STROUD singer-songwriter Hattie Briggs is set to launch her new festive EP, with a special Christmas show at the Sub Rooms.

The concert, entitled Christmas Hats, is set to coincide with Hattie’s return to the UK, following a nine-week, nine-state tour around the USA, that started back in September.

The 23-year-old has performed up the east coast and down the west – playing to audiences in Florida, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York, then on to California and Washington DC, where she played in front of the British Ambassador, Sir Kim Darroch.

Now in North Carolina, Hattie will be making appearances in several more states as she wends her way south to fly back from Florida in a couple of weeks time.

Venues have ranged from house concerts organised by her US fans, to “really fancy” shows, such as Soho House, Malibu, to artisan cafés well known for supporting emerging talent, like Sola Coffee in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award Nominee has also found time to see a Broadway show – the Lion King, marvel at the scale of the Grand Canyon, visit the ultra bright lights of Las Vegas and take a private tour of the Capitol Building during election week.

After she returns to the UK in late November, she will be playing at The O2, London and in the Brooklyn Bowl on December 3, supporting country duo Ward Thomas, whose second release recently reached Number 1 on the UK album chart.

Then it is back to Gloucestershire to appear at her favourite venue – Stroud Sub Rooms on December 8 – where she is headlining her very own show, Christmas Hats, with the Black Feathers, Natalie Holmes and Asha McCarthy.

This will be the launch gig for her new Christmas EP, A Winter’s Day, and there will be plenty of festive surprises.

The following week she is playing in Cheltenham at the Maggie’s charity Christmas concert for the third year running.

For those unable to make the Sub Rooms, Hattie will also play at the Stroud Goodwill events on the evening of December 2, so local fans will have several opportunities to catch up with her.

www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk