Acoustic bluesman Eric Bibb found fame in his mid-forties and is still making remarkable music on his steel-strong guitar at the age of 73.

I remember coming across acoustic bluesman Eric Bibb for the first time in the mid-’90s, when he received the first of his three Grammy nominations. So it’s a surprise to learn that he is entering his seventh decade in the game.

To get an idea of just how far back that was, he was given some advice at the age of seven, after being given his first guitar, by a family friend – Bob Dylan – who told him: “Keep it simple – forget all that fancy stuff.” 

That was in the late 1950s. And he’s still doing that on his 32nd album, at the age of 73.

This poignant elegy for our troubled world, the twang of his steel-string acoustic embroidered with some subtle slide guitar from former Pretenders member and McCartney sideman Robbie McIntosh, is the opening track.

Here he introduces the opening track, Take The Stage, as “easy running,” with gospel overtones reminiscent of Sam Cooke, Bob Marley and Curtis Mayfield.

He really couldn’t have had a better tutelage in music and politics, with his father Leon Bibb being a folk singer and civil rights activist of note, his uncle was jazz pianist John Lewis, his godfather Paul Robeson, and other family friends included Pete Seeger and Odetta.

Bibb’s new album In The Real World perfectly encapsulates his signature blend of blues and folk, gospel and soul, and when his weathered voice occasionally cracks it’s reminiscent of Dylan and Tom Waits (though not especially on this song).

And he harmonises beautifully with actress Lily James, a surprise guest who showcases what turns out to be a lovely voice on Victory Voices, the final track of the album.