It has been three years since Paloma Faith emerged as a singer-songwriter with that (once) indefinable quality, the 'x factor'. Her rich soulful pop made friends across the genres and earned her airplay on all the major networks. Alongside the strains of singles New York and Stone Cold Sober, Paloma Faith Blomfield was cast as a kooky style icon who liked a bit of a laugh.

Her unashamed ability to be herself made her very popular and held the clues to her burgeoning career as an actress. After the debut album Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful? had turned platinum and made the UK Top Ten, Miss Faith then began popping up on telly as an engaging guest and then an actress. She had a turn in a BBC police show (HolbyBlue) and then big screen roles in St Trinians and Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

Into 2012, and fresh from a walk-on part in the BBC's widely lambasted coverage of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Paloma has released her eagerly anticipated second album, Fall to Grace, issued a fortnight ago. Ably supported by lead single 'Picking Up the Pieces', 'Fall to Grace' reached No 2 on the UK chart. It was Paloma Faith's highest album chart position to date and confirms that she is here to stay.

Further proof comes with the announcement of a UK and Ireland tour early next year which kicks off in Dublin on 21st January. The first UK show is in Manchester on 23rd January, followed by gigs in Leeds, Newcastle and more before the final date announced so far at the Hammersmith Apollo on 7th February.

We will have tickets available from 9am on Friday 15th June 2012, priced from €28 for Ireland and from around £20 for the UK gigs. Ahead of the 2013 dates, Paloma Faith has another busy summer including appearances at The Summer Series 2012 (at Somerset House) and BBC Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park 2012 - we have tickets on sale now (see below).

Stewart Darkin