Squeeze and Mike + The Mechanics' singer with a 'Golden Voice' can't keep away from Edinburgh - here's where to see him

THERE’S just no keeping Paul Carrack away from the Festival Theatre these days. Less than a year after he last played the venue, he’s back this week with The 20/20 Tour and his awesome six-piece band.

Paul Carrack

Nicknamed ‘The Man with the Golden Voice’ in a BBC documentary about his phenomenal 50-year career, Carrack, whose vocals have graced million selling songs is now firmly established as one of the hardest working, independent musicians on the scene.

Having returned from touring Japan and the USA as a featured instrumentalist with the Eric Clapton Band, the singer is eager to get back to his own set highlighting not only the hits and collaborations with the bands such as The Eagles but also songs from his 17 solo albums.

From Ace to Squeeze and Mike + the Mechanics, Carrack long been a familiar voice on the music scene, he returns to the Nicolson Street venue on Saturday 18 January to promote his new album The Best of Live 1995-2020, which was released in October last year.

It’s the eighteenth album in a run that started way back in 1980, but which has been building real, independent momentum since he formed his record label in 2000 with the landmark Satisfy My Soul album release.

Carrack’s breakthrough moment came in 1974 when he wrote and sang How Long, the much-covered classic from his days with Ace. He was also the voice of Tempted from his tenure with Squeeze and then came his time with Mike + the Mechanics and hits such as The Living Years and Over My Shoulder, the latter a co-write with Mike Rutherford. Not to mention that other co-write, Love Will Keep Us Alive, which was covered by the Eagles and won a hugely prestigious ASCAP Award as Song of the Year.

Diana Ross covered Carrack’s co-write with Nick Lowe, Battlefield, and as a collaborator his career includes sessions with the Smiths, Roxy Music and BB King, culminating in that request from Eric Clapton to join his touring band.

Since the turn of the century Carrack has quietly built his own loyal fan base.

Paul Carrack, Festival Theatre, Nicolson Street, 18 January, 7.30pm, £34.50-£39.50, 0131-529 6000