ONE of the Scotland best loved folk rock singers is coming home to Greenock to celebrate 20 years at the top with an intimate gig.

Greenock Telegraph: Yvonne Lyon

Songwriter and performer Yvonne Lyon has built an impressive collection of work over the last two decades, impressing the likes of Michael Ball and respected Radio Two presenter Bob Harris along the way.

She has taken her songs all over the globe, collaborating with Edinburgh University on a living histories of sugar concept, travelling to Jamaica to perform there.

Now Yvonne will now bring all those experiences together for an emotional homecoming gig in the Greenock Town Hall saloon along with her husband David Lyon, also a musician, and her producer Graeme Duffin, of Wet Wet Wet fame, for a magical night of melodies.

Yvonne, who lives in Greenock, said: "This is where is all began and I have had the most wonderful 20 years and the greatest experiences.

"I am so happy to come to the Greenock Town Hall, back to where it all began. I used to come here every year to the Inverclyde Music Festival to play the piano.

"I also like to give something back and I have become more involved in the festival in recent years.

"There are people coming from all over England for the show and that is lovely. I am looking forward to playing with my husband and Graeme, who has been with me right from the start.

"I never imagined when I decided to go solo and do this full-time that I would have had 20 years doing what I love and working with so many wonderful people.

"My music has taken me all over the world from Cambodia to Jamaica.

"It has been the most wonderful experience."

One of Yvonne's most recent creative projects has been part of the recent soul-searching over the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade and its significant links with Inverclyde.

It took her to the West Indies to take part in a festival.

She said: "It was special to go to Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

"It really meant something to be in Jamaica and was an experience I will never forget.

During the town hall show Yvonne will take the audience through her career, which has included 10 studio solo albums.

She has supported Eddi Reader , performed with Beth Neilson Chapman on her UK tour and co-written with Boo Hewerdine.

Yvonne is a familiar voice on the airwaves, taking part in live sessions on Radio Two .

Yvonne, who grew up in Quarrier's Village, said: "When my songs connect with people it means something to me, it is about bringing people together and it has been very special to be able to do that for 20 years."

Greenock Town Hall is becoming an increasingly popular venue for gigs as facilities manager Jim Lyon signs up acts from across the country.

Jim said: "We want local artists to play here and when I saw Yvonne at Celtic Connections I thought she would be perfect to play the saloon as it is very intimate."

Yvonne Lyon's Songs So Far show in the Greenock Town Hall saloon is on Saturday December 9 from 7.30-9.30pm.

To book tickets visit www.eventbrite.co.uk