Globe columnist Peter Grant meets Eddi Reader ahead of her appearance at this year's International Guitar Festival.

EDDI Reader days she has fond memories of her last visit to New Brighton.

"It reminded me of my own childhood holiday growing up in Glasgow and Irvine.

"Dad packing us all in an old banger of a car with crisps and drinks and all of us going off to the seaside in Ayrshire."

The multi-talented Eddi is returning to the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton on June 14 and says she is genuinely looking forward to it.

"I mean it," she says.

Speaking to Eddi is like taking part in a masterclass in positive thinking.

Eddi played the guitar when she was just a ten-year-old star in the making.

Now she is marking an astonishing 40 years as a performer at the top of her game.

And she continues to explore new artistic avenues and enhance her diverse craft.

Eddi has recently enjoyed another sell-out two week tour of her native Scotland.

Now she is in the right mood to be one of the many stars of this year's International Guitar Festival.

She says this visit to Wirral will see her performing songs from across four decades including material from her last critically-acclaimed double CD called Cavalier.

I say that sums her up perfectly.

She laughs: "Yes it does. I control my own space. I created it and I have earned it."

And in typical Eddi style she becomes even more animated when she tells the Globe about her philosophy about her life.

"I am a bit like Bill Shankly who said that whatever you do you have to do it well.

"That's what matters most to me.

"He wasn't just talking about football - he was talking about life.

"When I am on stage I give the best I can.

"Off stage I am the same - getting on with my life with friends and my family.

"I clean the house, bring up the kids get their dinner ready, cut the grass.

"I love music, books and fun fairs. And I love what I do and love life."

Eddi is not only famous as a solo performer but also her work with The Waterboys, collaborations with other female stars like Barbara Dickson, Annie Lennox and Kiki Dee and her sparkling work with the band Fairground Attraction who had an international hit with the classic song Perfect.

There is so much more to her diverse career than just that catchy hit.

From starting out in a punk band called Gang of Four to one of the world, stop folk artists she covers all musical genres.

Her career has seen her enjoy three Brit awards, an acting career, fellowships from various universities and an MBE.

But she has another string to her bow ... and guitars

"I am good at sewing. Oh and I'm a really good engineer too.

"I believe in being a good person - if you try to be good then good things things happen.

"People talk about having nine to five jobs, but the way I see it I have the same lifestyle only it's from four to eleven."

She returns to her 'Cavalier' attitude.

"I am Cavalier about following my instincts.

"I will sometimes sit up 'til four in the morning talking and singing and that's my decision.

"If I don't want to do it I won't.

"But I don't want people giving me permission to do this or that."

So what can fans expect when she hits the Floral Pavilion stage?

"I don't have a set list. I busk it.

"Sometimes I even surprise the band.

"I will bring in newer songs too - they always seem to go down well.

"In concerts I want to bring people into my world.

"My philosophy is this: put me in a room with a prince or with an old lady and I am the same.

"I don't believe in class - we are all equal.

"There is so much pressure in life but when you feel music it has the power to heal ... to get rid of negativity.

"In front of a live audience I give it my best shot - it's in my DNA .

"I want the audience on their feet applauding and expressing themselves by the end of each and every show."

Tickets for Eddi's show at the Floral Pavilion on June 14 are from the box office on 0151 666 0000.