Elkie Brooks spent summer laying down tracks for her 20th studio album and now she's back on tour and heading our way. An instant sell-out at last year's Chester Summer Music Festival, the star is back by popular demand for a late season special, the first of three shows booked by the festival in the run-up to Christmas. 'By bringing more events at different times of the year outside our usual summer season, we are both responding to audience demand and adding to the variety and choice of local music life,' said festival administrator Carol Griffiths. 'It's something we've wanted to do for a long time and, depending on public response to this first late-season programme, we hope to build on the idea.' Anticipating a big audience for Elkie, the chosen venue is outside Chester. 'We've booked the Civic Hall at Ellesmere Port,' said Carol. 'The show we put on there in summer, Bjorn Again, worked well and with Elkie attracting another capacity crowd it seemed the best bet.' She brings her new show, sponsored by Shell, to Ellesmere Port Civic Hall on October 1. Chester Music Festival's late programme also features pianist John Gough at St Mary's Centre in Chester on November 3 and The London Community Gospel Choir at Chester Cathedral on December 16. * For tickets to all three shows, ring 01244 340392. | 
