Sandi will be embarking on a brand new tour of the UK next April. Check out the dates below:

APRIL
....................

10   Rescue Rooms , Nottingham
21   The Stables, Milton Keynes
24   The Thekla, Bristol
25   The Brook, Southampton
29   The Plug , Sheffield
30   Academy , Manchester

MAY
....................
1    The Sage , Newcastle
2    Duchess , York
4    Pacific rd Arts Centre , Birkenhead, Wirral
6    Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh
7    ABC 2, Glasgow
8    Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
12  Borderline, London
13  Borderline, London
14  Phoenix, Exeter

We will update you with booking information shortly!!! See you there!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz-KaeyOgmE

Sandi will be performing as part of Scotland's premier winter music festival - The Celtic Connections.

I'm sitting in the back of a car en route to Edinburgh. Tomorrow my new manager's and I will hold the first "listening session" of demo's towards my 3rd album. I'm really excited, I've listened through them all myself today and I'm happy with where its at so far. Bearing in mind were recording in december I feel I'm exactly where I should be right now with the songs.

I don't know if you guys are aware but I've also recorded an 8 track mini album called "shades of blue". Its my homage to the blues era with an eclectic mix of Blues numbers ranging from the typical 12 bar blues of BB King to the more Clapton sounding ones to the Delta blues that the likes of Robert Johnson would play to my own personal take on the blues with the second acapella song that I will have recorded, the first, off course we all know very well. Here is a sneak peak of what it looks like:



We recorded the mini album in a special way. Very different to how we've recorded in the past as this time round everything was live. Takes longer to set up and get right but in the end the results are magnificent. You can really feel the dynamic in the songs where the band rise and fall as my vocals go from quiet and soft to loud and proud.  As it is at the moment I'm going to make the mini album available on line and on the Beautiful South tour this November, I'll also be taking it to Switzerland with me to the Avo sessions, looking forward to meeting up with Snow Patrol, its been 4 years since I've played on the same stage as them, the last being in Nottingham. Also looking forward to playing with the Sugababes at the Royal Variety which isn't too far away now! Very excited about playing new songs and I'll be showcasing 3 of the tracks from my new album at the Royal Variety for the very first time!!!

The musical side of my life is going really well, I genuinely can't wait to play these new songs and hear the new album when its finished, really really proud of this one....not that I'm not proud of the others but I think this is the one that shows my true colours.

Off course most of you will know that I'm getting married next year!! Well at least the girls will! So guess what girlies I've already got my wedding dress, its by a designer called Jenny Packham and its totally gorgeous, it gets made now to measure me exactly and I get to see it in April! Don't think I can wait that long so I'm gonna keep going into the shop to try on the sample! He he! I got my veil too, its a one off so very unique which I'm chuffed about. Woo wee I'm getting RSI in my thumbs from all this tippy tapping on my crackberry so I'll offski for now. Speak soon y'all, big love xxx

I don’t watch hardly any new American TV shows these days.

For one thing, my life and its relentless work schedule don’t lend itself well to a religiously kept appointment with the tube on a weekday night just before the witching hour. Furthermore, there appears to be a serious lack of quality drama being served up these days from across the pond.

The few excellent shows that have caught my attention in recent years; e.g. Deadwood and  Arrested Development have been cancelled it seems in favour of more vapid, nonsensical shows like Medium or Ghost Whisperer. I heard great things about ‘House’ but after watching it once, I just couldn’t ignore Hugh Laurie’s dreadful American accent.

So earlier this year when a new cop show named ‘The Beast’ hit one of the channel 5 digital offshoots, offering up nothing new conceptually with an almost flea bitten, hackneyed story centred around the old war horse veteran partnered with the hot headed rookie, ordinarily it would have been summarily dismissed were it not for the shows star, one Patrick Swayze.

Having been absent from the screen both silver and small in recent years, save for a wee supporting role in the cult classic phenom that was ‘Donnie Darko’, I decided to give it a go and was duly impressed. His robust features had diminished somewhat due to the terrible physical demands of his illness but he had certainly lost none of his stature on screen, his commanding presence had endured and his talent was still in good measure

And so I was deeply saddened to learn of Patrick’s untimely passing the other day.

