As the sell-out Sugababes tour heads for Newcastle next week, the latest line-up are promising the audience a little more than meets the eye. Viv Hardwick reports

THE success of the Sugababes is nothing less than impressive as the trio prepares for a sold out concert at Newcastle's City Hall on Tuesday. In the fiery furnace of pop today's hot' quite quickly transforms into tomorrow's not'. The Sugababes are an exception to this rule. They've achieved ten years at the top with over two million singles and five million albums sold (three of which were triple Platinum UK discs). They've sold out international tours and scored more top ten hits with original songs than any other girl band since 1960s super-trio The Supremes.

Just like The Supremes, the line-up of the group has changed with the latest babes, Keisha Buchanan, Heidi Range and Amelle Berrabah, aiming for a more daring and creative phase of the band's career.

Down to earth and passionate about their music and the 29-date UK tour, Buchanan says: "I'm really excited about getting out there and seeing the fans again and seeing how they react to the new material. We can't wait to see the fans who have stuck with us throughout everything. Touring is like a way of us saying thank you."

Following a top twenty placing for Change, The Sugababe's sixth studio album, and the first to feature vocals from newest band-member Berrabah, the songs available to the band are certain to produce another capacity audience on Tyneside..

Asked about the daring outfits the three will be wearing, Range replies: "They're a little bit more dramatic than we've had before. They're in more of a stage' style. We had such a brilliant time when we were filming the Denial video and trying on all the different costumes, so that inspired us.

We wanted to try something a bit more directional and there's a disco-ball inspired outfit, which I'm excited about."

The newest band member is enjoying life on the road. Berrabah says: "We had such a good time last year everywhere we went. We got to see loads of new places and go to some great bars. We had so much fun. The parties are a bonus to touring.

Everyone's on such a high and having such a brilliant time" said Amelle.

Buchanan reminisces about her times in Newcastle and adds: "Newcastle is fun because they have some amazing bars and pubs. Plus it's the only place we've been where you always get a Sunday roast. It's brilliant."

The trio are promising the audience a few risque outfits, new dance routines and vocal acrobatics at the ready.

That said, it's often the unpredictable elements that are planted firmly in the girl's memories after a tour. Buchanan recalls: "I remember on the last tour we were doing Walk This Way and Heidi didn't get ready in time so she didn't come out until the chorus so I had to sing all her words. Luckily our fans are really forgiving when things go wrong.

They're great."

12:38pm Thursday 20th March 2008

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