Gavin Glass debuts with a bang

Gavin Glass gives his 'Big Shoes' single a live airing when he visits The Cobblestone, Dublin (June 4); Eamonn Doran's, Dublin (19); and The Half Moon, Cork (26).

It's the first taster from his debut I'd Like The World To Teach Me To Sing album, which follows in September.

Prolific chap that he is, Glass has already started work on the follow up with none other than E Street Band-er Clarence Clemmons lending a hand.

"I was playing piano in The Merrion Hotel one night a couple of months back.," Glass explains. "This American came over to me and said he really liked my playing and that when I was finished to come and have a drink at his table. Over I went and I was sitting there chatting away, telling them I had just recorded a new album and I suddenly realised this guy was in fact Clarence Clemmons! He asked me for a copy of the album - always have one on you! - and next day he called me and said he loved it. He knew I was playing the Voodoo Lounge the following night and said he'd come down. I didn't really think he'd show, but there he was and in the end he spent over an hour on stage with me and it was just incredible!

"I have my own studio in Killiney and over the next few days he came out and we recorded some tracks together. He headed back to the US and I thought I'd hear nothing more but a few days later he called to say he'd like to come back and do some more recording and would I be interested in coming to the US during the Summer to record with him?

"He's a nice guy and we have a good laugh playing together and he has some great stories from the road."