AMERICAN singer songwriter Beth Hart possesses a voice which is laced with so much power and passion that it evokes the sprite of iconic legends Janis Joplin and Eta James.

Hart and her band arrive in the UK this week ready for a whirlwind four show mini tour, which includes a stop at the Solent Hall in the BIC on November 19.

UK music fans will finally get to see and hear one of rock’s most underrated performers.

Raised in Pasadena during the 70s, Hart was drawn to the piano and the world of classical music at the age of four.

While her early influences where the likes of Bach and Beethoven, it wasn’t long before her interests turned to Otis Reading and Led Zeppelin. It was the vocal talents of Eta James, that had the most impact on the budding musician, an impact that still remains strong to this day.

Teaming up with blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa in 2011 for her album Don’t Explain, Hart has been able to pay her respects to the musicians and singers that have inspired her throughout her career. The album was a collection of cover versions from a wide spectrum of artists, including Ray Charles, Tom Waits and of course Eta James.

Anyone familiar with Beth’s material - her solo albums, her live work, her collaborations with ace guitarists Slash and Joe Bonamassa - knows that she doesn’t do things by half. If ever there was a singer who wears her heart on her sleeve, it’s her.

Her backstory includes a substantial number of personal problems. When she was just 20, her older sister died of complications from AIDS. Beth herself has had issues with drink and drugs, and was also diagnosed with bi-polar disorder.

She has written about the bad things in the past, but for her new album she decided to focus on the joys of her life. The result is probably her best album yet.

She brings her latest album, Better Than Home, to Bournemouth later this year as part of a brief UK tour.

Although Hart has a strong track record of studio albums, it is her live performances, where she can really let her talent shine

Following her critically acclaimed UK tour last year and the rapturous response to her latest studio album, Better Than Home, The Grammy nominated singer-songwriter will win over new fans on the south coast with her sultry blues, jazzy influences, rocking tunes and touching ballads.