BLACKPOOL singer-songwriter Rae Morris will be Tom Odell’s special guest at his Forest Live open-air concert at Dalby Forest, near Pickering, on June 25Rae Morris will be Tom Odell’s special guest at his Forest Live open-air concert at Dalby Forest, near Pickering, on June 25.

Rae, 22, is a featured artist in the BBC’s Music Sound of 2015 showcase for the brightest rising stars, in the wake of recording with Bombay Bicycle Club, Clean Bandit and Odell himself, and is making an immediate impact with her own songs and distinctively soulful voice.

Her debut album, Unguarded, made the Top Ten in the British charts on its release in late-January on Atlantic Records. Written in her Blackpool shed and bedroom and produced by Ariel Rechtshaid, Jim Eliot and Fryars, the 12 tracks deal head-on with the highs and the lows that come with life-changing, character-building relationships.

“I’ve always liked to visualise things in circular patterns in my mind. A full circle journey, a complete tale and a finished story,” says Rae.

“I see my album as a coming-of-age tale, from start to finish, from then to now. I guess it’s a series of diary entries documenting these important years of growing up and learning. I’m not trying to be cryptic. It’s really simple. That’s just how I see it. I’m just being completely myself.”

Rae played The Wardrobe, in Leeds, in early this month as the only Yorkshire date of her headline winter tour and she is looking forward to her Dalby debut as one of seven Forest Live appearances this summer.

“I supported Tom on a sold-out UK indoor venue tour previously, so I’m delighted he has invited me along again and this time to perform in such beautiful and unique locations,” she says. “It should be a lot of fun.”

Tickets are on sale on 03000 680400 or at forestry.gov.uk/music

Income generated from ticket sales will be spent on protecting, improving and expanding forests and woodlands and increasing their value to people and wildlife.