Attention sk8r bois and other fans of Avril Lavigne’s infectious pop rock — the Canadian star is headed for South Africa.

Catch her in Johannesburg on May 8, 2005, Durban on May 10 and Cape Town on May 13 with her no-nonsense attitude, kick-ass guitars and radio-ready choruses.

It’s a mix that’s already brought her massive success — her debut album “Let Go” spawning singles like the breakthrough hit “Complicated”, “Sk8r Boi” and “I’m With You” on its way to selling 14-million copies globally. And eight Grammy nominations.

Not bad for someone who was 17 at the time “Let Go” was unleashed in mid-2002. Seemingly unconcerned with the glamour of the pop world, her confidence was the product of her long-held rock star ambitions. By her early teens she was writing songs, playing guitar, and performing at such decidedly punk-free places as country fairs and church — in the choir.

By the age of 16 Lavigne was signed by Arista Records’ Antonio “L.A.” Reid, the guy who also discovered Pink, and began recording her collection of melodic, edgy pop songs — filled with a teen defiance that spoke to the masses.

The popularity continued with her follow-up “Under My Skin”, already having spawned the hits “Don’t Tell Me”, “Nobody’s Home” and “My Happy Ending”.

A far more consistent collection of songs, the album revealed a more mature Lavigne — but one who hadn’t lost touch of her musical strengths.

"I still love a good pop song. I'm basically just a girl who likes to write, who likes to rock out, and who wants music to be a part of my life forever," she says.

And as her official bio gushes: “She's a girl with a bell-clear voice and the ability to bottle youthful anguish and enthusiasm into tidy, infectious songs.”

Which is exactly what you’ll get at the three South African shows presented by Big Concerts, 5fm and Edgars. Book at Computicket.

Read our review of "Under My Skin".