By the end of the tour Mathiske confirmed what many had speculated - that his career as a touring musician spanning three decades was drawing to an end.

"I've made 19 or 20 albums and I finally felt like I had done that and completed that part of my life," he said.

Mathiske returned from touring to compose and orchestrate specifically for guitar and orchestra.

Shortly after he realised he had enough material to make one more album, titled The Mathiske Suites for Guitar and Orchestra, which he made with The Sydney Metropolitan Orchestra.

"I didn't have a plan, no time limits - everything and everyone just fell into place when it needed to."

When he heard Lizotte's on the Central Coast was closing down he was all too happy to play a special show, along with a gig in Newcastle in February.

Mathiske said he planned to perform music from his earlier albums as well as new releases, simultaneously playing bass, rhythm and melody on his own solo guitar orchestra.

Mathiske said he had faith that most of his fans followed him as his style manifested over the years.

He said his music influences had evolved to a style that was uniquely his, and included aspects of the Mediterranean, Latin America and even Africa.

"For a while I went African mad. Every once in a while it still creeps into my style," he said.

■ Bruce Mathiske will play at Lizotte's Newcastle on Saturday, February 21 and Lizotte's Kincumber on Sunday, February 22. Tickets are available from lizottes.com.au.