FORMER Trafford resident Diane Shaw is to pay homage to the music that was the soundtrack to her youth at the Waterside Arts Centre.

The 52-year-old, who has lived in Sale and Altrincham respectively, will serve up a feast of soul and Motown classics at what promises to be a gig to remember.

She said: “Just like a lot of the people who are hopefully going to come on Friday I grew up with these songs. If you can imagine a young girl sat in her bedroom, like a lot of young girls, singing into their hairbrush. i was one of them and I always pretended I was singing to an audience. Lo and behold, many years later, that’s what I’m doing.”

Diane, who competed as the legendary Diana Ross is the TV talent show Stars In Their Eyes, will perform numbers ranging from Midnight Train To Georgia to Baby Love.

But her favourite song to sing might not be instantly recognisable to many people.

She said: “My favourite singer of all time has got to be Gladys Knight because she is what I’d call the singer’s singer. I love all the classics but my favourite would be a Temptations song she did a cover of called I Wish It Would Rain.”

How appropriate, for a gig in a part of the world that sees more than it’s fair share of the wet stuff.

* The Diane Shaw Soul and Motown Show takes place on May 2 at 7.30pm. Call 0161 912 5616 for tickets.