Ian Bickerton’s Balloon released their debut album ‘Gravity’ in 1992 to rave reviews. The album, recorded in New Orleans at Daniel Lanois’ studio, featured Sarah McLachlan on the single ‘Tightrope Walker’. As a band, they toured the USA and even supported Bill Hicks on his final UK tour. Then, aside from one mid-1990s single, Balloon pretty much disappeared. Another life, family and the need to earn an income that the music industry could not provide took over.

Now they are back, appearing at the Folklore Rooms in Brighton as part of a short UK tour, promoting their second album. The immaculate ‘Gas ‘n’ Air’, mainly recorded in Mexico City, really is quite brilliant. Sitting somewhere in a space between Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen, Luke Haines in Record collector called ‘Gas ‘n’ Air’ “a total, 24-carat masterpiece” and DJ Gary Crowley has said “it is an album I have not stopped playing since I first heard it.” And that is right. It may become another lost classic, but it really is that good.

And so now Ian Bickerton is back, touring a series of smaller venues as a band, playing songs from the new album, a few from the original 1992 album, and an array of tunes from a great body of unreleased work he’s been compiling over the last 30 years. These will be a rare and memorable series of gigs, an opportunity to discover a new classic songwriter, and another favourite album that you once you hear it you won’t want to put down.

Balloon are playing The Folklore Rooms in Brighton on Tuesday, 10th March. Support comes from the amazing Tim Keegan. Tickets are here.