CELEBRATING the anniversary of his debut release, a cult folk songwriter is embarking on a quirky tour which will include a stop at the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal.

Beans on Toast, who made a name for himself playing gigs all over the country, including Glastonbury, standing on a chair, also the name of the debut record, is doing just the opposite for his latest run of gigs.

Performing the ‘Sitting on a Chair’ tour at an array of special seated venues, the songwriter is marking the anniversary of his 50 song debut album ‘Standing on a Chair’, plus reading passages from his debut novel ‘Drunk Folk Stories’, a series of autobiographical short stories that spill the beans on his eventful journey in music so far.

He’s promising a unique evening of stories about his travels and songs from his huge nine album back catalogue. Love songs, protest songs and drinking songs are intertwined with the stories behind the songs and the random adventures they’ve led him on.

‘Drunk Folk Stories’ is a collection of ten, short, true-life stories about songwriting, travelling and drinking.

Featuring the likes of Billy Bragg, Banksy and The Cookie Monster. From Glastonbury to Wembley via The Bahamas, these first- hand accounts of drunken escapades, car-crashes, recreational drugs and burning pubs are full of humour, grace and honesty – just like his music.

The book is released worldwide on May 1 via ‘Play on Words Publishing’

May 1 also sees the re-release of ‘Standing on a Chair’.

The whopping 50-track debut will be released on vinyl for the first time - a double vinyl nonetheless.

Produced many moons ago by Mumford and Sons’ Ben Lovett, this much-loved album features crowd favourites such as ‘MDMAmazing’ and ‘The Price of Rice’.

It also boasts cameos from the likes of Emmy The Great, Justin Young and Frank Turner.

Nine years might seem a strange anniversary to celebrate but when he started putting these plans together Beans thought it had been 10 years. But in typical fashion he went ahead and did it anyway.

Beans on Toast is the stage name of musician Jay McAllistair, who has opened the Glastonbury festival every year since her first played there in 2005.

Tickets for his show, which will take placeon May 5, are available.