The first solo tour of the N-Dubz front man began last Friday. Dappy had previously declared his hopes that his album No Regrets would deliver him an auspicious solo career. With the first single (also titled No Regrets) striking the top of the charts in September, this is looking like a very plausible outcome.

N-Dubz have become one of the biggest names on the UK’s R&B scene, with two platinum albums and a truly paramount online following. The trio, formed in Camden Town, London, rapidly ascended to fame after releasing singles You Better Not Waste My Time and I Swear in the summer of 2006. The band have since picked up numerous awards (including MOBO’s best newcomer and best album) and warranted their own TV series on Channel 4, Being N-Dubz.

The launch of Dappy’s solo career is not to be misconstrued as a sign of the band’s demise, though it is understood that all three members are now working on solo projects.

Accompanying Dappy on his tour are the all-new pop band from Barbados, Cover Drive (pictured). Still warm from their summer success with their first single Lik Ya Down (which entered the charts at number 9) the Caribbean quartet are primed for their first tour of the UK.

Dappy is not the first major artist to harness the group’s catchy sound and fresh energy for their own show — Rihanna personally selected Cover Drive to open for her at a Barbados gig in August. After working with some of the music industry’s top producers, the band have announced their new single Twilight will be released in January.

The No Regrets tour consists of ten shows and will be at Oxford’s O2 Academy on Saturday. Doors open at 6pm.

Davey