PSYCHEDELIC folk legend Simon Finn is returning to the Colchester Arts Centre this week.

Simon, whose first performance was opening for Al Stewart at the Marquee Club, in Soho, released the now legendary album, Pass the Distance, in the Seventies.

But no sooner had he started forging his career, he packed it in for life on a farm in Canada, and knew nothing of the musical world until, in 2003, someone told him about this new internet thing called Google.

He put is name in and was astonished to find the musical world had caught up with his talent and Pass the Distance had become a cult classic.

"I saw a review of Pass the Distance in a music magazine," he says, "and got in touch with an old music friend who said, 'Simon, yes, people are looking for you, do you want to be found?' I did."

His first performance was in support of the band Current 93 at St George the Martyr Church in Toronto. Since then he has performed in Moscow, Athens, Glasgow, Barcelona, New York, Chicago and many other cities around the world.

His second album, Magic Moments, was released by Durtro/Jnana in June 2005.

Simon says: "I moved back to the UK in 2008 and about three weeks later the whole place collapsed back to 1970 levels, so my re-entry has been almost seamless."

After a gig at Colchester Arts Centre, he decided the town was for him and moved here.

He is back at the Church Street venue tomorrow night, June 30, when support comes from The Wingless Heron.

Doors open at 7.30pm with tickets, priced £7 and £6 for concessions, which are available on 01206 500900.