BRIT Award-winning soul singer-songwriter Gabrielle will appear at Hereford Leisure Centre next month.

The chart topper, famed for such hits as Dreams and Rise, will appear at the centre on Sunday, April 29, the culmination of her month-long UK tour.

She is also promoting her new single from the soundtrack to the film Bridget Jones's Diary, Out Of Reach, which is released on Monday, April 2.

Hackney-born Gabrielle began her career singing for free in London's West End clubs while temping in offices during the day.

Her big break came when her demo, Dreams, fell into the hands of an A&R man at Go! Beat records. The track was re-recorded and topped the charts for three weeks in 1993, entering the Guinness Book of Hit Singles as the highest chart entry for a debut female act.

In three years, ten singles and two albums established Gabrielle as one of the UK's premiere soul vocalist, before her 1997 single Give Me A Little More Time confirmed her style.

Her 1999 album, Rise, has sold over 1.5 million records worldwide and went triple platinum in the UK, with sales over 900,000. During her career, she has won two Brit awards, a MOBO and an American Music Award.

Gabrielle's musical influences are very wide ranging, from classic soul to early 80s British pop.

"My niche is pop music with a bit of classical soul in it," she said. "I've got a soulful element to me, even if it's not always evident, but whether it's pop, soul or rock, it's accessible to me.

"Growing up, I was a pop kid: Michael Jackson's Off The Wall, Wham!, Adam & The Ants, Diana Ross, Soul II Soul, Lisa Stansfield, Mantronix, Chaka Khan and then I'd go into my mum's record collection - Marvin Gaye, Barry White, Bobby Womack, Dennis Brown - so wherever you want to place me, you can place me there because my influences are so diverse.

"What I like, I write and sing about and if someone likes it, I'm happy."

The show begins at 7pm. Support acts are expected and will be confirmed nearer the time. Tickets are £18.50, available from 01432 278178.