ALISON Moyet is heading for Ipswich. The smoky voiced singer songwriter is bringing her forthcoming UK tour to the Regent on May 3 and tickets for the date are on sale now.

ALISON Moyet is heading for Ipswich.

The smoky voiced singer songwriter is bringing her forthcoming UK tour to the Regent on May 3 and tickets for the date are on sale now.

The One Blue Voice tour is set to build on the success of her most recent album, the top ten gold-selling Voice.

Based on the album, a collection of songs by other composers, the tour promises to be different from her past concerts and will see her joined by an eight-piece band including a string quartet.

Both are designed to stretch her development as an artist.

She said: "A short while back I had my first experience singing with a classical orchestra. It was quite different from the live work I had done before and it required altogether a different discipline.

"I loved the way everything was placed. The certainty. The clarity ... not that that is what you are always looking for, but having once tried it I wanted a little more.

"I had no urge to write, but wanted to further my musicianship. To find new ways of singing. To tackle melodies I could not or would not write. To be brave in the face of romanticism."

Alison grew up in Basildon and left school aged 16 largely unqualified. However, she hooked up with Vince Clarke, electronic innovator and today one half of Erasure, in the band Yazoo.

They merged synthesised and soul music, enjoyed hits with tracks including Only You, released two albums and won a Brit Award for Best New Band.

In the mid-80s Alison however embarked on a solo career and her debut, Alf, spawned three top ten hits.

Between 1984 and 1987 she toured extensively, won two Brit Awards and performed at Wembley Stadium for Live Aid.

Success on both sides of the Atlantic has been forthcoming and during her lengthy career she has made her mark as card-carrying punk, a blues shouter, and a dance-floor diva.

In 2001 she added yet another string to her bow, making her stage debut in the West End musical Chicago as Matron Mama Morton.

In total, Alison's career has seen her win three Brit Awards, enjoy nine top ten singles and seven top ten albums, including three number ones, and notch up worldwide sales exceeding 20 million.

Now a new chapter has begun.

n Alison Moyet's One Blue Voice tour will be at Ipswich Regent on May 3. Tickets for the concert cost £22.50 (plus booking fee) and are available now from the Ipswich Corn Exchange box office, by calling 01473 433100 or online at www.ipswichregent.com

Weblink: www.alisonmoyet.com