LANCASTER songstress - and favourite of Radio 2 legend Bob Harris - Angie Palmer hits the road next month on a tour to further enhance her reputation.

Palmer, compared to Joni Mitchell, hits the road with the intention of delighting audiences who have finally cottoned on to what music lovers around the area have known for years.

Harris has called Palmer one of Britain's best singer-songwriters and she is building an army of supporters.

And they will be out in force from February 7 when she hits the stage in top Leeds music venue The New Roscoe. From there Palmer is back this side of the Pennines two days later at Matt & Phred's in Manchester before heading off to Leicester, London and Hull.

But on Friday, February 25, Palmer is just up the road in Kendal at the Brewery Arts Centre.

Palmer is well travelled and at just 17 she packed her bags and left England for Europe.

She first settled in Paris, making a living by playing music on her battered old Spanish guitar. "I still remember the first few francs I made from playing music," she says. "I played three songs in the Paris metro and that was it I knew I had found the path I wanted to take."

From France, Palmer went on to spend the next seven years travelling around Europe busking, playing bars and clubs, and appearing at small festivals.

Her time in Europe was also spent writing songs, some of which appeared on her first CD, A Certain Kind of Distance. She recorded the album on her return to England and became a regular on the country's blues and folk circuit, as well as making two appearances on the acoustic stage at Glastonbury.

Her set comprised songs that Angie had been playing live for a long time and represented a solitary, travelling way of life. Whereas Palmer's first CD was a totally solo effort, her next romantica obscura' - had drums and bass as well as cello, violin and congas.

Palmer will be on tour with her band the Revelators and for further details of the Kendal gig contact the Brewery Arts Centre on 01539-722833.