COUNTING CROWS are bringing their Hard Candy tour to the UK this month for an eight-date arena jaunt.

This follows the Top 10 success of their Hard Candy album, which was released earlier in the year.

The band, who have a phenomenal live following in the UK, have already wowed the crowds at V2002 and played several sell-out shows in different venues around London, including the Royal Albert Hall.

Counting Crows release their version of the classic Joni Mitchell song Big Yellow Taxi at the beginning of February, which features one of the new stars of 2002, Vanessa Carlton.

The band line-up for the tour is Adam Duritz on vocals, David Bryson, David Immergluck and Dan Vickrey - guitars, Matt Malley on bass, Charles Gillingham on keyboards and Ben Mize on drums.

Catch them in Birmingham at the NEC on Tuesday, January 21, when they will be supported by Gemma Hayes.

Tickets are £21 and can be booked on 0870 909 4133, and are also available through ticketmaster on 08704 000 688, and on the web www.ticketmaster.co.uk

This week, Nightlife is holding a competition for one lucky person to win a pair of tickets to the show if you answer the following question: Counting Crows played V2002 last year. Name the Staffordshire park where V2002 was held.

Send your answers on a postcard to Liz Freeth, Newsroom, Worcester Evening News, Hylton Road, Worcester, WR2 5JX.

Answers should arrive no later than Tuesday, January 14.