A jet-lagged Oli Brown has arrived back in the country after performing at a benefit gig in New Zealand in aid of the Red Cross earthquake appeal and he is nursing an injury.

The singer/songwriter has a hairline fracture to his pelvis and is on crutches after falling over a low wall following his appearance at the charity concert on March 25.

But, he says, that won’t stop his UK tour - which opened with a sell-out gig in his home town of Norfolk on Friday and comes to Sutton’s Boom Boom Club on April 7 - even if he has to be propped up on stage.

“I’m on crutches so it’s a little bit difficult,” he says, “but I can still move my hands and sing, so it should be different.

“I’m a very stubborn person. I’m not one to say ‘no’ and give up easily.”

He is also looking forward to touring and introducing his brand of blues music to new audiences.

“It’s different playing everywhere. Each venue and location has its own kind of vibe.

“I’ve been doing a lot of high school gigs at the moment, so we’ve been getting a lot of younger people coming to the gigs.”

The 21-year-old is living proof that you don't have to be old to play the blues. His accolades include male vocalist and young artist of the year in the 2010 British Blues Awards, and that's just for starters.

At 13, Brown picked up the guitar for the first time, inspired by the likes of Jimi Hendrix.

Just two-and-a-half years later he was invited to play in the States as the guest of American blues band, Blinddog Smokin’.

He credits that trip with teaching him about the industry and blues music.

He says: “It taught me a lot and really built my appreciation for the blues sound. That’s what really got me into the blues scene.

“A lot of the things I write are not typically blues songs. What I liked is the blues frontmen and how they held the audience.”

In 2008, Brown was signed to Ruf Records and released his first album, Open Road, to critical acclaim.

His second album, Head You Win, Tails I Lose, came out last year and he is already working on new material for his next release.

But he admits he only started writing songs when he was 17, but even then he had no ambitions to sing.

“At about 17 they forced me into a studio to record some songs. At first I just started talking, using my voice as a tool. That’s when I started writing really to have some songs that I could talk over."

Not one to look back, Brown says he is now experimenting with different styles of song-writing with his band before they head back to the studio to start work on the third album.

Oli Brown Band plus special guests the David Sinclair Trio, Boom Boom Club, Sutton United FC, Gander Green Lane, April 7, 7.30pm, £10 advance, £12 on the door. Call 020 8761 9078, feenstra.co.uk