Speaking ahead of an intense six-week tour, which kicks off in Motherwell on May 14, I caught her in the middle of loading the washing machine after a visit by her two grandchildren.

"Everything goes on as usual", she says, displaying a typically down to earth attitude to all things showbiz. "I just finished an Irish tour last month, and so it goes on. When I'm not touring, it's great for the first couple of weeks to spend time with the family, but I then feel it's time to get back to work."

Though Scottish born and bred, it is one of the great ironies of Grant's career that the phenomenal success she has achieved in Ireland, New Zealand and Australia has yet to be matched in her homeland. More than anything else, she hopes this tour will go some way to rectifying that.

"I'm Scottish through and through and I love my country passionately," says the singer, who lives in Berwickshire with husband Al.

"I want to shout it from the rooftops. Above all, the Scottish market is the one I want to crack and I hope this time around could be the breakthrough."

Grant deeply appreciates the loyalty and warmth of the Irish fans who took to her music so enthusiastically almost a decade ago, just as she was recovering from a five-year battle with agoraphobia sparked by the trauma of a serious car crash.

Testament to her popularity in the country, past record sales have seen the Scot sandwiched between Irish giants U2 and Westlife in the charts – no doubt contributing to her nickname of 'Emerald Isla'.

Lanarkshire fans can look forward to an eclectic mix of styles, showcasing the best in a repertoire which ranges from sentimental folk music, through gospel and blues to more uptempo country sounds – virtually all written and composed by Grant herself.

Besides tried and tested material, Scottish audiences will get the opportunity to see Grant and her band perform live duets from her latest album, Down Memory Lane.

She admits it has become a dilemma to juggle the tastes of all her fans, saying: "Everybody has their favourites and there are so many now I'm putting medleys together just to fit as many as I can into the set."

Isla Grant is at the Civic Centre on Wednesday, May 14, at 7.30pm and tickets costing £11 (£10 under 25s and passport to leisure) are available from the box office on 403120 or www.northlan.gov.uk