When Jason Ringenberg created his musical children's character Farmer Jason in 2003, he had no idea he was launching what would prove to be the most commercially successful creation of his career.

Best known for his mid-Eighties work with cowpunk band Jason and The Scorchers, he pioneered the fusion of punk rock and country that later became alt country.

But with two young daughters missing their dad during his 200 dates a year touring schedule, Jason wanted to make a CD his kids could listen to while he was out globetrotting.

"I was gone so much that I thought what a fun thing it would be to make a little record for them to listen to," he says.

Since they lived on a small farm near Bon Aqua, Tennessee, and Jason grew up on an Illinois hog farm, he reckoned a roots-oriented CD about farming and farm animals was in order. This led to the release of his first Farmer Jason CD, A Day at the Farm with Farmer Jason. He recorded it "purely for fun" and was happy to hear his daughters singing along to songs such as the Tractor goes Chug Chug Chug and A Guitar Pickin' Chicken.

It wasn't long before other young children - and their parents - were singing along as well.

"I had that as one of my goals," Jason says. "A children's CD that can entertain and educate children, without making their parents want to blow up the stereo."

He admits he never expected his career to turn out this way. "If someone had told me in 1985 that 22 years from now I would be singing about an Elvis impersonating hog and butterflies, I would have thought they were on drugs, which they probably would have been in those days."

Farmer Jason's songs take their young audiences, usually under six years old, to musical forests where they pay tribute to toads, skunks and other animals.

Meanwhile his "evil twin brother" Jason Ringenberg continues to sing about broken whiskey bottles and the excesses of American imperialism after the kiddies have gone to bed.

At 47, Jason has spent most of his life playing in bands. Touring solo is a very different world.

"I feel like a priest sometimes, because I'm alone with no one to talk to. Then you're out in front of all these people, bringing this energy to the audience. It's really satisfying and spontaneous - I never get tired of doing it.

"When you are with a band you are stuck in a van with a bunch of smelly men, usually with a hangover, always mad at something, and then you have a three-hour soundcheck. I'm too old for all that."

So Farmer Jason has taken over. "It's this new, vibrant, growing area for me." he says. "I have the coolest job in the world. It's been an absolute gift and I've enjoyed every minute of it. I know it sounds corny, but it's true.

"You're at this wonderful crossroads in these children's lives, having an influence on what they do and think."

He seldom gets any hecklers although he does recall one precocious eight-year-old. "She was sitting right at the front and through the whole show kept saying, You suck Farmer Jason, you suck.' It was pretty funny."

  • Farmer Jason's show starts 2pm at West Hill Hall, Compton Avenue, Seven Dials, Brighton, tomorrow, tickets cost £3. Call 01273 325440.
  • Jason Ringenberg's show starts 7.30pm at The Prince Albert, Trafalgar Street, Brighton, tomorrow, tickets cost £6.50. Call 01273 325440.