FORMER frontman with the Stone Roses and northern folk hero, Ian Brown, is heading south for a pair of shows within easy drive for north Essex fans.

The singer will be playing both the Regent Theatre, in St Helens Street, Ipswich and the Cliffs Pavilion, in Station Road, Westcliff, as part of a 16-date UK tour, which finishes with a hometown gig at Manchester’s MEN Arena.

This autumn’s shows will be the first chance for fans to see Brown live following the release of his sixth studio album, My Way, which is due out on September 28. He plays the Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff, on November 30 and the Regent, Ipswich, the following night.

As the lead singer of the Stone Roses, he was part of the mid-Eighties Madchester movement.

Following the band’s demise, in 1996, Brown returned two years later with his first solo album, Unfinished Monkey Business.

In the years since, he has four more successful albums and is ready to hit the road again to promote My Way.

The bulk of the album’s 12 tracks were co-written with long-time collaborator Dave McCracken at London’s Battery Studios, where the Stone Roses recorded their seminal self-titled debut 20 years ago.

The first single, Stellify will be released on September 21 on Fiction.

Tickets cost £24 and go on sale tomorrow at 9.30am from the relevant box offices – on 01702 351135 (Cliffs) and 01473 433100 (Regent).