What an absolute screen gem the man was.

 How many of us girls out there know every line from Dirty Dancing, studied the risqué’ dance moves and sang all the songs from the film.

I drove my family mad as a wee lass belting out the Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes hit song from the film – ‘I’ve had the time of my life’. Another great and under rated tune from the films soundtrack is ‘she’s like the wind’, which Patrick co-wrote and released as a single. Easily two of the best cheesy love songs from the 80’s.

 Few films in our lifetime make such an impact, few people affect us profoundly from all walks of life and few songs stand the test of time and remain as fresh and powerful decades later. I sincerely hope that at least a few people will be singing along to my tunes in a fit of nostalgia in the years to come.

 On the very same day, I learned of the sad death of hell raising wunderchef Keith Floyd.

The timing of which was rather spooky I thought, as I, like millions of others no doubt had just watched a programme celebrating the life of the cantankerous gastronome the night before.
 Poor old Keith, I have a real soft spot for hard drinking, chain smoking, straight talking men and women with tremendous talent who live their lives as they want to the extremes of infamous excess and to hell with the consequences. None of this PC, lets pat each other on the back for being so great rubbish.

He was shuffling round his Avignon pad half cut being interviewed by vindaloo Allen’s dad also known as Keith, who apparently is an actor, although only thing I remember seeing of him on the big screen was his shriveled tadger in Shallow Grave.

We’re all flawed and simple creatures at the end of the day, we all have our demons and crosses to bear and some of us shoulder the load more easily than others.
Rip Patrick and Keith!

What im listening to – my ears are dedicated to Patrick Swayze this week, it will be an aural feast of all the great songs appearing on his movie soundtracks, The Righteous Brothers, Bill and Jennifer and the fabulous Jeff Healey Band who appeared in Roadhouse.

Anything that can go wrong will go wrong!

The old adage of Murphy’s proves itself an ever present force in our daily lives, the simplest of things, the most inane and miniscule of tasks, through whatever cosmic machinations of fate, destiny, kismet and karma become Sisyphean tasks to challenge even the mighty Hercules’ strength to conquer.

And yet no great labour given unto me by the gods in punishment for my misdeeds was my lot, no penance did I have to pay for any unintended act of hubris, ive given generously to charity, im a courteous driver,  I give money to the homeless on the streets, im kind to strangers and have a healthy respect for all living things, even to the point of fingering a thirsty fly out of my pint the other day, knowing not a word of thanks would I receive from the misguided bug.

So why, oh why I beg of thee oh lord did you do this to me?

Last Saturday, stupid o’clock in the morning, half my street are still partying hard on the Friday night clock, but yours truly is well and truly ticking on tiempo sabado packing up her old kit bag for a road trip with the band to the Malmesbury Festival in Wiltshire where I was headlining that night.
It was at this point, the fates conspired, chuckling amongst themselves as their will crossed into our realm triggering an ominous ring on my snackberry.

The transport is U/S with no possible replacement… unless!

Here it comes, the coup de gras, give me a second to compose myself, stuff a sock in my mouth to prevent the screams, lay it on me I say, I can take it, im ready, floor me with your last chance solution wrapped up all pretty like in stress and hassle.
With not a white knight in sight, I wound my dressing gown tie round my melon in Rambo-esque fashion wasting no time for boot polish rouge on the cheeks and bounded out of the flat like a gazelle and into a cab.

 Off to the car hire company I went in urgent need of a people carrier and since im the only one with the address to match the license, im the designated driver for the day, oooh the icing is so sweet, bring on the sprinkles u bitch!

Transport was secured, albeit ten miles away at another yard, so off I went with the guy to collect it. Halfway there he realises he’s in sole possession of a set of keys that have to remain at the other yard and so back we go to Brighton much to my dismay and protest, only after I bribe him with signed copies of albums and guest passes to exclusive London shows does he agree to have someone else deliver the van to me in Brighton. Pffft!

Finally, with me at the helm we set sail for Wiltshire, band, instruments, tour manager all neatly packed into this oddity of automotive design, lying somewhere between auto and manual, who knows! The TM takes the con eventually, he’s even more confused as to the cars spec than I am and slams on the brake thinking it the clutch pushing 50 round the corner of a service station. Murphy may I present Newton.

