SOME of Merseyside's best up-and-coming artists are providing strong support for this year's Summer Pops.
And New Zealand classical starlet Hayley Westenra has also confirmed she will appear next month as special guest of fellow superstars of opera, Il Divo.
Still only 18, she already has a host of platinum discs and has sung with many of the classical greats, including Andrea Bocelli, Jose Carreras and Bryn Terfel, as well as performing in front of the Queen and Tony Blair.
There are only a few tickets remaining for the show on July 21.
Pops organisers are also committed this year to supporting local talent with both Lipa graduate John Smith and Runcorn favourites Muddyhead being announced in support slots.
Smith will play at the opening night of the Pops on June 29, which is being headlined by Jools Holland.
He is described as 'the future of acoustic guitar music' with a highly original style but which also brings to mind legendary talents from Nick Drake to Bert Jansch.
Smith, who last month released adebut album The Fox and The Monk and toured with John Martyn, will appear at both the Wickerman Festival and Green Man Festival this summer.
