Rita Ora announces autumn 2012 UK tour

Rita Ora

With young Rita Ora, you know that you're not dealing with an average girl as soon as you clock her early CV. Born in Kosovo, auditioned for Eurovision (she wisely pulled out), initially sang backing vocals for Craig David and Tinchy Stryder and has a middle name, Sahatçiu, that I wish she'd kept as part of her full name, just to confound Chris Moyles in the mornings.

The latter part of her fledgling days has proved to be far more remarkable, however. After spending some time singing in London's clubs and bars, she was spotted performing by an A&R executive who duly blathered to another executive about Ora's, er, aura, voice and quality. What follows is the stuff of dreams and Hollywood movies - she was whisked out to the States to meet Jay-Z at his Roc Nation HQ and given a cameo in one of his and Drake's videos, signed on the spot and handed a contract to promote his empire and nifty Skullcandy headphones. Boom, as they say. More importantly for the singer, she was given carte blanche to get her music readied for singles, albums and live shows, but not before providing lead vocals on DJ Fresh's #1 single, 'Hot Right Now' and knocking out one of her own with Tinie Tempah - 'R.I.P.' recently hit #1 itself. New single 'How Do We (Party)' is set for UK release on 12th August and you can preview it right here: www.soundcloud.com/ritaora/how-we-do-party

With the resulting album 'O.R.A.' waiting in the wings, her immediate attentions have been diverted by her much-publicized 'nip-slip' at Lovebox, whereupon the intelligentsia of the press deemed it fit to announce that Ora possesses breasts, rather than tonsils, talent, T4 on the Beach this weekend, Wireless (supporting Drake) the next and a support slot with Coldplay throughout their summer jaunt - so we've told you instead. We'll also warn you of her own headlining shows coming up in late summer.

Rita Ora's first announced shows include Manchester on 29th August and London on the 30th. We will have tickets on sale from 9am on Friday 29th June with tickets sure to sell almost as quickly as her last single. Prices will be £11.50 and £13.50 respectively.

Paul Pledger