The first to meet the dashboard and windscreen unannounced was the blackberry, closely followed by my morning coffee, then a keyboard shunting my shoulder for good measure and bringing up the inertial rear and out of costume came a flying bass player.
Soon after we recognised the importance of seatbelts and buckled up all concerned, instruments included.

Murphy’s Law is fallible, we improvise, we overcome, we adapt to beat the odds but there’s just no avoiding the laws of motion! Buckle up peeps!

"I’m on the west coast of England this week, in creative seclusion in an area of outstanding natural beauty in Cornwall.

I re-pressurised the tyres on my trusty old Focus, still going strong after a quarter of a million miles, juiced her up with fluids and waved adieu to my future hubby in Brighton.

I am on a mission. I was charged with my own task this week and to accomplish it, absolute solitude is required. I’ve shacked up for the week at Sawmills Recording Studios, where I have decided to record my third album in December.

This week I’m taking advantage of the excellent accommodation it offers and its picturesque locale to write some new tunes. Situated on the banks of the River Fowey in its own private creek, it’s one of the most beautiful and secluded residential studios in the world. I hope that in spending some time here in this remote and idyllic setting, listening intently to my thoughts and surrounded by nature’s bounty, that inspiration will come to me.

The studio itself is legendary and has hosted a number of great bands over the years. It’s where Oasis recorded their first album, Definitely Maybe, and The Stone Roses their single, Fools Gold. Muse, The Verve, Stiff Little Fingers – the list goes on – all have found their way to this spot on the Cornish coast.

Armed with a collection of essential instruments and some choice reading material, nothing short of a smash, No 1 classic is expected. That was the plan anyway. The creative juices were going to cascade from my noodle into a melting pot of original thought. Poetry, philosophy and music would then be added and churned into a musical pudding. Best laid schemes and all that, though. In the time I’ve been here I’ve tried on every item of clothing in my bag, the chords escape me and I’ve taken to watching daytime TV. Am I procrastinating? Do I have writer’s block?

The once sweet, melodic birdsong all around has turned into some nightmarish cacophony of hoots, cheeps and tweets. I’m alone in the middle of
nowhere, mobile reception is dodgy, petrified to leave my chambers at night in case I become the midnight snack of the local werewolf or prey to a Baskerville hound.

Is this cabin fever? Am I stir crazy? I had visions of sitting serenely atop a wee gully, perched like Buddha looking out to sea, basking in the sun. But the weather since my arrival has been somewhat inclement. Hopefully, the sun will make a triumphant return in the days to come, revitalising my being like it does Superman.

I’ll be gambolling through the fields with my mandolin charming the wildlife in no time. Otherwise, the corridors will be awash with oceans of blood and I’ll be crashing through the doors, axe in hand, screaming “Here’s Sandi!”

Sandi is the 47th biggest selling female of the 21st century for her debut single "I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (with flowers in my hair)" according to the Official UK Charts Company. The full-list as of Jan 2009 can be found below:

