REGARDED as one of Britain's most influential songwriters, Elvis Costello comes to Cardiff's St David's Hall in May with The Imposters.

Born Declan MacManus in Merseyside, Costello emerged on the back of the late 1970s UK punk rock movement with his band The Attractions, recording a string of successful albums including This Year's Model, Armed Forces and Get Happy.

He scored 16 hit singles including the seminal Oliver's Army and I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down.

Since then he has enjoyed a wide and varied career having tried his hand at everything from orchestral symphonies to harmonious pop. And he has worked with great songwriters such as Sir Paul McCartney and Burt Bacharach.

He was recently nominated for an Oscar for the song Scarlet Tide, co-written with T-Bone Burnett, from the film Cold Mountain.

Earlier this year he announced that he is composing an opera based on Danish fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen's unrequited love.

Elvis Costello kicks off his May UK tour with this opening date in Cardiff on Sunday, May 22, where he and the band will be performing tracks from their latest acclaimed album, The Delivery Man.

Tickets are now on sale, priced £28.50 plus a booking fee, and are available from the box office on 029 20 878444.