IT is hard to believe that the day after she plays Darwen Library Theatre on Thursday, Julie Felix will be celebrating her 81st birthday.

But although this will be a major milestone, there is another date this year which appears to be dominating her thoughts.

“I’m really excited,” she said. “I’m playing Glastonbury this year when I’ll be 81 so I suppose you could say it’s fame at last!”

It will be the first time Julie has played the legendary festival since its very early days.

“It was nothing like it is now,” she said. “I was invited to perform by Arabella Churchill, Winston Churchill’s granddaughter who was just as influential in starting Glastonbury as Michael Eavis.

“She put me on in the theatre there so this year will be the first time I’ll be playing on a proper music stage. It sounds lovely.

“I haven’t been to Glastonbury for a million years so it should be quite interesting. It’s so big it’s like a country now.

“It’s kind of frightening but it’s a great honour to be recognised.”

Julie has had a stellar career. She has worked with a veritable who’s who of the music world and even had her own BBC TV series.

And yet, in spite of everything she has achieved and the thousands of live dates she admits: “I still get really nervous before I go on stage and I’m terrified about playing Glastonbury.

“You can’t take anything for granted. Sometimes you play to a full audience and other times there may not be that many people there.

“When people ask me if I have accumulated any great knowledge over the years, I say that I don’t see myself as being very wise but I do have a great reference library. I can always go a look up things as I have been there and done that.

“The older I get, the more I treasure being able to sing in front of a live audience. It’s the most rewarding thing.

“When you are in front of an audience and you build that energy between you, it’s something that’s almost spiritual; it’s magical.”

Julie last visited Darwen in 2010 and she can’t wait to return.

“I don’t remember every single venue I have ever played at,” she said, “but for some reason I do remember Darwen. It’s a very nice venue land and I’m looking forward to playing it again.”

Given she released her first album in 1964 and there have been 20 further albums since, putting a setlist together could present a few problems.

“It depends on what type of concert I’m doing,” she sad. “If it’s an environmentalist or a women’s thing then I’ll slant the setlist to suit but generally I’ll put a set together in my dressing room before the show.

“These days I’ll have an interval and invite the audience to suggest songs they would like me to play in the second half.

“Sometimes people ask me for songs I don’t remember or they are by other artists but usually I get good input from my audience. It certainly keeps me on my toes.

“I can’t remember what I had for breakfast but I can remember the songs from 50 years ago,” she laughed.

Last year, Julie released Rock Me Goddess, her first studio album in 10 years.

“I’m not quite sure why so much time went between albums.” she confessed. “It was quite a challenge but I really enjoy the process of producing an album.

“It’s like being in the kitchen with a lot of ingredients, it’s so exciting. That’s the fun of recording.”

And she hinted that there might be more new material to come.

“I’ve got the taste for it now,” she laughed. “I’ve got several ideas. I think you have to strike while the iron’s hot.”

Julie Felix, Darwen Library Theatre, Thursday, June 13. Details from 0844 847 1664 or www.darwenlibrarytheatre.com