Brummie born Roland Lee Gift is having a homecoming Christmas party and you're invited.

The Fine Young Cannibals lead singer is the musical gift which keeps on giving and his party at the Hare and Hounds on Tuesday, December 20 will be one of the concerts of the year.

At 55 his voice is still as recognisable as it was when it graced every jukebox in the late 1980s and it does not take a second glance to realise his was the face which helped MTV become a global phenomenon.

His Christmas party gig will include material from his new album Return To Vegas, which will be the basis for a stage show, and classics from his Fine Young Cannibals days and his solo albums.

Roland was a guest on Jools Holland's Christmas and Hootenanney tour three years ago and understands the British love of a festive concert.

He said: "We love a good Christmas party in this country and I saw with Jools how much fun it was during the festive season so I thought I'd put on a concert in my hometown for my fans, friends and family.

"I grew up in Sparkhill so am expecting to see lots of old friends in the audience which will make it extra special, Birmingham is always an important gig for me because of the places and people that are special to me.

"We are having a comedian and a raffle on the night to give the party a real variety feel."

The Fine Young Cannibals were formed when Andy Cox and David Steele from Birmingham ska outfit The Beat spotted Roland fronting a band in Hull, FYC went on to become one of the best ever selling bands from the city.

Former St John's Primary School, Sparkhill, pupil Roland debuted his latest band at the Hare and Hounds two years ago and now he is returning with them after honing their sound and perfecting their stagecraft.

He said: "The reception we got two years ago in Birmingham gave us the confidence to carry on and we've now we are coming back with our own look and sound.

"We have a real chemistry between us on and off stage and it feels right, you have to have that feel between each other for great music to be produced and I think we have it.

"Our sound has been called "black psychedelia", which made me smile, but we are just ourselves on stage and I am loving playing live with such talented people."

Never afraid to plough his own fashion furrow Roland wears an Indian style Shalwar Kameez garment with a suit top on stage and his band -Guy Phethian on keyboards, Dave Barbarosa on drums, David Randall on guitar and longtime backing singers Debbie Longworth and Julie Isaac - all bring their own look to the overall style.

FYC 's multi-racial line up broke barriers in America, they were one of the first allowed on MTV, and Roland, whose personal logo is inspired by Rock Against Racism's iconic badge, is still happy to mix-cultures.

"Our look has evolved, we are mixing two urban cultures and coming up with something which I'm proud of."

And Fine Young Cannibals fans going to the gig have no need to worry that the mercurial front man has got all snooty about his 80s heyday - when his face graced Rolling Stone and The Raw and The Cooked spent three months at number one in USA.

He said: "Of course I will be performing some of the classics, the fans still love to hear them and I love to sing them, I would not do them if I did not enjoy singing them."

Roland Lee Gift and his band are at the Hare and Hounds on Tuesday, December 20.