Scottish music legend Midge Ure returns to the UK theatre circuit with a special concert experience – and will hit Barrow in May.

Midge will tour his Songs, Questions and Answers around the country and it will represent a return to a format he tried 25 years ago.

Accompanying Midge are his multi instrumentalists Cole Stacey and Joe O’Keefe.

There is plenty to talk about too while covering a 40-year professional career from Ultravox, Midge’s solo work to Band Aid and his Orchestrated CD from 2017 as well as anything else the audience can think of to ask him.

Midge will perform songs from the Ultravox catalogue alongside his solo work. There will be an opportunity for suggestions from the crowd to pick a song for him to perform. The show will be a selection of material that will satisfy the fans and please the curious. It’s not often the audience gets to suggest the playlist.

You started your music career in the 70s with Slik, Rich Kids, Ultravox, etc. Do you think it was easier then to “make it” than today? What are the biggest and influential changes to the music industry in your opinion?

If anything, it seems more difficult to get noticed today, even with all the social media and alternative platforms. There used to be a tried and tested route, play, get spotted, be offered a contract etc. but that route doesn’t exist anymore. Technology is the major change in the music industry both for the better and the worse. Access to creative tools for recording, video making, photography, design etc. is available to everyone with a computer and a desire to create.

What’s the best gig that you’ve been to, or has inspired you the most?

I saw Bowie playing the Ziggy Stardust album in 1972 to a half empty Greens Playhouse in Glasgow and it was outstanding. Very simple set up but brilliant concert.

Do you have a pre-show ritual? If so, what is it?

Nope. Turn up and do your job well. All the hand holding, chants and rituals won’t help if you haven’t prepared!

How do like to relax on a day off during a tour?

Days off during a tour don’t really exist. They tend to be ‘travel’ days. Record labels used to drive me crazy when they would set up a day of interviews for you on your ‘day off’ cos they never realised you would be spending that day in a bus or a plane!

What is the one item you can’t go on tour without?

My computer. It’s my recording studio, communication centre, entertainment centre etc.

The idea for “The Songs Questions and Answers” tour is quite unique. What inspired you or gave you the idea for the tour?

I did an ‘out alone’ tour a while back where I took questions from the audience where whatever they asked or talked about would lead me to play a specific song which meant that every show was different. The problem with not having a set list is you have absolutely no idea how long you have been on stage. I have to set my watch to vibrate to let me know when to wind the evening down!

What has been your career highlight been so far and why?

Too numerous to mention... sharing the stage with my heroes...Band Aid/Live Aid...

Do you have a favourite up and coming band/artist? If so, who and why?

I find the majority of music on daytime radio very safe and repetitive. It used to be how you discovered new artists, but I’ve been listening a lot to BBC 6 Music who seen to be much more adventurous with their playlists. Thankfully there are a lot of interesting new artists out there.

What are you listening to at the moment?

Sadly, all my old stuff. I never listen to anything I have done but because of this tour I have to refresh my memory in case I am asked about a specific song, not that I will remember everything anyway but if I know the first chord then I can probably give it a go.

What is the funniest or most unusual question you have been asked during an interview?

Whatever happened to Mary and Mungo....from the children’s TV program Mary, Mungo and Midge.

Do you listen to music video streaming, CD, downloads or vinyl?

A bit of everything. I’m not a purist. Having grown up listening to British radio in the 60’s and 70’s broadcast on medium wave, every medium sounds great to me!

Is there one part of the world that you haven’t been to yet but want to go? If so, tell us why you’d like to go there.

You tend to go to countries in order to tour but there are places you just want to visit. I think Alaska could be an interesting challenge.

If there was one piece of advice you could give to musicians just starting out, what would it be?

If you want to make music to become famous or rich, best find another career. If you can take rejection, failure, scathing reviews or don’t mind spending most of your life in a box (car, van, bus, plane, hotel, dressing room) can survive the highs and lows, the adulation and humiliation and still wake up every morning doe eyed and grateful you are allowed to carry on doing what you do, then welcome to my world.

Tickets for all shows are available from Midge Ure’s official website: www.midgeure.co.uk/shows.html