Thea Gilmore’s song London was used on BBC coverage of the London 2012 Olympics montage of team GB medal winners.

The folk, jazz, rock and Americana songbird has also proved herself a champion - in her music. She is heading for Swindon’s Arts Centre tonight.

The phrase, keeping it real, is a familiar one these day, but for Thea it is at the heart of her songwriting. She is married with two children and her songs tackle the sort of issues real people deal with every day, She started off helping out as work experience staff for a recording studio in Oxford, where she grew up. She was 16-years-old and never believed that she would become a professional singer. She loved writing poetry which honed her songwriting and in 1998 released her first album Burning Dorothy. Her road seemed set but the icing on the cake for Thea was in 2004 when folk queen Joan Baez personally invited her to join her US tour as the support act.

Thea is now established as one of the top British singer/songwriters and will be singing at Swindon’s Arts Centre from 8pm with support from Fran Smith Ticket are £15, concessions £13 from 01793 614837. - Flicky Harrison