AS a man skilled in the art of songwriting, it is perhaps fitting that Ian Prowse looked to songs which had inspired him for his latest album.

Companeros features 10 songs which Ian - who comes to Darwen Library Theatre next Friday - has treasured over the years.

"It's a bit of a greatest hits album for some fabulous but underrated songwriters," he said. "They are probably their best songs but for whatever reason have just been overlooked in the past."

First with Pele and then with Amsterdam, Ian has put together an impressive portfolio of songs of his own including the anthemic Does This Train Stop on Merseyside.

But he's more than happy to showcase the work of others on his latest release.

"I'd been thinking about putting together an album of great songs which were not really heard any more and as I was doing this my producer Tony Kiley got a new piece of kit in the studio which he wanted to try out.

"At that point I didn't have any songs ready so I just worked on a song, Johnny and Marie which I've loved for years. When we heard it back we both new that this was the way to go so I just looked for songs which were all by people I'd met in the past and loved but which had sort of fallen by the wayside.

"Before I knew it I'd got 10 belters sorted out. and we put the album together.

"I'm really proud of it, To me it represents the best songs every written by the individual songwriters and it all hangs together as a coherent album too.

"These songs all moved me one way or another when I first heard them and they still do that to this day which is the sign of a great song."

Ian has managed to speak to a number of the songwriters about the project and has been flattered by their reaction.

"They are all proud of their songs and extremely humble about them," he said. "They were all saying how grateful they were to me for putting them on the album but it's really me who should be thanking them for what they came up with."

Ian is the latest performer to head to Darwen as part of the monthly acoustic showcases giving music fans the chance to see top songwriters in an intimate atmosphere.

"I think there will be one or two anecdotes during the evening and I'll be able to tell the stories behind some of the songs from Companeros too," said Ian.

"It's nice to be able to give all these songwriters the kudos they deserve."

Ian Prowse, Darwen Library Theatre, Friday, April 15. Details from 0844 847 1664.