Singer songwriter Anton Barbeau has written a song for Swindon.

The singer is a regular performer in the town and considers the Beehive in Old Town his local, despite the fact that he originally came from Sacremento, now lives in Germany and is not a drinker.

"The song, Swindon, is a catchy little thing, a bit of a kiss on the lips for one of my favourite micro-cosmic wifi hotspots. It is a love song (with vampires). I don't even live in England anymore but the Beehive is my local if anywhere is,'' said Anton.

The song is to be included on his new album called Magic Act, in tribute to his Uncle Don who was a professional magician. The singer comes from a showbiz family as his cousin is actress Adrienne Barbeau. Anton hopes the album will be released this autumn.

The singer was drawn to Swindon initially because he is a huge fan of XTC and he has recently been over here in the UK working with Colin Moulding.

The XTC musician is performing on the lead-off track from Anton's album. The track is called High Noon.

Anton said: "Musically Colin's contribution of bass, piano and hand claps is epic, as I'd imagined it would be, but meeting him and working with him was simply a wonderful experience.

" He's a lovely fellow, so welcoming, making us tea and sandwiches, so normal. We just hung out like musicians do.''

While Anton was in Swindon, Laima Bite did some filming for a video, to go with the song. They filmed the singer in Colin's house, the Beehive pub and various locations around the town.

Anton is hoping that Colin will team up with him again on another project.

"He expressed an interest in an album I'm making with Allyson Seconds, a friend of mine from Sacremento, so perhaps I'll have the chance to do further work with Colin,'' he said.

Anton is a multi-instrumentalist himself, playing guitar, piano, bass, drums and synthesizers on his psychedelic pop songs.

He supported Julian Cope on a number of tours, performed with Stornoway and Nick Saloman from The Bevis Frond.

He launched one of his albums, Guladong, at the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool, but the new album will be launched under the crowd funding campaign through a French company, KKBB.

Anton said: "I don't enjoy the business side of music, I can't count to five unless there is a drummer in the room. Nevertheless I'm trying to do my bit to get the word out so we can conjure the cash to finish the album and pay for its birth in plastic and paper.''

The idea of the crowd funding campaign is that musicians and bands ask their fans to pre-order the album and, in so doing help cover the cost of making the record. For more details visit www.kisskissbankbank.com/en/projects/anton-barbeau-magic-act

Anton will be back in the UK in the autumn and is hoping to play Swindon to his fans in Swindon at the Beehive before Christmas. - Flicky Harrison