Returning to the Alban Arena tomorrow night (Friday) is Beth Nielsen Chapman who is currently touring in support of her album Uncovered.

She will be supported by Red Sky July in the concert which starts at 7.30pm.

In Uncovered, she rolls out a batch of songs that she has written but never recorded and have already been hits for, or covered by, other artists.

Perhaps more famous for her work as a songwriter for the likes of Willie Nelson, Trisha Yearwood and Bonnie Raitt, Beth is a recording artist in her own right and a self-confessed champion of ‘adult contemporary music’.

Red Sky July are an alternative country group formed by Shelly Poole (Alisha’s Attic), Charity Hair (The Alice Band) and Ally McErlaine (Texas).

Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy is coming to the Arena the following night, Saturday (22).

Regarded as the finest drummer in the rock field, Carl Palmer joined with Greg Lake and Keith Emerson to form ELP in 1970, and went on to enjoy numerous world tours and millions of record sales until the group disbanded.

But Carl Palmer was determined to keep ELP alive and, as well as touring and recording with super-group Asia, he is now touring as Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy, which plays the best of ELP.

The concert begins at 8pm and tickets are £23.

Fairport Convention with special guest Edwina Hayes returns to the Arena this Sunday (23).

Hailed as the originators of British folk-rock music, Fairport Convention has been among Britain’s best-loved bands for over 45 years.

Former members include Richard Thompson, Dave Swarbrick and the late Sandy Denny but Fairport is still one of the busiest bands around with its current line-up of Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg, Ric Sanders, Chris Leslie and Gerry Conway.

The band also hosts Fairport’s Cropredy Convention music festival in Oxfordshire.

The concert, which starts at 7.30pm, will feature a mixture of long-established favourites and new material.

Tickets are £20.

Comedian Jason Manford will be performing in two shows at the Arena next Tuesday and Wednesday, February 25 and 26.

The shows, which start at 8pm, promise a wealth of comedy anecdotes, misunderstandings and audience banter.

Jason has been a busy man since he was last on the road. After his opera singing turn saw him win Born To Shine on ITV1, Jason put his new found talent to good use, joining Alfie Boe on tour, before embarking on a well-received run in the critically-acclaimed hit West End musical, Sweeney Todd.

He has appeared on several panel and comedy shows including 8 Out of 10 Cats, Live at the Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and The Royal Variety Performance.

Tickets are £22.50.

n The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain which visits the Arena next Friday, February 28, has sold out.