The 48-year-old singer songwriter, the creative force behind 80s Liverpool band The Icicle Works, is tuning up to play the Waterloo Street venue on Saturday, March 28.

He said: "I haven't played the Citadel since '93 - it's so long ago I can't even remember it! So it's about time I played St Helens again. It's always a great atmosphere there.

"I'll be playing a two hour set including all the old favourites. I don't shy away from the old songs - I wrote them all. You've got to give people what they want, especially when times are tough like they are now."

But Ian, who is currently recording a solo album for release at the end of the year, and played the town centre Eclectica festival in 2006, admitted the music industry has totally revolutionised since he started out.

He said: "Nobody looks at the charts anymore. It used to be that you would record an album and hopefully get a single or two from it, take it to radio and shoot a video. Nowadays you can record an album on your laptop, put the songs on your website and people can download them straight away.

"You've got to change with the times - either you roll with it or you get left behind. These days you've got to make music for people with little bugs in their ears, rather than a sound for people to stick on at home."

And, famous for being a proud Liverpudlian, what did Ian make of last year's European Capital of Culture celebrations?

He added: "I've got mixed feelings about it, to be honest. I saw quite a few spectacles and there was a real urgency and excitement about some of the things going on in the city. But, living in Kensington, I haven't seen too much change here. Only when the final tally is in will we know how much good it has actually done for us."

Tickets for the March 28 show, in which Ian will also be promoting his autobiography, Merseybeast, are available now, priced £12.
To book your tickets, call the Citadel box office on 01744 735436.