Nanci Griffith has much to be proud of. Firmly established as a leading singer-songwriter in the folk and country world and much respected by her peers, she has a new album Hearts in Mind, riding high in the American charts and is just about to embark on a UK tour.

In conversation, however, self-promotion appears to be the last thing on her mind and the softly spoken Texan is quick to turn the subject around in praise of other people.

At the end of March, Nanci took part in Roots on the Rails, a train-full of songwriters and a fortunate handful of fans that took five days to cross Canada by rail, similar to the legendary Festival Express that took much the same journey in the early 70s.

Nanci explains: “It was a very unusual trip. I think this is the third year they have run these songwriter trains across Canada and it was my first time to do it.

“It was a lot of fun, I got laryngitis from the constant singing, but I really enjoyed the company on the train; all the fans plus performers like Tom Russell and Mary Gauthier, we had a great time. Mary is just fantastic, she and Edwina Hayes are the best two things I’ve heard in 20 years.” High praise indeed. Anyone who attended the recent Willie Nelson concerts will have appreciated Mary Gauthier, while Nanci has snapped up Edwina Hayes as support for her own tour.

“Edwina is just incredible, I met her when she first came to Nashville, she has the most incredible voice; for folks who haven’t heard her, I hope this tour with us will open some new ears for her and that everyone who hears her sing will tell all their friends and family to go out and get her record.” Although she won’t say so herself, Nanci’s new album is also a must-have set.

Arguably her strongest batch of songs for some time, I suggested to Ms Griffith that Hearts In Mind is a return to her earlier sound, particularly A Simple Life.

“Well, I think it’s more a combination of styles, there is some of my old style of writing, plus there is another Julie Gold song in there, (the author of From A Distance which Nanci made her own) so I’ve not departed that much.

“I co-wrote A Simple Life with Elizabeth Cook who is still very young, in her early 20s, but she’s already a Grand Old Opry star and I think she is this generations equivalent of Loretta Lynn, she’s absolutely fantastic.

“You know, when Pat McInerney and I set out to make this record we didn’t even have a record label, so it’s wonderful to be back with Universal Music for my first studio album of new writing in four years – and it’s great that it’s doing so well, it has now been number one on the American chart in the US for five weeks in a row.” The album is ‘dedicated to the memory of every soldier and every civilian lost to the horrors of war’ and two songs refer directly to the work of landmine charities, a cause particularly close to Nanci’s heart.

“About seven years ago I got involved with the Mines Advisory Group who are based here in the UK, in Manchester, and who work throughout the world clearing mines, and basically I became aware of their work from watching Princess Diana.

“Later I became involved with the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation who build clinics all over the world in places that are just littered with landmines.

“This fall marks the 30th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war, so there are concerts being planned around that time.

“I’m not sure if anything is planned for the UK – but I know I will be playing in Hanoi to commemorate that anniversary.” A regular visitor to this country, she readily admits that success in the UK has played a vital part in her career.

“The support in Britain has been extremely important to me, you were the first to really acknowledge me as a songwriter and as a performer and recording artist in my own right, because in the USA I was just basically a songwriter for other people.

“But you were the first to embrace me as a performer. so playing the UK has always been very important to me. I don’t necessarily think it’s harder to establish yourself in America, but I do believe there’s a greater appreciation for storytellers like myself over here.” On the forthcoming tour, Nanci will be joined by her Blue Moon Orchestra which includes James Hooker on keyboards, Pat McInerney, drummer and co-producer of the new album, his wife LeAnn Etheridge plus Manchester-born songwriter and guitarist Clive Gregson.

Take the opportunity to see a master storyteller at work, when Nanci Griffith and the Blue Moon Orchestra play the Fairfield on Tuesday, April 19, the only London date of this tour.