YOU know a town’s been put on the musical map when artists are specially requesting to play there.

Which is exactly what musician David Ford has done. He is taking time out of his current UK tour to perform a low key gig in Huddersfield.

It is part of a series of acoustic sets he is staging in favourite towns and cities where he has played in the past.

His journey will take him to pubs, clubs, coffee houses, galleries and internet cafes and will bring him to Sleepers on Viaduct Street on September 26.

Ford’s love of the Huddersfield scene was born the last time he came to town, back in 2005, when he played two gigs at The Cornerhouse – one as support to his friend Duke Special and once as headliner.

The gigs were run by Huddersfield promoters Half Cut and it seems Ford enjoyed himself so much that the town and the promoters won a special place in his heart.

Hannah Quarmby, bookings director for Half Cut, said: “It's quite a coup to get him and he requested to do a low key slot with us that is nothing to do with his national tour.

“We chose Sleepers because it is very bohemian in style and has a friendly appreciative band of customers. David Ford is very excited to be coming back and also at visiting this venue.”

Ford fans will be thrilled to hear of the intimate gig. But if you haven’t heard of David Ford, now is the time to discover him.

It’s hard to compare him directly to other artists, but if you think of the haunting harmonious melodies and barbed, poignant lyrics of Tom Waits, Neil Young and Todd Rundgren, you won’t be far away.

His philosophy of ‘shit happens but if it doesn't kill you, get up and keep moving forward' is evident throughout his music and encompassed every song on his debut album, I Sincerely Apologise For All The Trouble I’ve Caused, which was recorded in the cellar of his flat in Lewes, Sussex.

His lyrics are outspoken and reflect the fact that this is an artist unafraid to take risks – he even dabbles in the occasional cover version, including Madonna’s Like A Prayer and Abba’s Dancing Queen.

After enjoying success with his debut on home soil, he jetted off to America, where his work found an equally warm reception.

It received stunning reviews in the New York Times and Rolling Stone and he found himself championed by NBC’s Carson Daly, appearing on his show three times.

Ford also bagged support slots with Ray Lamontagne, Aimee Mann and former Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft and can now count Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young amongst his fans.

But now he’s back in Britain to treat his UK fans to the release of his second album, Songs For The Road, which came out on August 6.

It seems fans had been desperate to get their hands on new material, as the record hit number one in the folk/solo artist chart of iTunes after just two days on download sale.

The album is once again a do-it-yourself affair, although this time round he is joined by guests including legendary pedal steel player JB Cole.

Entry to the Sleepers gig costs £3 on the door.

For more on David Ford, check out http://www.davidford.mu or www.half-cut.co.uk.