Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton

Elvis Costello & The Imposters are playing Portsmouth Guildhall on Friday 26 June, with Charlie Sexton joining them on stage. They're touring Radio Soul!: The Early Songs of Elvis Costello, a set that looks back at the first decade of his recording career, from 1977's My Aim Is True through to 1986's Blood & Chocolate.

That's a fair chunk of ground to cover. You'll hear songs like 'Watching The Detectives', 'I Want You', 'Alison', 'Man Out Of Time' and 'Brilliant Mistake' — tracks from the early records that he's still playing forty years on. Costello describes the show as a mix of 'the unexpected and the faithful in equal measure', and he's quick to point out that The Imposters aren't a tribute act. They're a working band, and this one includes three musicians who recorded this music originally alongside two newer members.

He's got a particular way of talking about the band, too: 'The Imposters are a living, breathing, fainting, swaying, kicking and screaming rock and roll band that can turn on a pretty ballad when the occasion arises.' That's the kind of night you're signing up for — the loud, rowdy side of his work given as much room as the quieter moments. He also summed up the whole idea with a line that sticks: 'For any songwriter, it has to be a compliment if people want to hear songs written up to fifty years ago.'

Doors open at 19:00, and the Square Kitchen and Bars opens at 18:15 if you want to get in early. Tickets range from £61.25 to £137.30, which includes a 17% booking fee. There are hospitality packages and charcuterie boards available, though those need to be booked at least 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve discounted parking. A few house rules to keep in mind: under-14s have to be accompanied by an adult over 18, and cameras and tablets aren't allowed inside.