OF all the great artists announced for this year’s Ramsbottom Festival, none has created more excitement than Sinead O’Connor, who is to close the festival on the Sunday night.

The Irish singer who possesses one of the most distinctive voices in modern music has undergone a resurgence following the release of her most recent album, How About I Be Me (And I Be You?) and will head to East Lancashire after a summer playing major festivals across Europe.

“I will hopefully have got my festival voice up and running by then,” laughed Sinead.

“For a singer, festivals are more difficult physically, they are a demanding experience. You tend not to have a proper soundcheck. You’re straight in there and have to sing that bit harder than you would for an indoor gig. But festivals are a bit of a favourite. They appeal to me as a performer as it’s that much more raw. You just plug in and connect with the band and you’re all up there focused on having some fun.”

Although she might enjoy appearing on festival stages, there is one element of the festival season which she could certainly do without.

“The schedule does get pretty heavy during the summer and the travelling can be a real pain” she said. “The festivals are where we get the chance to make some money but it’s not something I could ever put my children through (she has four) and I hate leaving them. I cry every night that I’m away from them but it’s a necessary evil.

“I apologise to them all the time and I’m fortunate that all the band are parents and we all know how each other is feeling.

“My touring band are basically mates and we’ve been together for the last 20 years. I always wanted to be in a band and with them I get the chance to just float off into my own little world on stage.”

The release last year of How About I Be Me? saw Sinead getting more acclaim for her work than probably at any other time in her career since her cover of Prince’s Nothing Compares 2U.

“I think the album marks a turning point for me,” she said. “I think it’s the first album I’ve written as an adult and I realised that I don’t ’t have to write about me all the time.”

Songs from the album will feature prominently in her setlist, along with others from her back catalogue.

“I’m only just beginning to think about writing new material and it’s not something I can really do when I’m on tour,” she said.

  • Sinead O’Connor headlines the Ramsbottom Festival on Sunday, September 15. Other headline acts include The Futureheads on Friday, September 13 and Richard Hawley on Saturday, September 14. For details visit www.ramsbottomfestival.com