DAVE Arcari who will be making a welcome return to the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival in Colne this August admits he has become the ultimate DIY artist - and he’s got an album to prove it.

For Dave’s latest release - Live at Memorial Hall - which he will officially launch at Colne, was recorded in his local village hall on the shores of Loch Lomond.

“I had some new material but not really enough for a new album,” said Dave whose fiery version of blues, country and old school rock and roll has made him a festival favourite on both sides of the Atlantic.

“I had a couple of gigs lined up in Edinburgh and Glasgow so I thought I’d record them for an album,” he said. “The show in Edinburgh was a technical disaster and the Glasgow set just didn’t sound right.”

So Dave turned to his local village hall.

“It’s only a mile from home and usually has one gig a year, but it worked perfectly. It meant I could go in and set everything up in advance and the audience was so supportive - a lot of them were friends or neighbours.”

With wife Margaret on the door, Dave was both sound man and performer.

“When you know you are recording a show it does tend to focus the mind a bit,” he said. “Certainly I had to try and not to drink too much whisky too early on,” he laughed. “I had to keep the stories between songs to a minimum and the whole thing was probably fairly well-mannered for me.”

Apart from forgetting to press record on one of the recording machines “I just forget, it was a small machine just in front of me” - the evening ran remarkably smoothly.

“We nearly had an issue when a stag party turned up during the show,” said Dave. “They started getting a bit rowdy but I didn’t really know what was going on as I was on stage. Margaret managed to ask them to leave before they got too disruptive.”

The resulting recordings, which Dave mixed at Chem 19 Studios in Glasgow have resulted in a double live album which he will even be releasing on coloured vinyl.

“I’m delighted with it,” said Dave “I think it’s the best album I’ve ever done and it’s got me thinking about how I will record in the future. It could have set a precedent.

“I’ve been in the studio when they have wanted me to do another take but I never play the same thing twice. For my kind of music the feel is so important which is why the live recording was so effective.”

Dave is no stranger to Colne although it is several years since he has been to the festival.

“I did the acoustic stage three or four years running but it’s nice to have a break - especially for the audience,” he laughed. “But it’s a fabulous festival and great fun. I’m really looking forward to getting there again.”

Dave Arcari plays Tom Attah’s Acoustic Blues Showcase at Pendle Hippodrome on Sunday, August 27. The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival runs from Friday, August 25 to Sunday, August 27. Full details from www.bluesfestival.co.uk. Box office 01282 861888