AFTER being mistaken for his namesake, the iconic frontman of Manchester indie band The Stone Roses, local singer-songwriter Ian Brown is to release his first single at the age of 50 under the name Ian W Brown. Ian, from Fordingbridge, was a pig farmer before deciding to diversify the business.

He is a successful songwriter under the name Tom Gilbert with a track record that includes an Ivor Novello nomination for Sandi Thom's chart topping I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair), No Hopers Jokers and Rogues for Fisherman's Friends, Dreamboats and Petticoats (a hit for Jason Donovan) and Thanks For Turning Up, co-written with Steve Knightley from Show of Hands.

Ian wrote the latest song, Me Too, after appearing at the Purbeck Valley Folk Festival where he met a couple of Stone Roses fans who thought they were going to see their hero. “I'm not fooling anyone with this,” says Ian.

“I always feel a bit sorry for people who think I'm going to be the Stone Roses singer. I mean, frankly I would rather see him than me.

“The song is about sharing your name with someone famous and having to deal with all the day-to-day business of living that you presume they don't, but when you think about it they do, we are all the same, we all get lonely and we all get sad.”

Me Too has been produced by Rupert Christie (Bellowhead, Jessie J, Fisherman's Friends) and remixed by Grammy Award winner Brian Rawling (David Bowie, James Bay, Rod Stewart, James Morrison). Its bittersweet lyrics name check people called Bob Marley, Elton John, Norah Jones, David Gray and Deborah Harry. Ahead of the song's release in February, Ian is playing Bournemouth Folk Club on December 6 at the Sugar and Spice bar in Boscombe and will give a free advance copy of the single to everyone who buys a ticket.

“Everyone's welcome whether they've heard of me or not, and if you share a famous name there might even be drink in it,” he added.

Meanwhile, this Sunday at Bournemouth Folk Club sees a visit from folk royalty with Jez Lowe and Steve Tilston. Two great stars of the scene performing together at the Boscombe venue for a concert filled with songs and intimate insights into their approach to their craft. While later in the month Naomi Bedford and Paul Simmonds headline on November 29, the BBC Folk Award songwriter nominee and one of The Men They Couldn't Hang, Paul is joined by duo partner Naomi for what promises to be a special evening.

: For more information please see bournemouthfolkclub.co.uk.