THE man who helped launch Southampton sing-ing sensation Craig David's career is back with a new band.

Mark Hill, formerly of Artful Dodger, launches The stiX at Talking Heads in Southampton on Friday.

The gig coincides with the release of The stiX's debut EP, Gathering Dust, and precedes a tour by the band.

The stiX are a 13-piece band featuring four vocalists - Michelle Escoffery, Lifford David, Katie Holmes and Corrine Bailey Rice.

Now an international star, Craig David first enjoyed chart success when his Artful Dodger collaboration Re-Rewind The Crowd Say Bo Selecta reached number two in December 1999.

The stiX are hoping to follow in his footsteps and put Southampton on the music map yet again.

Michelle Escoffery has already enjoyed chart success with Mark Hill when she teamed up with Artful Dodger on the hit Think about Me, which featured on the Artful Dodger album It's All About the Stragglers.

Lifford David also featured on this album and reached number four in the charts when he lent his voice to the Artful Dodger track Please Don't Turn Me On.

On Friday the group's mentor, Mark Hill, will be joining the band.

The stiX are the latest act to emerge from Mark's recording studios Stop Drop and Roll, based in the New Forest, where Craig David recently recorded his forthcoming album.

The studio is a hotbed of local talent which already boasts several successful artists, including Dan Mar-Molinero, who wrote Gareth Gate's hit Sunshine.

Friday offers a great opportunity to see tomorrow's stars in an intimate environment.

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