CONCERTS by Frome's Eddie Martin have long been rave-reviewed by the world's music press. Now the public can see what it's all about when his debut DVD Eddie Martin: Live At The Wharf is released on Monday, November 24.

It captures for the first time a set from his unique one-man-band act as well as his rocking blues trio.

The DVD shows his virtuosity as a guitarist and harmonica player, and features many of his most popular original songs.

Your Time spoke to the bluesman to get the lowdown.

Your Time: What didi you hope to achieve when you first started out on your musical journey?

Eddie: I was always musical at school and was chosen to sing lead roles in school performances.

I was too late for the over-subscribed guitar tuition and ended up with violin lessons which caused me a bit of grief from the lads at my tough comprehensive.

I got my first guitar at 15 and with two chords and my Mum's poetry for lyrics, I did my first concert with my mate Trev on bongos.

I wrote and wrote from the earliest and was only really interested in performing in a band from the age of about 17.

Which musicians do you admire and have they influenced your style and approach to music?

I grew up in the era of progressive rock and blues rock and hoovered up any guitar music I came across.

As well as electric guitar I was really into singer songwriters such as Dylan and Guthrie.

The self-indulgence of concept-rock started to annoy me after I heard my first blues recordings.

Then vocalists and guitarists such as Freddy King, B B King and Muddy Waters really inspired me with their exciting, powerful but stripped-down sound and lyrics about the basic universal experiences of humanity.

How would you describe your music?

At the heart of it is song writing. I don't write songs for strong guitar solos I work it the other way around. And the styles show my blues roots influences, whether in my electric trio or as an acoustic performer.

If you think Clapton and Dylan you are approaching the soundscape, but you have to hear it and get to know my music for yourself.

Can you tell us a little about your album Contrary Mary, and do you enjoy the recording process?

Contrary Mary has been applauded for the guitar workouts on it by the press, but it is essentially a bunch of songs about real life experiences in roots-rock clothes.

The topics range from characters I have met in bars (including Contrary Mary herself) to the thrill of fatherhood and tales from the road.

It is a rocking party album which you can dance through like an idiot and then sit down and listen to again with brain engaged.

I love the studio process, though it is like trying to wrap a dream in a parcel.

I have two new albums to record this year if I can sort out the right studios within budget.

You are about to release a DVD. What can people expect to see on it?

The DVD is the only record I have been relatively happy with of my two live shows, solo and band.

You can see my band's rocking electric blues set (lots of guitar!) and my roots acoustic one-man-band act.

It's the next best thing if you have not seen my live performances and a nice souvenir if you have.

How would you describe an Eddie Martin gig?

I love touring as long as I am not away too long from my family. But the recession has hit the blues and roots circuit hard and I don't do as much as a few years ago.

I'm sure it will come back around.

You have achieved so much within the blues genre. What have been the highlights?

I am very lucky to have had this career and to have visited so many places and met so many great people.

Being so well-received in America has been really rewarding and Contrary Mary is charting high in the US blues charts right now, which is great.

But my proudest review has been in the Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings, where my album catalogue has received the highest rating of any Brit blues guy after John Mayall.

Can you tell us a bit about your Frome connection, how you came to end up here?

My wife and I decided Frome was a great place to bring up our little boy Xavier and have found it a real joy to live in on so many fronts.

It has so much beauty, in and around, and punches above its weight culturally for a small town.

Can you tell us about your Griffin Inn workshops?

I have been running blues workshops for years round the world and from my former home base of Bristol.

I really wanted to find a suitable base locally and a happening, down-to-earth, music-friendly pub, and the Griffin is it!

I will teach the basic techniques and sounds of blues guitar on Saturday and harmonica on Sunday, and it will be fun.

What's next for Eddie Martin?

I want to set up a studio in Frome and record my new solo album early in the new year.

If anybody can play a bit of guitar and really wants to get to grips with slide guitar and some cool blues sounds come along to the workshop this Saturday.

If anyone wants to learn the blues harmonica from scratch come along on Sunday.

Just turn up at the Griffin at 10.30am or email me for details at eddie@eddiemaritn.com.

For a taste of the excitement of a roots-rock gig in your own front room, Eddie Martin: Live at the Wharf is available to order from www.bluebloodrecords.com and in shops from Monday, November 24.