ONE of the highlights of the Fringe Festival weekend in Stroud is a concert by Hazel O'Connor at Stroud Subscription Rooms on the opening night.

O'Connor, who came to prominence in classic post-punk film Breaking Glass, is joined by The Subterraneans, who lend a Celtic roots ambience to her punk beginnings and form a wholly new and surprising sound, which has been going down a storm at summer festivals this year and last.

Hazel's superb vocals combine with soaring sax, guitars, bass and drums, producing a stunning, soaring and gutsy sound - Breaking Glass meets Celtic soul beat roots.

With the success of her Beyond The Breaking Glass album and world tour, her first-ever retrospective Best Of Collection and the long-awaited new studio recording Hidden Heart, Hazel O'Connor has fast re-established herself as a concert artist and performer to be reckoned with.

The latest release, which features a duet with Moya Brennan, the voice of Clannad, is a wonderful offering celebrating 25 years of songwriting and performance.

No O'Connor show is complete without her original classics Will You, D-Days and Eighth Day, but one can add her new classics - Rebecca, Driftwood, I'm Still Breathing and Who Will Care - to that repertoire.

"Hazel's unforgettable voice lets you enter a new musical zone where pigeonholes become meaningless and anything is possible," said promoter Crispin Thomas. "Miss her at your peril."

Hazel O'Connor and The Subterraneans play the Subscription Rooms on Friday, September 9 at 8pm.

They will be supported by Nailsworth's nuttiest, in the charmingly bovine form of the Mad Cows. Tickets, at £12.50 or £10.50 concessions are available from the box office.