It may come as a surprise to learn vocalist Eddi Reader did, in fact, grow up in a violent suburb of Glasgow - and it certainly did not do her any harm.

The songster who is often described as having meltingly true vocals is a powerful figure in contemporary British music.

It was in her home in an oppressive Glasgow suburb, that she learned to use music as a vehicle for transcending her immediate environment.

Since those early days Eddi has gone on to lead a colourful life when she travelled around Europe with circus and performance artists in the early 1980s.

She then moved to London where she quickly became a sought after session vocalist.

She famously sang harmony with Annie Lennox touring with the Eurythmics after her time with successful punk outfit Gang of Four.

But it was the short-lived but warmly remembered Fairground Attraction that really brought her into the limelight and to the attention of a much wider audience.

The band's single Perfect and parent album First of a Million Kisses both topped the British charts.

However, it was perhaps the four subsequent albums which signalled her increasing ability to assimilate different musical styles and make them all very much her own.

Her unerring instinct for fine material, resulted in Mirmama (1992), Eddi Reader (1994) and Candyfloss and Medicine (1996).

Having built on this considerable body of work, Eddi then delivered Angels & Electricity (1998) - an album which she co-produced with her long term musical partner Boo Hewerdine.

The album included compositions and collaborations with former Fairground Attraction colleagues as well as Calum MacColl from The Bible.

And, to her pride and delight, the much respected songwriter Ron Sexsmith composed a song just for her.

Her latest album, out in the spring, is a collection of Robert Burns songs performed with the Royal National Scottish Orchestra.

She will be touring the UK to support this, alongside material from her huge back catalogue in 2003.

You can catch Eddi on Monday, June 2, 2003 at Huntingdon Hall, CrownGate.

Tickets are £17.50.