HE’S played with some of the biggest artists in the world but now drummer Steve White will be heading to Bolton next week to play the kind of music he really loves.

Steve, former long-term drummer for Paul Weller and who has also worked with The Who and Oasis, will be bringing his band Trio Valore to the Albert Halls.

With Ocean Colour Scene’s Damon Michella on bass and Justin Shearn on Hammond organ, the band has an unashamedly Sixties feel to it.

“There are elements of Jimmy Smith and the Meteors in there, plus a little Booker T,” said Steve. “It’s a bit of a love affair for the Hammond organ.

“But we do have guest vocalists who we call on for gigs.

“This is music which is a little off the beaten track but it’s the sort of music I started out playing as a youngster before I got sidetracked.”

Trio Valore were formed in 2008, then with Seamus Beagham on organ, and played extensively for a year. The band reformed this year for s concert to mark their Italian record label’s 10th anniversary.

“Seamus had other commitments so Justin said he’d step in,” said Steve. “We didn’t tell the promoter that we’d never actually played together before — we needed a fairly lengthy sound check!

“But the show was amazing and we got a great reception.”

Since then the band has played a number of festivals around Europe getting rave reviews.

“What we do isn’t mainstream,” said Steve, “but I think a lot of music fans are looking for something different. I think people are bored with the X Factor and they appreciate good musicianship.

“I think that most people who come to the gigs get what we do. You do occasionally get someone asking afterwards why we didn’t play any Paul Weller songs but those are his songs, this is my thing.

“I think it’s important that we keep the world of music alive a little bit. Not everything is destined for the charts and it takes some musical ‘chops’ to go for it and play what we do.

“There is a lot of improvisation which means you really have to think on your feet.”

Although Trio Valore are increasingly attracting interest in the music world, Steve is also an in-demand session drummer, a producer and drum teacher. Plus he is also a family man whose partner former Coronation Street star Sally Lindsay has her own high profile career.

“The secret is to be well organised,” said Steve. “We are no different from any other family where both parents work. I really try to arrange things so that I am not away from home too much, so that I can drop the kids off at school, and Sally does the same.

“We both work in industries where it is difficult to turn own work as you’re never sure where the next job will come from and we do have to keep abreast of each other’s diaries.”

  •  Trio Valore, Albert Halls, Bolton, Friday, November 8. Details from 01204 334400