DOGAN Mehmet is a man on a mission.

The young songwriter and performer, who appears with his band The Deerhunters at Mellor Brook, admits he is out to change people’s perceptions.

Born in Brighton to Turkish Cypriot parents, Dogan is ideally placed to take a view on multi-cultural Britain – and his music reflects this.

“I am the stereotypical kebab shop owner’s son,” he laughed.

In fact, he’s a multi-talented instrumentalist who is juggling studying music at Newcastle University with live shows.

And when he’s not playing live he’s recording — his debut album Gypsyhead is due out in the next few weeks.

A former runner-up in the BBC2 Young Folk Awards, Dogan has attracted a lot of attention from established names including Eliza Carthy, Show of Hands’ Steve Knightly and Spiers and Boden.

But he doesn’t see himself as a folk act.

He said: “I like to think we take aspects of Turkish gipsy music with reggae and roots rhythms and blend that with traditional music.

“There are so many influences it doesn’t naturally sit in one category which is really what I want.

"I love to change people’s preconceptions and this happens regularly when we play live.”

Dogan can tour with up to nine other musicians. For Monday’s show it will be a smaller version of the Deerhunters featuring bass, guitar and percussionist.

“We may be reduced in number but it won’t be your average acoustic show,” he said.

“We really put on a show and get things going.”

Dogan has grown up with music. He’s a trained opera singer and has played every style from classical to rock.

But a chance remark in his mid-teens set him on the way to his current career.

“Someone asked me where I was from and asked if I played any music from there,” he said.

“It was the first time that the idea had been mentioned but I started to work on traditional tunes.”

* Dogan Mehmet and the Deerhunters, Mellor Brook Community Centre, Monday, April 11. Tickets 01254 812131 or 07871 153 880.