1. Kylie Minogue - Can't get you out of my head (1100000)
2. Alexandra Burke - Hallelujah (1026830)
3. Atomic Kitten - Whole again (960000)
4. Leona Lewis - Bleeding love (937100)
5. Leona Lewis - A moment like this (845000)
6. All Saints - Pure shores (720000)
7. Sonique - It feels so good (650000)
8. Rihanna - Umbrella (628500)
9. Shakira - Whenever wherever (620000)
10. Girls Aloud - Sound of the underground (612000)
11. Las Ketchup - Asereje (The Ketchup Song) (590000)
12. Shakira ft Wyclef Jean - Hips don't lie (580000)
13. Spiller ft Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Groovejet (If this ain't love) (577000)
14. LeAnn Rimes - Can't fight the moonlight (570000)
15. Duffy - Mercy (556500)
16. Madonna - Hung up (525000)
17. Katy Perry - I kissed a girl (509050)
18. Pussycat Dolls ft Busta Rhymes - Don't Cha (500000)
19. Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Pink & Mya - Lady Marmalade (480000)
20. Estelle ft Kanye West - American Boy (466100)
21. Gabrielle - Rise (457000)
22. Sugababes - About you now (455000)
23. Britney Spears - Oops… I did it again (445000)
24. Destiny's Child - Independent Women pt 1 (440000)
25. Leona Lewis - Run (435825)
26. Madonna ft Justin Timberlake - 4 minutes (432300)
27. Geri Halliwell - It's raining men (420000)
28. Sugababes - Push the button (410000)
29. Atomic Kitten - The tide is high (410000)
30. Beyonce - If I were a boy (409520)
31. Holly Valance - Kiss kiss (406000)
32. Melanie C & Lisa 'Left-eye' Lopes - Never be the same again (401000)
33. Madonna - Music (401000)
34. Girls Aloud - The Promise (399030)
35. Atomic Kitten - Eternal Flame (385000)
36. Pink - So what (384750)
37. Madonna - American Pie (382000)
38. Cheeky Girls - Cheeky song (touch my bum) (377000)
39. Katy Perry - Hot n cold (373900)
40. t.A.T.u. - All the things she said (370000)
41. Rihanna - Disturbia (367840)
42. Blu Cantrell ft Sean Paul - Breathe (365000)
43. Nelly Furtado - Maneater (361000)
44. Mariah Carey & Westlife - Against all odds (360000)
45. Melanie C - I turn to you (355000)
46. Beyonce - Crazy in love (355000)
47. Sandi Thom - I wish I was a punk rocker (350000)
48. Rihanna - Don't stop the music (344500)
49. Rihanna - Take a bow (336700)
50. Beyonce & Shakira - Beautiful Liar (335000)
51. Britney Spears - Toxic (330000)
52. Jordin Sparks ft Chris Brown - No air (329000)
53. Pink - Get this party started (325000)
54. Kate Nash - Foundations (320000)
55. Gabrielle - Out of reach (315000)
56. Madison Avenue - Don't call me baby (315000)
57. Anastacia - Left outside alone (310000)
58. The Corrs - Breathless (310000)
59. Britney Spears - Born to make you happy (307000)
60. Cascada - Everytime we touch (305000)
61. Gwen Stefani - Sweet Escape (300000)
62. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Murder on the dancefloor (300000)
63. Michelle McManus - All this time (295000)
64. Dido - White Flag (294000)
65. Gabriella Cilmi - Sweet about me (290400)
66. Britney Spears - Womanizer (289100)
67. Sweet female attitude - Flowers (288000)
68. Adele - Chasing pavements (288000)
69. Destiny's Child - Lose my breath (285000)
70. Lily Allen - Smile (280000)
71. Rihanna - S.O.S. (Rescue me) (280000)
72. Christina Aguilera - Dirrty (280000)
73. Fergie - Big boys don't cry (275000)
74. Amy Winehouse - Rehab (275000)
75. Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend (270000)
76. Kylie Minogue - Spinning around (270000)
77. Sugababes - Freak like me (265000)
78. Destiny's Child - Survivor (265000)
79. Christina Aguilera - Beautiful (260000)
80. Rihanna - Unfaithful (255000)
81. Emma Bunton - What took you so long? (255000)
82. Geri Halliwell - Bag it up (255000)
83. Beyonce - Irreplaceable (255000)
84. Kelis - Milk Shake (250000)
85. Eve & Gwen Stefani - Let my blow ya mind (250000)
86. Samantha Mumba - Always come back to your love (250000)
87. Sugababes - Round round (250000)
88. Britney Spears - Everytime (250000)
89. Billie Piper - Day and night (245000)
90. Spice Girls - Holler / Let love lead the way (245000)
91. Lene Marlin - Sittin' down here (245000)
92. Frankee - Fuck you right back (245000)
93. Alicia Keys - No one (245000)
94. Girls Aloud - Call the shots (245000)
95. Samantha Mumba - Gotta tell you (245000)
96. Pink - Just like a pill (240000)
97. Shakira - Underneath your clothes (240000)
98. Mary Mary - Shackles (Praise you) (240000)
99. Pussycat Dolls - Stickwitu (235000)
100. Natasha Bedingfield - These words (235000)