Howie Payne, former frontman of Liverpool band The Stands, has revealed an exclusive live acoustic version 'Hold Steady the Wire'. Watch the stunning performance below.

The track is taken from his forthcoming intimate solo acoustic album, Mountain. It will be his second solo release after the 2009 Ethan Jon’s produced debut Bright Light Ballads and lands on 27 October.

The track, like all of Howie Payne's music, is an accomplished and considered piece of master-songwriting. You get the feeling that these cuts are very personal to Payne and use universal metaphors to express the importance of his closest personal relationships. His music is deeply influenced by a range of American acoustic songwriters from Buddy Holly to Dylan to Ray Lamontagne which are then fused with his own Liverpool roots.

The above cut is a version of just one of many great moments on an exciting new album crafted by this quietly genius singer. Of the music, Payne quite rightly feels it’s his best piece of work to date and that all the songs are all "rooted in real life". 'Holding On', which is taken from it, is another good place to start getting into his music and was named track of the week earlier this month on Gigwise. Mountain is an important record from an artist at the height of his powers.

Payne will be going on a UK tour and will be playing songs from his old band, The Stands, as well as tracks from Bright Light Ballads and the new record.

Howie Payne October tour dates:
Thurs 12th Liverpool - Buyers Club
Fri 13th Leeds - Belgrave Music Hall
Sat 14th Glasgow - Hug & Pint
Sun 15th Manchester - Night People
Mon 16th Newcastle - Think Tank
Fri 20th Birmingham - Actress & Bishop
Sat 21st Nottingham - Bodega
Sun 22nd Leicester The Cookie
Mon 23rd Oxford - The Bullingdon
Wed 25th Southampton - The Joiners
Sat 28th London - The Borderline