IT'S hard to know where to start with Andy White. The Belfast-born singer-songwriter is as much of a poet as a rock' n' roll star, and as politically astute as he is spiritually aware.

The acclaimed star, who has worked with the likes of Peter Gabriel and Tim and Neil Finn, is currently touring on the back of his new album, a self-titled solo effort that is being hailed as the greatest expression of his talents to date.

Gifted from an early age, White wrote his first poem, titled Riots, when he was nine, and got sucked into the Belfast punk scene by the time he was 15. His first single, the satirical Religious Persuasion, appeared on UK punk label Stiff and was followed up with the album Rave On Andy White. Since then, he has released eight more albums, each cementing his reputation as one of Ireland's more original talents.

Support tomorrow night is from The Velvet Doonicans.

October 19, Talking Heads, Southampton. Tickets: £5.