SINGER-songwriter Ron Sexsmith (pictured) plays The Point, Cardiff Bay next week. The critically acclaimed tunesmith, whose songs have been covered by the likes of Rod Stewart and opera singer Anne Sophie Van Otter, is in South Wales on Tuesday, December 4 at 7.30pm.

Ron is on the road promoting his latest album, Blue Boy, which has been hailed as a little bit different for him.

Until Blue Boy, Ron never led an album with a punchy track like This Song, which is a country-like brassy pop song.

"It's about trying to protect the best aspects in ourselves from cynicism and other negativity," said Ron, whose music normally depresses rather than impresses.

His previous albums, an eponymous debut in 1995, 1997's Other Songs and 1999's Whereabouts, consist mostly of ballads and mid-tempo rollers, which Ron's voice is best suited to, he said.

The consummate songwriting style has never been in or out of fashion in Ron's six years releasing records. His ability to conjure images, characters, plot or just plain emotion has earned him praise from Elvis Costello, Paul McCartney and Sheryl Crow, among others. Blue Boy has been produced by Steve Earle and engineer Ray Kennedy (The Twangtrust).

*Ron Sexsmith plays The Point, Cardiff Bay on Tuesday, December 4 at 7.30pm.