After Christmas Swindon sees a quiet weekend for music, but a special treat lies in store during the week when Wiltshire's own blues legend and former member of The Hoax, Jon Amor, makes a welcome return to the town.

Jon comes from a musical background with his dad and brother both deeply in to their music. In fact his father sold his own clarinet to help pay for Jon's Fender Stratocaster, and his brother taught him his first few chords on his own acoustic guitar.

The guitarist's love affair with the blues began with Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits and meandered backwards as he discovered Eric Clapton and then way back to the raw sounds of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf.

Jon grew up just outside Devizes where he met Jesse, Rob Davey and Hugh Coltman who were destined to be his musical conspirators in The Hoax.

The band took off like a rocket, Jon believes its success was due to the fact that there weren't many young bands playing blues at the time and The Hoax was made up of some strong characters.

In 1999 the band split, although they reformed in 2009 for a mini 20th anniversary tour, and Jon continues to perform both as a solo artist and with The Jon Amor band as well as writing his own songs.

On Thursday, January 12, Jon plays at The Vic, Victoria Road in Old Town from 8pm. He will be supported by Mike Barham and Jack Moore. Tickets are £3 from 01793 535713 - Flicky Harrison