SEAN McGowan returns to his roots this Saturday, playing a homecoming gig at the Joiners.

Sean is currently touring his debut album Son of The Smith and is calling back to his home city mid-tour for this show.

The ex-Joiners employee is part of the Xtra Mile Recordings label, who also manage the likes of Frank Turner and Skinny Lister.

Sean is an eclectic mix of the classic Billy Bragg and a modern Jamie T, and his new album is a fresh new sound to the music scene.

The first single taken from the album is Off the Rails.

Searing along with an e-bow guitar drone, the lyrical genius of Off the Rails feels like an arm around the shoulder, and a kiss on the cheek of his mates for always being there for him.

The concept running through the album, and one of Sean’s oldest ideas for the record, is a journey across London between Old Street, Oval and Camberwell, itself a trek through Sean’s current sound.

Son of the Smith is disarming in its scope, surprising in its erudite tackling of life’s challenges, and strong of voice with just a dab of laddish humour – the aural personification of Sean himself.

By Ben Bonsey