LESS than six months since he performed to a sell out audience at Ipswich Regent R&B sensation Lemar has announced he is on his way back next year.

By JO MACDONALD

Entertainment editor

joanne.macdonald@eveningstar.co.uk

LESS than six months since he performed to a sell out audience at Ipswich Regent R&B sensation Lemar has announced he is on his way back next year.

The star, named Best Urban Artist at the Brit Awards earlier this year, is set to return to the Regent stage on April 16 as one date on his second UK tour.

If the success of his first appearance at the venue in June is anything to judge by, for which all tickets were snapped up fast, fans are advised to book as early as possible for the new concert. Tickets are on sale now.

Lemar found fame on BBC's Fame Academy but he's reality TV birth has been long since forgotten as he has established himself as one of the country's best urban singer songwriters.

He has already enjoyed three top ten singles – Dance (With U), 50/50 and Another Day, his debut album Dedicated sold in excess of 600,000 copies and his debut UK tour was a sell out not only in Ipswich but all over the country.

Today his success continues with the release of new material. His latest single If There's Any Justice charted at number three on Sunday and the accompanying album number two, Time To Grow, is released on Monday.

Reflecting on the new album Lemar said: "I looked at the chart to see what's going on at the moment and a lot of the R&B out there is pretty standard sort of stuff. So I thought I'd go against the grain and do something a bit more old school sounding.

"I think the thing that's helped set me apart is the fact that I can handle the more crooney sort of songs as well as the contemporary R&B stuff."

Lemar is now looking ahead to taking the album on the road. He enjoyed the experience of his last tour, which opened him up to a world of fans who span all generations, and can't wait to perform live again.

"It was my tour that really brought home to me just how wide my audience is," Lemar said.

"I'd look out and there'd be really young kids at the front, twenty-somethings in the middle and older people at the back waiting for me to perform. It showed me it is possible to reach a wide demographic and get everyone involved.

"I'd like to take this new album to more countries than I did with Dedicated. But first I want to share my music with even more people closer to home."

n Lemar will be at Ipswich Regent on April 16, 2005. Tickets cost £20 and are available at the Central Box Office, in Princes Street, Ipswich, by calling 01473 433100 or online at www.ipswichregent.com

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