FROM the opening haunting riff of Guitar Town, released in 1986, Nashville peers knew Steve Earle was here to break traditions.

Although this album brought his name and talent to the forefront of the listening world, he been working for a few years with Guy Clark as a songwriter and provided backing vocals on songs on Clark’s No 1 album.

It was also his songwriting talent which gave Johnny Lee a top ten hit with When You Fall In Love.

Over the years Earle has proved he is comfortable with many styles including folk and bluegrass offerings, and, of course, the occasional duet with his wife Alison Moorer.

Accolades include 13 nominations for Grammy Awards, being named as country artist of the year by the Rolling Stone magazine in 1986 and 2005 and in 2008 receiving a Grammy Award for the Best Contemporary Folk album The Revolution Starts Now.

His latest album, entitled Townes, written by Earle’s friend and mentor Townes Van Zandt is out now and he performs a 15-song set at The Sage Gateshead on Monday.

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