KELLY Willis admits she’s not one to be rushed when it comes to releasing new music but the Texas-based musician can’t wait to get to Bury Met next week to mark the release of Back Being Blue, her first album for 11 years.

“I guess I’ve never liked being pressured to make a record,” she said. “I think there has to be some artistic reason or genuine inspiration behind it and I have kind of waited for that.”

Not only is it 11 years since her last solo album - Translated From Love - the Bury date will be part of her first UK solo tour since 1992.

Having been championed by Nanci Griffiths and some early success, Kelly took time to have and look after her four children and also concentrated on making music with her husband Bruce Robison. The pair toured the UK a couple of years ago.

“I have been making music with my husband so a lot of my creative energy has gone into that,” she said. “But now it just feels right to get out there with some new music and also some older songs.”

Back Being Blue has already gained some impressive reviews and the collection of songs written by Kelly plus a few inspired cover versions will delight fans of Americana and country.

It was the title track which inspired Kelly to make the album.

“Once I’d stumbled on the idea of the song Back Being Blue, it kind of fired off all sorts of ideas and then doors started opening and I found I had this record there – it just happened,” she said.

The album marks a change in style from some of Kelly’s more recent releases.

“I knew that I wanted songs where I simplified the stories and went for the kind of music that got me excited when I was first starting out,” she said. “I was really into rockabilly and early country music where the stories were simple and universal. What I had been doing was probably a little bit more folk and the stories were more complicated so I was just able to put that aside.”

Kelly took the decision to use Pledgemusic to support the album’s release.

“It is a gamble,” she admitted, “but I look at it as pre-sales. It’s reaching people you assume would be interested in buying the record after it’s out but giving them the chance to buy it before it’s out.

“Let’s face it, being a musician is all gambling. You never know who is going to show up or buy the record and, as a musician, you have to make peace with that.”

For her UK tour Kelly will be bringing musicians who worked with her on recording the album. But husband Bruce will be staying at home in Austin.

“When we did a run of dates over here a couple of years ago we brought the kids along too but that’s a lot of people to take on the road,” said Kelly. “So they are going to stay home this time.”

Although songs from Back Being Blue will feature in her live show, older material will also feature.

“The new album may reflect who I am right now,” she said, “but I have never stopped playing that other music. I’m still very connected to it.”

Kelly has just finished a US tour promoting the album and will return to touring with husband Bruce once the UK dates are over.

“Once I feel I’m not working on the new record I feel I will get back into writing,” she said. “I hope I’ll be quicker to get another record made - it’s got to be better than 11 years.”

Kelly Willis, Bury Met, Friday, July 27. Details from 0161 761 2216 or www.themet.org.uk