Heather Small performed at the Roundhouse, London on 15th June 2013. Heather performed at 'A Round Of Applause' which was the Post Office Newtwork Sales Awards 2013 event.

She was joined on stage with her cousin Bianca Gerald and Strictly Come Dancing singer Tommy Blaize who both sang backing vocals.

Backstage at the event, Bianca posted a video of Heather and Tommy singing 'Bring It On Home' in Heather's dressing room.

Watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI0PUjyh8Gw

Interview from the Manchester Evening News:

‘My Kind Of M People’ - Marion McMullen finds out why the band still makes Heather Small feel proud as they prepare for a new tour.

What have you done today to make you feel proud? Miranda Hart and Sarah Hadland like nothing better than belting out the famous line from singer Heather Small’s 2000 anthem in TV sitcom Miranda... and it’s boosted record sales of her back catalogue.

The international star with the epic voice has even appeared in a Miranda special for Comic Relief and is quietly chuffed that Proud was picked by American chat show queen Oprah Winfrey as the theme tune for her show and also featured in the finale season of the US version of Queer As Folk.

Proud has become Heather’s signature song and she has every reason to be proud of it. It was the official anthem of the London Olympic Games last year and she sang it at the 2012 Pride Of Britain Awards as a tribute to Team GB.

But now Heather is preparing to enjoy what makes her feel proud – her time with the Manchester band M People as they prepare to go back on the road.

M People will tour the UK, including a huge homecoming gig at the Manchester Arena, later this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of hit album Elegant Slumming.

Songs like Moving On Up, Search For The Hero, One Night In Heaven and How Can I Love You More? have become part of people’s lives and strangers often approach Heather to say they played her music at their wedding.

“They think I’ve heard it all before and it’s cheesy, but these are momentous days in people lives and to think you’re good enough to be part of those positive days is very special,” beams Heather.

“Honestly, I feel it is a shortcut to people’s hearts. I feel it is such an honour to be part of people’s lives like that and their happy memories.”

Vocalist Heather Small chats to Alice Rook of Do More - Dorset about their forthcoming 20th Anniversary Greatest Hits Tour and explains why she can’t get wait to get back on the road...

I’m sure you get asked this a fair bit… but what does the ‘M’ in M People stand for?

It stands for the original member who put us together, Mike Pickering. He originally formed the group.

M People is the ultimate feel-good band. What do you think are the ingredients required to produce a hit record?

I think that what makes any good record is the content of a song and how it connects with the listener. The lyrics and the production of the song are important. It’s very difficult though – you can never sit down to write and say ‘Oh, this is going to be a hit.’ Absolutely not! What I can do, is write and perform to the best of my ability and hope that it translates to a third party. But first and foremost, you do what you do for you; it’s something inside of yourself that you want to showcase. You hope that other people enjoy it and find some kind of affinity with it.

It’s been 8 years since M People last toured together… what are you most looking forward to about being back on the road?

The audience and being on stage with band members that you’ve played with before. And also, the energy that live music creates on and off the stage in the audience. It’s magical, there’ absolutely nothing like it; not studio performances, not anything.

What can people expect from your Greatest Hits Tour? Will there be any surprises?

For one, with age comes maturity we hope, and experience. And still the joy for what we do… I think that will be a surprise. I think I’ve matured as a singer and we’ve matured as people, but that zest for life and our enjoyment of playing live will surprise people. It will be just as fresh as it always was because we don’t do it often and so the love and the joy is still there.

A special hour long radio interview was broadcast on 9th June 2013 on Smooth Radio entitled 'A Conversation With M People'. In the interview M People discuss the history of the band from how the band formed, Heather's hair, performing live, awards, to writing their albums.

You can listen to the interview at: http://www.mixcloud.com/mpeople_heathersmall/m-people-2013-tour-a-conversation-with-m-people-smooth-radio/

This special was part of the promotion for the forthcoming M People '20th Anniversary Greatest Hits Tour 2013'. Visit the tour page for more information.

The 2005 M People Featuring Heather Small album 'Ultimate Collection' remains in the UK Dance Album Chart! The album re-entered at number 30 last week and this week it is at number 40. M People have been promoting their forthcoming 20th Anniversary Greatest Hits Tour 2013 with a number of TV and radio interviews which would have helped to boost the album sales. The album is also currently only £4.99 on iTunes.

Track list:

1) Moving On Up

2) Search For The Hero

3) One Night In Heaven

4) Proud

5) How Can I Love You More?

6) Just For You

7) Don't Look Any Further

8) Someday

9) Angel St

10) Sight For Sore Eyes

11) Colour My Life

12) Excited

13) Holding On

14) Open Your Heart

15) Love Rendezvous

16) Renaissance

17) Fantasy Island

18) Testify