Tracey Ullman is to briefly resume her music career nearly two decades after her last chart successes at a concert to celebrate the life of the late Kirsty MacColl. The comedienne will be joined by Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr and ex-Lemonheads frontman Evan Dando at a tribute concert at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Although she began her career doing both comedy and music in the UK, Ullman’s big successes came in the US with the huge Tracy Ullman Show (from where the Simpson’s originated). More recently Ullman has been seen in sitcom Ally McBeal. MacColl was killed in December 2000 after a speedboat hit her as she was diving off the coast of Mexico. The tribute concert, on 23 September, will see a number of guests sing alongside a band led by MacColl's musical collaborators Pete Glenister and Dave Ruffy.
The show is part of a season of shows showcasing the art of songwriters called The Song's The Thing at the Royal Festival Hall.