John Mayall's last studio album (in 2009) was entitled "Tough", preceded by similarly hard-bitten and combative long-players such as "Crusade" (1967), "Primal Solos" (1977) and "Rolling With the Blues" (2005, also a DVD). You get the impression that the blues-legend has a bit of 'fight' in him, the sort of chap that if you spilt his pint, rather than shove a glass in your face, he'd whip out his Fender and riff you to death. I'm being glib, of course.

Mayall's influence is well-documented - Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Peter Green and Mick Taylor have all worked with the man during his 50+ year tenure as one of Britain's key blues-rock figures and, at 78, he's still wielding guitars like a true trouper and to prove his capabilities still exist in spades, the Bluesbreaker is back out on the road later this year with a lengthy tour of the UK.

First stop will be Llandudno on 26th October, followed by the usual key towns and cities (plus a few not-so-obvious ones - Poole on 30th Oct and High Wycombe on 10th Nov, for example). The London date is at Cadogan Hall on 29th October and the whole tour is rounded off on 18th November at Watford's Colosseum. Ticket prices vary considerably, costing between £23.50 and £30 regionally, £34 for London, with more dates due to become available in the next few days. Don't miss the master at work!!