IF you missed Joan Armatrading's sold-out York show at the Grand Opera House last Sunday, then head to Hull New Theatre tonight.

Joan needs no introduction, but she had an equally famous support act on her return to the concert circuit for the first time since announcing her 235-date world tour in 2015 and 2016 would be her last on such a scale.

No ordinary support act, mind you, but Joan herself in a first half entirely given over to her new album, Not Too Far Away, after calling time on long-haul flights (although Joan says the title is not connected to that decision).

Maybe other well-established artists should follow this practice. Chances are, when a career is stretching into its fifth decade, that not everyone will have bought the new release, and so here is the perfect opportunity for a showcase. What's more, modern technology enables Joan to tour alone - just me, myself and my acoustic guitars, keyboard and foot pedals to bring other instruments into play.

Not Too Far Away finds Joan, now 67, reflecting on love once more (I Like It When We're Together and the title track), on body image (Loving What You Hate) and jumping over rainbows on the stand-out This Is Not That.

That extraordinary voice, so tender, so strong, so versatile and vital as Nine Simone's, is as gloriously full of soul power as ever in a second half of Armatrading songs down the years, some familiar, others rarely performed, and how else could she finish but with Love And Affection, ageing like honey.