by Peter Barnett

pbarnett@thekmgroup.co.uk

Friday, March 14, is a red letter day for X Factor star Rebecca Ferguson and Margate Winter Gardens.

The singer will play an intimate show at the venue and showcase her powerful voice and new material as a warm-up for a national tour.

Rebecca rose to fame after finishing second on the show in 2010, losing to Matt Cardle.

The Liverpudlian was among a host of showbiz stars to take over the kmfm airwaves during the Christmas period, and teamed up with the radio station last week to offer listeners the first chance to buy tickets for her Kent show.

Paul Palmer, entertainment and facilities manager for Margate, said: “This is another great coup for our theatres. Sales of tickets are buoyant and it is great to have yet another successful artist choosing the town for their show.

“The sound, lighting and stage crew will be at the Winter Gardens the day before to give the equipment a pre-tour run-through as Rebecca’s show is the first of her tour.

“Promoters like using Margate for pre-tour shows as it is close enough to London for easy access but suitably far enough away as not to affect ticket sales in the capital.”

From Margate, Rebecca will set off on a 19-date European tour that will take in venues in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Holland and Germany.

Showtime is 7.30pm (doors open 6.45pm). Tickets: first tier – £25; second tier – £20. Booking fees apply. Tickets from the box office on 01843 292795 and from ticketmaster.co.uk (0844 844 0444), seetickets.com (0844 871 8819) and gigantic.com

* See this week's KM Thanet Extra for a full page feature about Rebecca Ferguson