Heather Small

Perth Concert Hall, March 1; Rothes Halls, Glenrothes, March 2

It’s the morning of the Brit Awards and Heather Small is getting ready to take the dog for a walk at home before heading off to play a gig near Milton Keynes.

Once upon a time, about 20 years ago, her old band M-People were a staple on the Brits stage and even picked up a couple of awards themselves. Yet, the 51-year-old sounds completely at ease with where life has taken her since then.

“I love doing it,” she says of her current 29-date tour of the UK, “and one of the loveliest things is seeing so many old theatres which have been really well kept and are packed out because people have made the effort to see me in their home town. It’s really a pleasure.”

It’s been 17 years since M-People last released a single, although they’re still technically only on a break and have performed promotional shows together since then. To look at their back catalogue from the 90s, though, is to remember just how ubiquitous and hugely successful they became.

Formed around the dance grooves of former DJ at Manchester’s Hacienda Mike Pickering and Heather’s mighty, soulful voice, they scored 13 top 20 hits between 1992 and 1999 and many of them – including One Night in Heaven, Moving On Up and Search For the Hero – are still heard frequently.

Heather’s own two-album solo career, meanwhile, brought the 2000 hit Proud, which the singer and sometime Strictly Come Dancing contestant performed on the final episode of Miranda last year.

“I don’t miss that success with M-People,” she says, with a laugh.

“Why should I? I was a part of it and I’ll always have it.

“Nowadays, I just want to celebrate the fact that I’m able to sing. I feel I’m in the best voice ever and I really should be getting out there to do it more than I have been.

“My goal has always been to be a better singer and I feel now the years of experience as a vocalist and as a person have come together perfectly.

“I love where I am in life and that translates in my voice. I wouldn’t go back.”

The set will feature M-People hits, solo tracks and songs which are personal to Heather.

“I’ll sing songs by people I admire and which I enjoy performing. It’s a celebration of me making music, really,” she adds.

“We’ve all got our problems but for an hour and a half, I just want people to leave them at the door and have a party while I’m on stage.”

Singer Heather Small, who is looking forward to showing the crowd a good time at Perth Concert Hall.