaw has announced a 2010 solo-acoustic tour to prove the point. He plans to compile an album of best-known numbers ('The Riddle', 'I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me' and 'Wouldn't It Be Good') and new tunes as a souvenir of the tour so why not be a part of it? The dates start on February 18th at the Nottingham Rescue Rooms and continue across the UK including Holmfirth (19th), Manchester (20th), Kendal (21st), Brighton (25th), Southampton (26th), Banbury (March 3rd), Strathpeffer (5th), Glasgow (6th), Bristol (10th), Wolverhampton (11th), St Albans (17th) and finally ending up in the capital's Islington Academy on the 18th.

Tickets for all but the London date are on sale now, starting at £16 + booking fee. The Islington Academy date goes on sale this Friday at 9AM (price TBC).