WHEN she returns to play Colne this year, Lucy Zirins will have a surprise in-store.

For her appearance on the British stage on the opening night of the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival will be the first time she will have been seen in the area performing with her band The Southern Company.

"I wanted it be really special when I played with the band for the first time in the north and it's so exciting that that will be at Colne where everything pretty much started for me," said Lucy.

It's been a year of major changes for Burnley-born Lucy. As well as gaining a band she's relocated to London and enrolled on a two-year songwriting course at university.

"I just wanted to take the opportunity to go somewhere new and to learn more about the craft," she said.

"I'll be honest, it hasn't been easy at times, because it such a major change to move to London. I live in Ealing and everyone seems to be a musician down here. I've gone from being fairly well-known to starting from scratch but I enjoy the challenge."

Lucy won the best newcomer award at the British Blues Awards in 2013 but she's not taking anything for granted.

"I still very much an unknown down here," she said. "I know it's a bit of a cliche but London really is like a different country. To have a blues award tag after my name is a lovely thing but I can't be complacent.

"It can be disheartening as it is difficult for an artist starting off to get paid work down here but I have done a showcase at the O2 in Islington and various local gig."

Having a band round her, Lucy believes, has not only changed her live shows but also influenced her as a songwriter.

"My approach to songwriting is really old fashioned in that I'll just have my acoustic guitar and work it all out from there," she said. "I'm a great believer that if a song is good with just a guitar and vocal then it is good. Songs may take on a life of their own from that point but you know that what you have come up with is going to work."

The SOuthern Company features Simon Price on drums, bassist Andy Crowdy and Pete Billington on keyboards.

"I worked with Simon and Andy on my first album Chasing Clocks," said Lucy. "When they heard I had moved down to London they got in touch and said 'let's do some gigs'.

"They both knew Pete and he joined too and it has been brilliant. They are all busy session musician and they don't have to play with me but they want to which is great. They are all older than me so we have a laugh about that but they are also excellent musicians with so much experience.

"Playing with them is good because they understand that songs are delicate creatures and sometimes they need coaxing out of their shells."

Lucy is currently putting the finishing touches to a new EP featuring her with the band which she hopes will be released by the end of the year.

"I think the EP will be just a taster to show how things have changed," she said. "We're almost ready to roll it out and I love what we've done on it - I think people will be really pleasantly surprised."

But before then, there's a date in Colne to savour.

"Oh I can't wait to bring the band," said Lucy. "It's going to be so great to see so many friendly faces."

n Lucy Zirins, British Stage, Friday, August 28. Details from 01282 661234.