King of the blues out of 'retirement'

Despite having not long finished his "farewell tour", king of the blues BB King is already coming out of retirement for a tour which takes in Birmingham's NIA on Thursday, June 25, 2009.

Tickets priced £39 and £45, plus booking and transaction fees, are on sale now.

The blues guitar icon will team up with his special guest, legendary British blues virtuoso John Mayall, to share a once-in-a-lifetime double bill.

BB King's hits include You Upset Me Baby, Sweet Little Angel, Paying the Cost to Be the Boss and his collaboration with U2, When Love Comes to Town.

It is already turning into a vintage year for blues fans in the Midlands, with new blues rock hero Joe Bonamassa at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on April 23 and rock shredder turned blues superstar Gary Moore also at the Civic, on April 29.