JOHN Bramwell, singer-songwriter and frontman of Manchester's I Am Kloot, is taking a break from band commitments to perform a winter and spring set of 26 intimate solo gigs.

Next stop, his National Centre for Early Music debut in York tomorrow night.

"It's great getting the chance to play songs we never get the chance to play at Kloot shows as we've done seven albums now, so in some ways I prefer playing these intimate solo gigs," says John.

"I don't have a set list and I can talk, do off-the-cuff stuff and take requests. To me, it's what music is all about. Who knows, maybe this is the troubadour route in me. I'm 49 now and I've been playing on my own for 19 years, as well as with Kloot."

As he did when previewing material from Kloot's Let It All In album at his An Intimate Evening with John Bramwell gig at Knaresborough's Frazer Theatre in July 2012, John will be testing at least one new song, Time's Arrow.

"I played it at Hebden Bridge in January and when I'd got to London, there were two more verses I'd written," he says.

This tour cuts the trimmings of I Am Kloot's travels.

"I drive around with CDs of my Live At The Trades solo album, my guitars and the wooden wine case I rest my foot on when I sing, and I have a guy called Dave Fiddler supporting me," says John.

"I saw him at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival playing a casual gig where everyone was standing around him and he was really impressive," says John. "By the time we get to York, we might have sorted out a song to sing together."

For tickets for Bramwell's 7.30pm show, phone 01904 658338 or book online at ncem.co.uk