California dreaming

Belinda Carlisle is back with a covers album capturing the spirit of her West Coast youth. LAUREN DEL FABBRO finds out all about it

- LAUREN DEL FABBRO

IF YOU'RE in Edinburgh in early September and partial to an early morning walk to start your day, you never know, you may run into pop star Belinda Carlisle.

The singer, 66, will be up in Scotland as part of her Heavenly Hits tour, with a date in Edinburgh (September 9), Glasgow (September 10), London (September 12) and Manchester (September 13).

"Edinburgh, I love. I went on a morning walk there, and I got lost and it was amazing. So I can't wait to do that again," the California-born singer enthuses before the UK leg of the tour, which includes dates in Denmark, Germany and Belgium.

"I have fun wherever I go, I make it fun. I'll get up early and just go for walks and wander and explore things."

It's a long way from the sunny West Coast of America which is the inspiration for her new album, Once Upon A Time In California, being released on August 29.

Belinda scored a slew of power pop hits in the 80s and 90s, such as Heaven Is A Place On Earth, Leave A Light On, Circle In The Sand and I Get Weak.

Prior to her successful solo career, she was part of the pop rock group The Go-Go's, whose hit songs included We Got The Beat and Our Lips Are Sealed.

The band split in 1985 and a year later Belinda released her debut solo album.