In Britain, Joan Armatrading (left) is the blueprint for the soul-searching female singer/songwriter. Born in St Kitts, West Indies, in 1950, her family moved to Birmingham several years later and it was here that she eventually fashioned her much loved confessional approach, best exemplified by her classic status song, Love And Affection. Her profile dipped somewhat in the 1980s but now that hip young gunslingers are listening to anyone who writes an angsty tune, her time seems to have come once more. Despite reaching a plateau in commercial terms, Joan Armatrading (renowned for her comic collection, trivia fans) remains a laudable example of a veteran performer who refuses to compromise. She plays Dublin's Vicar Street next Tuesday and Wednesday.
