YOU never know who is going to drop in at Southampton's Talking Heads. The venue is a mecca for local musicians but no one expected to see Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates, pictured, who turned up at the Portswood music venue.

The occasion was a special showcase arranged by the Artful Dodger's Mark Hill featuring three of his proteges: Lifford David, Katie Holmes and Laura Vane.

Gareth was in town to work on some new songs with local musicians Steve Keith and Dan Mar Molinero who wrote his recent hit Sunshine.

Gareth was recording at Mark Hill's New Forest studio in Colbury Manor. The studio has recently also played host to Craig David, who was working with his old collaborator Mark on his new album, as well as American actor/singer/model Tyrese and ex-Spice Girl Melanie C.

Gareth mingled with the crowd during the evening but kept everyone guessing about whether he would be getting up on stage with the band which included his friends, singer Steve Keith and saxophonist Dan Mar Molinero. The audience had to wait until the end of a superb gig to find out and, sure enough, the charismatic Gareth bounded up on stage to sing a soulful version of Sunshine, getting an ecstatic reception from a delighted crowd. Afterwards, he signed autographs, chatted to fans and posed for photographs.

As for the three newcomers - Lifford, Katie and Laura - each performer impressed with some soulful, stylish original songs and covers and, under Mark Hill's guidance, all of them could make the big time, underlining the growing reputation of Southampton as "Music City UK".