Many singer/songwriters learn their craft close to home, cutting their teeth in local pubs and clubs, but Lewis Clark decided the world really was his oyster and headed for India.

He spent four months performing in the shanty cafes along the route from Rishkesh to Armabol. He met and jammed with musicians of all nationalities gaining grist to the mill of his self titled first album.

On Thursday, September 29 Lewis will be performing a little nearer to his home town of Bristol when he plays at Baila Coffee and Vinyl in Victoria Road, Swindon.

In 2013 Lewis set off on his travels again, this time touring for two month in Thailand's Koh Chang area, with The Dhamma Burns, a three piece folk group.

Returning to Europe, Lewis had a fling on the European summer festival circuit playing events such as Mandstrock Festival in Northern Italy. He returned to the sunshine in 2014 with the Lewis Clark Band, touring Calabria in Italy.

In 2015 Lewis Clark and The Essentials, his current line-up, was born with Rob Grist on drums and piano and Max Mees on double and electric bass.

The band play a mix of blues, English folk, American roots and soul music. Lewis recorded his first solo album, Goodbye To All Of That, last year and was invited to appear on BBC Radio Bristol's Dr Phil Hammond Show.

He will be playing songs from all his albums including the appropriately named Vinyl Love when he comes to Old Town's Baila Coffee and Vinyl, kicking off at 1pm. For more details call 07894 859051 - Flicky Harrison