WALES" homegrown pop startlet Gwenno Saunders has chosen to celebrate her 24th birthday in Newport City Live Arena.

Gwenno, who has enjoyed stage success as a dancer and as a singer, will perform with her new group The Pipettes on Monday, May 23.

The Pipettes is Gwenno's first stab at the big time following much acclaim on the Welsh language scene with record label Crai.

She joined the band just one month ago after lengthy auditions to replace one of the original members, who had opted out to pursue other interests. Together they've already toured Ireland with The Go! Team and played many key London dates.

In June, she and her fellow Pipettes (Becki and Rose from Brighton) will play the Glastonbury Festival and plans are afoot to record a debut album around the same time.

An XFM radio session has already been booked while future appearances include Radio 1's Bestival festival on the Isle Of Wight, plus an upcoming tour with The Magic Numbers and shows in Italy, Scandinavia and Spain.

The Pipettes sing doowop songs, make choreographed hand movements and wear polka dot dresses which have impressed fans as far away as Finland as well as UK pundits such as Graham Coxon and John Peel.

Their debut single, I Like A Boy In Uniform, sold out after just three days when it was released last month, and their new effort, ABC, is expected to do the same when it hits the shops on June 13.

Matthew Blythe