Christine Tobin is to embark on a major autumn Irish tour beginning next month. From Dublin originally but long since resident in England in London and more recently Kent, Christine Tobin says: “I’m delighted to have a tour in Ireland – back in the home country. It’s very important to me because although I have done the odd gig in Dublin this is my first tour there since the late-1990s and significantly it’s my first tour there since I was awarded best vocalist at the BBC Jazz Awards. I say significantly because I’m the only Irish person ever to receive a BBC Jazz Award and I’m very proud to return with such an accolade.”

Christine will appear with her longstanding band which includes her partner guitarist Phil Robson who recently won jazz musician of the year at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, bassist Dave Whitford and South African percussionist Thebe Lipere. Material will include songs from last year’s album Secret Life Of A Girl plus other originals and Leonard Cohen songs. Christine’s new album now titled Winter Cherries will come out next year which she has been working towards over the summer.

Tour dates are: Cleeres Kilkenny (1 October); Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford (2 October), Siamsa Tire, Tralee (3 October), Carnegie Arts Centre, Kenmare (4 October), Triskel Jazz at Jurys Hotel, Cork (6 October), De Burgos, Galway (7 October), Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray (8 October), Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge (9 October), Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny (10 October) and JJ Smyths, Dublin (11 October).