IT'S the Never Ending Tour - and it's coming our way.

Fans with a hot ticket to tonight's sell out Bob Dylan gig at 02 Guildhall Southampton tonight are in for a treat after a host of five star reviews for his recent Royal Albert Hall residency.

Critics and audiences are universally reporting the legendary singer songwriter is back to his best after earning a reputation for disappointing even diehard fans in recent years.

The Never Ending Tour is the popular name for Bob Dylan's endless touring schedule since 1988. But his influence stretches back five decades. Early songs such as Blowin' in the Wind and The Times They Are a-Changin became anthems for the American civil rights and anti-war movements.

Initially considered part of the American folk musical revival, Dylan's Like A Rolling Stone changed the face of popular music in 1965.

His recording career, spanning 50 years, has explored the traditions in American song—from folk, blues, and country to gospel, rock and roll, and rockabilly to English, Scottish, and Irish folk music, embracing even jazz and the Great American Songbook. Dylan performs with guitar, keyboards, and harmonica.

As a musician, Dylan has sold more than 100 million records, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. He has received Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Awards and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Bob Dylan released his new album Shadows In The Night in February. His 36th studio album, the record hit number one in the UK charts and featured a range of jazz standards covered by the singer, including tracks originally made famous by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Frankie Laine.