A packed house at the Fairfield gave witness to a new chapter in the Joan Armatrading story., writes Chris Groom.

The multi-talented singer/songwriter is currently immersing herself in the blues tradition and it is clear she is having fun experimenting with the oldest of musical genres.

There has always been a strong element of blues in her writing, but the songs from her new album explore every aspect of the form, from the echoes of her heroes Muddy Waters and BB King in the title track Into The Blues, Backed by a versatile trio of keyboards, bass and drums, Joan is bringing out her inner lead guitarist.

Apart from her glorious voice, Joan's strongest selling point has always been the diversity of styles in her work and this is still much in evidence in her stage show.

These days she adopts a no-nonsense approach to stage-craft; never one for idle chit-chat, Joan invited the audience to interact early in the set, telling us "it's your last chance to talk to me", she laughed, "after this it's just song, song, song"

Despite the lack of banter, Joan Armatrading remains a class act - down whichever musical path she chooses to tread.