Having lost her singing voice in the early 1980s, Shirley Collin's return to the spotlight has been one of the great surprise comebacks of the last 20 years.

A key player in the folk revival of the 1960s and folk rock boom of the 1970s, Collins recorded a string of influential releases solo, and in collaboration with Davy Graham and The Albion Band, among others.

Now signed to Domino (home to King Creosote, Alasdair Roberts, Hot Chip and Arctic Monkeys), the recently released Lodestar is a dark and atmposheric collection of traditional English, American and Cajun songs from the 16th century to 1950s, which Collins recorded in the comfort of her own home.

Welcomed with universal praise ("exceeds expectation" reckoned Record Collector), it's been followed by a series of equally lauded live shows that sees the 82-year-old singer and song collector's reputation at an all-time high.

Prior to a much anticipated appearance at Warwick Arts Centre on Saturday 29 April 2017, What's On caught up with Collins.

After so long away from performing and recording - why now ....?

Why not? [laughs]. I’m singing again after a long lay off of 38-40 years really. It's one of those funny things ...

How did you approach selecting material for Lodestar? Was it easy? Or perhaps a challenge?

I still listened to English traditional recordings, field recordings. I’ve always listened to stuff, so I had a whole batch of songs I longed to sing. So it was very very straight forward. I didn’t have to search for songs at all. The main challenge was to try and find the right musicians – but I was lucky there. So it all just fell into place, as if it had been well oiled. Marvellous!

You're performing the album in full, live, with films, Morris dancers, and with guest musicians as support/ opening act.

Yes. So the first half of the night is decent ... and then for the second half you get the whole of Lodestar. That first half is an extra gift to people, if you like. I’m providing a really good show! Fingers-crossed. It must be some years since I sang around Warwickshire! 

The concert's been going down a storm at such venues as London's Barbican and at Celtic Connections. Are they some of the biggest shows you've ever played? 

The biggest show I’ve done? I did the Albert Hall before, with [sister] Dolly, and also Sydney Opera House, for the Sydney Folk Festival. And when I was 16-17 I also sang in The Kremlin for a Youth Peace Festival. I got to mingle with these young people in Russia, from there and all over the world, really. Just amazing! Who’d think that a girl from Hastings could do something like that?

After you lost your singing voice and retired from performing in the '80s, what did you do?

[I was] just doing ordinary jobs, working to feed my children. I managed an Oxfam show for two years, worked in the British Museum in the book shop – I loved that – I was a secretary, worked for South East Arts as a folk animateur. I didn’t know what that meant when I went for it, but I just had to put traditional stuff in front of people, and then that came to an end after 18 months because it was just a short job, you know. Then I went to sign on at the Job Centre where a job at the Job Centre came up, and I had to go for it because they said I’d lose my money if I didn’t. And I was stuck there for six years. So I’m sure you can understand how blissful things are now! I retired at 60. It’s been quite eventful.

How are you finding being back on stage, singing again, after so long?

I always enjoyed singing to people.