A chance mention during an online chat of George Formby singing about the Isle of Man has led to a tour of the British Isles for one of the world’s great blues guitarists.

Ari Eisinger, one the world’s most renowned players of acoustic blues and ragtime guitar, will also stop over on the island during his autumn tour, after replying to a Facebook comment by the blues aficionado Dr Phil Ratcliffe.

After Dr Phil posted a glowing message about a Manx concert he had just played, and Ari replied with a youtube video of George Formby singing his famous ’Isle of Man’ song.

This led to a three way conversation between both the bluesmen and also with John Gregory, guitarist with the blues duo ’Blue John and Papa Cass’.

’Within about five minutes this had escalated into a British Isles tour,’ said John. ’We have been working hard on it ever since.’

Manx audiences will be able to catch Ari at two gigs on the island. He will be appearing at the Institute, Laxey, on Saturday, October 7 and the Erin Arts Centre on Sunday, October 8, supported by Blue John and Dr Phil.

Ari has previously played with some of the great names in the history of fingerpicking guitar, such as Taj Mahal, Dave Van Ronk and the legendary Doc Watson. He has also performed on stage with blues hero John Jackson.

He is known for his two solo albums You Don’t Understand and That Will Never Happen No More.

He has also produced a series of tuition DVDs for Stefan Grossman’s Guitar Workshop on the playing of blues legends Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller, Lonnie Johnson and Blind Lemon Jefferson.

’I am thrilled to be visiting the Isle of Man for two shows as part of my tour of the British Isles and have heard a lot about the two venues from John,’ said Ari.

’The audience will hear me perform music originally written and recorded by the great country blues and ragtime guitarists of the 1920s and 1930s.’

Tickets for the Isle of Man shows are £15 each and are available from etickets.im/bjm

Tickets for the Erin Arts Centre show are also available from the box office on 832662, with under 18s costing £2 to enter.For more details see www.bluejohnmedia.com or phone on 204320.