SIR Lenny Henry made a return to Dudley to perform two exclusive sell-out shows at The Lamp Tavern.

He sang the blues to crowds at the packed-out High Street pub on February 23 and 24 to launch Lamp Tavern Live - a collaboration between the Dudley Brewhouse Blues Club and The Kates Hill Press, which looks set to bring a variety of live music and spoken word/acoustic events to the venue.

Lenny was joined at his hometown gigs by a band of talented musicians, including rock royalty Jakko Jakszyk, lead guitarist of King Crimson.

Author and founder of The Kates Hill Press, Greg Stokes, said the event had been put together "completely under the radar" and tickets had been snapped up by supporters of both clubs, without the need for publicity.

He said the gig was suggested to Lenny two years ago during a mutual friend's 60th birthday party, which was also attended by John Green, Dudley Brewhouse Blues Club committee member.

Mr Stokes said: "Lenny said yes but nothing happened for about 18 months.

"We got some dates across to him, he came back to us and from there, it was five months of hard work putting it all together."

He said that the launch had been "absolutely brilliant", adding: "Lenny loved it, they all did."

Mr Green agreed: "They went down really well and some of the band have said they would come back and play for us. We're hoping to get Lenny back at some point too."

He said the aim of the collaboration was to "move away from being pigeonholed as a blues club", adding: "We want to encourage different bands and audience to come and listen."

The next Lamp Tavern Live event will take place on Friday (March 9), featuring music from Kimmy and the Wahoos.

A spoken word event is also planned for Friday, March 16, which will see Mr Stokes take to the stage alongside Walsall poet laureate Ian Henry and Neil Morris, a singer/songwriter from Wednesbury.

Doors for both events open at 8pm and tickets, priced £5, can be purchased on the night.