GUITAR virtuoso Dan Patlansky heads to Manchester next week buoyed by the success of his most recent album Intro-Vertigo.

For the second time in three years, the South African showman has been awarded the blues rock album of the year award by Blues Rock Review.

“Getting the award was a great way to end 2016,” said Dan. “You’re never quite sure how an album will be received so it’s like getting a big pat on the back.

“The problem is you spend so much time recording and writing the album after a while, you can’t hear the album for what it is. It could be the worst thing that’s ever been released in the history of the world because you are too close to it, so when you get recognition for it, it is great.”

Dan’s astonishing guitar work coupled with an ability to pen interesting, soulful songs has seen him win a host of accolades.

He has also had the honour of opening a show in his native South Africa for Bruce Springsteen and was chosen by Joe Satriani to open up for him on a European tour.

“It’s quite a mind adjustment if you come off something like the Springsteen show or the Joe Satriani tour,” he said. “In a way the shows in front of 80,0000 people are few and far between for me so I’ll probably sound more comfortable doing smaller venues.

“When you do a show for 80,000 people you are just doing a show for a sea of people. For the smaller shows it’s far more intimate.”

Dan thrives on playing live and his shows often include some spontaneous moves which delight audiences.

“I love to play live and the songs for me are even better live as they are freer and there is a lot more improvisation that goes on,” he said. “They take on a different form.

“In a live setting, putting on a show is a big part of it. In today’s world I think you have got to be a showman. Sure people come to listen but they also watch the show at the same time.”

Fans may be getting their last chance to see Dan and his battered 1962 Fender Strat.

“When they made the guitar they used Brazilian Rosewood for part of it which, in the Sixties, was a perfectly normal piece of wood to use.,” he said.

“But it turns out that it’s from the rain forest and obviously that’s highly illegal now. It’s becoming a little bit of a tricky situation getting past customs officials in various parts of the world.

“You try explaining to some random customs official that the wood was put on the guitar 55 years ago when it was perfectly legal.

“It’s getting to the point where I’ll have to look at an alternative for international travel.

“I’ve owned it since 2000 so it’s been with me for 17 years so it does feel like home base. It’s like that old pair of underwear you’re just so comfortable with.”

For next week’s show in Manchester Dan will be supported by Ash Wilson.

Dan Patlansky, Deaf Institute, Manchester, Wednesday, May 3. Details from 0844 478 0898 or www.thegigcartel.com