It's no surprise Texas are back at Belladrum, they've always oozed cool

I grew up loving Texas and, in particular, Sharleen Spiteri. To me, she oozed cool. She looked so different from anyone else I’d seen on TV – beautiful with an edge – and her voice was incredible.

I liked how she looked like she wouldn’t stand for any nonsense – I’m putting that politely there. And she was Scottish – instantly my hero. I told her I thought this the first time I interviewed her a few years ago (fangirled) to which she loudly laughed, saying: “I was not cool! I was a geek!”

Geek or not, she’s been making music with Texas for almost 40 years and can’t wait to hit the road again this summer with a host of festival performances across Europe on the cards.

“I’m laughing. I’m calling it my four-day week. My four-day week tour,” said Spiteri. “That’s the dream. It’s the total dream. I say to the family: ‘It’s like I work Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Any other day don’t annoy me because I’ll be recuperating.’”

Among those festival dates is a return to Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival in the Highlands, where Texas will headline on Saturday August 2, celebrating 21 years of the northern soiree.

“It’s such a good festival and the last time we played I think was 2011,” said Spiteri. “And I have to say I’m really proud that we were in there quite early and that we’ve been invited back.

“I really enjoy playing in the open air – I love playing with the wind in your face. You get plenty of that at Balladrum!”

It’s no surprise Texas have been invited back though. With a plethora of hits including Black Eyed Boy, I Don’t Want a Lover and Halo, to name but a few, the band provide the perfect singalong vibe for all ages.

Never was this more prevalent than when they played two nights at the Hydro last year. Despite having performed on some of the most revered stages around the world, including an amazing Glastonbury performance, Sharleen admitted the Hydro moment was special.

“The first night we walked out on stage, we couldn’t hear,” she said. “The crowd were so loud. It was like a wave of love. I feel emotional even talking about it now.”

Emotions were especially high for Sharleen due to two important faces being absent in the crowd.

Having lost both her parents in the past few years, she said: “My mum and dad would have been so proud.”

The fact they’re no longer here truly hits home for Sharleen whenever she returns to Glasgow, but her sister and family are always on hand with home comforts to help.

“That’s what I like to do,” said Spiteri. “I go to my sister’s. Last night, after rehearsals, she got a pot of soup on and a slice of plain bread with loads of butter.” Sounds pretty perfect.

And when she’s not working? Sharleen likes to unwind in her garden proudly showing off her gardener’s tan.

She joked: “I look like a blubbery zebra when I take my clothes off!”

That I very much doubt, but I love her self-deprecating style.

I also love that she chatted away for ages before the interview actually began, discussing our ailments, children and putting the world to rights!

Down-to-earth, interested and interesting – you can say what you want but Sharleen is truly a class act. Bring on Belladrum in August.