FORMER X Factor winner and gold-selling artist Sam Bailey promises “cheeky surprises” in Dunfermline tomorrow night as she brings her new tour to Fife.

Her 32-date Sing My Heart Out tour has already seen her fans flock to numerous venues across the UK, with belting powerhouse vocals everpresent.

The Alhambra is her next stop, a date on the calendar she’s cherrypicked to be a top night.

She told Press:On: “I’m very excited to perform in Dunfermline in such a terrific venue. 

“I love Scotland in general as there’s always such a great crowd of fans who have given me such lovely receptions.

“For me, nothing is more rewarding than getting the chance to share my music with my fans live. My fans are so diverse, so there’s something for everyone from ballads to dance track and poppy numbers. 

“There’s nothing worse than an album or show where every song is the same.

“It’s going to be an amazing tour with cheeky surprises chucked in there that people perhaps don’t think I’m capable of doing on stage. 

“I’m slightly nervous about it but it will certainly be jaw-dropping when I go out and perform.”

Following a successful second album of the same name, collections will be carried out throughout the tour for a charity Sam has devoted many hours to.

Rainbows Charity Hospice in Loughborough offers essential respite and palliative care for children and young people suffering from life limiting illnesses, and Sam was keen to offer her support to the hospice after visiting the facility and talking to the families who rely on the service.

“It’s a facility which has a respite type feel to it,” she said. 

“Families can come along with their children who are sadly terminally ill or are in need of full-time high quality care, to this facility and it’s just amazing. They have everything a child of that calibre would need. 

“It’s also a place where I feel that parents the second they walk through the door drop their big breeze blocks off their shoulders and leave them at the door. 

“It’s almost like they come in and just breathe. When you see these children and all the care they need, for a parent it’s really hard. 

“The staff are amazing and it gives parents the chance to relax for a spell. It’s a great place, but it can also be quite a sad place as they care for many young people who then pass away.

“I just wanted to help and support them as it costs millions of pounds to run and by doing this on my tour, I hope I can raise awareness and encourage the public to donate. It’s something I was really passionate about so I knew I had to do something to help.”

After her X Factor success and being number one at Christmas in 2013, Sam went on to support Beyonce as part of her ‘The Mrs Carter Show’ world tour in February the following year.

Her popularity was soaring and her debut album, The Power of Love, shot straight to number one in the UK album chart.

And in 2016 she was cast as Mamma Morton in the UK tour of the musical Chicago alongside John Partridge and Hayley Tamaddon which she described as a “truly humbling and amazing experience”.

Staying grounded throughout her meteoric rise from prison guard to musical star, she has had to deal with time away from her family while touring and admits she’s had difficulties, but nothing replaces the feeling of coming home to her husband and three children.

“My best friend is FaceTime when I’m on the road. I was in Los Angeles for a week recently and it is tough being away from them, but I’m a big believer in taking those breaks from your children as it really rekindles that appreciation for them when you come home. 

“It’s good for them and for me as a parent, because you don’t want to be battling with them all the time. 

“When I come back after going away it’s all cuddles and love and we’re back to square one where we all really appreciate each other.”

Adapting to attention from the media has also been a learning curve for the 39-year-old, with wise words from peers and mentors a constant accompaniment after starting off in music in 1996, with her friend Julie Nunney, as they formed ska duo Girls Next Door.

“Someone said to me once, “Don’t read the reviews, count them,” and I really liked that analogy. I tend to laugh at half of the things printed in the press because the majority of the time I don’t know where they get their information from. I just roll my eyes. 

“I’ve phoned my manager before after seeing that me and my husband, according to the papers, were getting a divorce! I really think someone just sits there making it all up!

“Sharon Osbourne always just said for me to be myself and say what I think and feel. 

“If you’re not happy with something just speak up. 

“That’s so important. I’ll have meetings all the time where something is in the process of being agreed that I’m uncomfortable or not happy with, and I’ll make sure my voice is heard and we come to an arrangement that I’m pleased with.

“The X Factor experience has definitely given me another layer of skin. I was very thick-skinned to start with but I think it’s doubled now. 

“At the same time, I live for the day and live for the moment. I live to work and work to live. If there’s something I want I’ll work to do it.”

The Leicester-born Sam will be supported by sensational vocalist Niki Loy, whose award-wining video for her single, ‘Can I Keep You’, featured at the BBC’s Music Video Festival. 

Nikki has also reached the final of the UK Songwriting Contest and has supported a variety of world-class talent throughout her career.

Her second single Hold Me Now was released on March 3 on the same day as her second album Pivotal.

The album, produced by George Shilling (Stornaway, Primal Scream) and Andy Baker (Philippa Hanna, Daughter Of Davis) was released in October 2016 and has propelled Nikki into the mainstream spotlight touring with Sam and Shane Filan (Westlife).

Tickets for the show cost £29.50 with doors opening at 7pm. 

Limited Meet & Greet tickets are available for £75 which includes a front row seat, a meet & greet with Sam, a photo opportunity and a souvenir laminate.

Tickets can be bought via the Alhambra box office at: 01383 740 384.