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-song-writers and, as such, she is building an army of supporters.

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 in Manchester two days later at Matt and Phred's before heading off to Leicester, London and Hull. But on Friday, February 25, she is up the road at the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal.

Palmer is well travelled after packing her bags and leaving England for Europe aged 17.

She first settled in Paris, making a living by playing music on a battered guitar.

"I still remember the first few francs I made from playing music," she says. "I played three songs in the metro and that was it I knew I had found the path I had to take."

From France Palmer went on to spend seven years travel-ling around Europe busking, playing bars and clubs, and appearing at small festivals.

Her time was also spent writing songs, some of which appeared on her CD A Certain Kind of Distance' - recorded on her return home.

She became a regular on the country's blues and folk circuit, as well as making two appearances on the acoustic stage at Glastonbury with a set comprising songs that she had been playing live for a long time to represent her travelling way of life. Whereas Palmer's first CD was a totally solo effort but 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. For details of the Kendal gig, call the Brewery Arts Centre on 01539-722833.