A concert featuring the music of Eva Cassidy performed by a former Hollyoaks star is coming to Croydon next month, writes Harry Howes.

Sarah Jane Buckley is most famous for playing “crazy” Kathy Barnes in long-running Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks and since leaving the show in 2008 has spent a long time putting together her upcoming concerts.

The show is titled Songbird: The Music of Eva Cassidy and Buckley has put a lot of effort and preparation into perfecting the “Eva sound” while attempting to deliver a concert, which takes the audience on a powerful, and inspiring journey through Cassidy’s life.

Cassidy was an American vocalist and guitarist, who died of skin cancer in 1996 when she was just 33 years old.

Despite being a well-known singer in her home city of Washington DC, she didn’t become famous worldwide until after her death, as Terry Wogan discovered her cover of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and presented it to the nation on his radio show.

Songbird features more than 25 of Cassidy’s songs and alongside her onstage band, Buckley, who started her career as a singer delivers not only a concert, but an experience, as she invites watchers to join her on a discovery as she travels through Cassidy’s life.

She is very much looking forward to the tour and says: “It takes you on a very emotional journey, but there’s lots of happiness to the show.

“I guess it’s a celebration of her music as well as a tribute to her life.”

Sarah Jane Buckley: Songbird; Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon; October 10, 7.45pm; £21; www.fairfield.co.uk