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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Songwriter Shea Alain impressed live music fans last summer with his emotionally-charged lyrics and passionate performances.

Then he disappeared.

That summer he won the Music in the Park Competition and the Rock the Folks competition - which earned him a performance at last year's Folk on the Rocks festival.

But where did he go after that?

Alain spent the past year in England volunteering with Gap UK, an organization that places high school graduates in support roles with youth who have physical and developmental disabilities.

He worked with student residents of a school in Coventry, accompanying the youth to soccer matches, concerts and clubs.

"I was there more as a friend," Alain said.

He started a guitar club in the school and found ways to help the students play. For instance, one student with muscular dystrophy discovered he could play guitar by lying the instrument flat and pressing the strings with his fingers.

"The guys loved it," Alain said. "It was a really good learning experience."

He also took advantage of the dynamic music scene in Britain, playing at weird little clubs and alternative cafes. He competed in another battle of the bands competition styled after American Idol.

"In England the talent is crazy but all the judges really liked (my performance)," he said.

He returned to Yellowknife in early July to perform at Folk on the Rocks again, backed by pianist and trombonist Brendan Callas, formerly of The Greasy Twigs, and A Fine Madness guitarist Mike McCormick.Alain, Callas and McCormick are ready to play more gigs this month.

"Shea is heading off to school in the fall so we have a short amount of playing time," Callas said. "We'll try to play as much as we can."

Next month Alain is beginning studies in respiratory therapy at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary.