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The Tea Party frontman Jeff Martin is bringing his solo acoustic tour to Settlers Tavern.

The frontman and self-professed "mad hatter" of Canadian prog-rock trio The Tea Party will kick off his national solo acoustic tour with a Settlers Tavern performance on March 12.

Jeff Martin's solo tour follows on from The Tea Party's album The Ocean at the End, the band's first in 10 years.

Active in the 1990s, The Tea Party went their separate ways in 2005 and reformed in 2011 to play sold-out performances in Australia and Canada.

Martin said the solo tour would feature songs from the album as well as older fan favourites.

"It will definitely take you on a rollercoaster ride you've never been on before," he said.

Martin said his challenge was to translate his songs from stadium shows to smaller acoustic settings. "I find it a bit more intimidating to play solo," he said.

"The proximity of the audience creates a big change in the psychological atmosphere."

Martin said he drew inspiration from English folk musician Roy Harper, whose early acoustic work influenced Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.

He said guitar effects pedals let him show different influences while keeping an acoustic feel.

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Rocker promises rollercoaster ride