Gretchen Peters: Burnt Toast And Offerings (Curb)

MENTION the song Independence Day and the majority of country fans think of Martina McBride's hit, but it's the Grammy-winning writer behind the song, Getchen Peters, who appears tonight at the Sage, Gateshead.

She's supplied Faith Hill with The Secret Of Life and created hits for Bonnie Raitt, Neil Diamond, Patty Loveless, Bryan Adams and Trisha Yearwood. Still lacking a Number One hit, Peters' latest release might provide several chart candidates.

She calls the CD her divorce album because it conjures up feelings of moving from one lifestyle to another. She says: "Professionally, I was looking at, essentially, abandonment.

You can be this empowered woman, and write these empowered-woman songs, but there were a lot of times, after leaving, I could not believe how scared I felt. There was a huge wall I had to get over in terms of thinking, OK you can do this."

Her live performance is a touch of magic either in her own show or with friends (she last appeared at The Sage in the company of Suzy Bogguss and Matraca Berg on the Wine, Women and Song Tour).

To my mind she is much underrated and is deserving of much more success. Tickets: 0191-4434661