Rock legend Suzi Quatro is already getting geared up for her appearance at the Gig in the Park in Halesworth this Saturday.

Rock legend Suzi Quatro is already getting geared up for her appearance at the Gig in the Park in Halesworth this Saturday, August 5.

The veteran musician is making what is, for her, just a short trip up the A12 from Chelmsford to the three-day festival, where she is headlining the event.

“I'm looking forward to it. It's a local gig,” said the 56-year-old. “It will be nice to be able to go back to my own home afterwards instead of going back to a hotel.

“It's just about an hour-and-a-half. So when you fly to Australia sometimes for a gig, it's really just around the corner.”

The singer, who became famous in the 1970s for hits such as 48 Crash and Devil Gate Drive, said visiting Suffolk was always enjoyable.

“Suffolk is a lovely place,” she said. “It's very nice. My old guitar player comes from there.”

Since releasing her latest album, Back to the Drive, in February, Suzi has been busy jetting around Europe to promote it - leaving her with little time to play shows in the UK.

A tour is planned for March and April next year, but in the meantime, Saturday's show in Halesworth's Town Park is one of only a handful of UK performances scheduled for the rest of 2006.

The Gig in the Park, which starts tonight and finishes on Sunday evening, is not her only recent foray into the Suffolk music scene. In 2005, she took part in Gene Simmons's second series of Rock School with youngsters from Kirkley High School in Lowestoft.

Adult tickets bought at the gate cost £9 for Friday, £16 for Saturday, or £10 for Sunday. A weekend ticket bought at the gate costs £30. Concessions are available.