Perhaps best known for his Woodstock performance in 1969, the US singer boasts one of the most recognisable voices in popular music.

Martin Snodin, of Acoustic Sussex, said: "Havens has a soulful singing style that remains as unique and ageless as when he first emerged from the Greenwich Village folk scene in the early 1960s. For over three decades, Havens has used his music to convey messages of brotherhood and personal freedom.

"But it was Havens' reputation as a live performer that first earned him widespread notice, beginning with his Woodstock appearance. As the festival's first performer, he held the crowd spellbound for nearly three hours, called back for encore after encore.

"Having run out of tunes, he improvised a song based on the old spiritual Motherless Child that became Freedom, a song now considered to be the anthem of a generation. The subsequent movie release helped Havens reach a worldwide audience of millions."

Martin added: "Havens' voice and unique guitar style have inspired and electrified audiences from the festival in 1969 to the Clinton presidential inauguration in 1993, coming full circle with the 30th Woodstock anniversary celebration in 1999."

Earlier this year, Havens performed at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, playing Freedom in tribute to his fan and jury president Sean Penn. Havens has just released a collection of new material on his latest CD, Nobody Left To Crown.

His West Sussex date comes with added significance. In January 2007, Havens was one of many musicians who signed a charity guitar that helped Acoustic Sussex to raise more than £10,000 for cancer charities, including St Catherine's Hospice in Crawley.

Tickets are £17.50 from the Hawth box office on 01293 553636 or online at www.hawth.co.uk.