Lisa Scott-Lee

BUZZING off the second round of success for pop group Steps, singer Lisa Scott-Lee is enjoying being part of the group once again after going solo.

And the North Wales raised star is excited at playing to a home crowd this summer, at the Gyl Gobaith music festival in Flintshire – much smaller than the massive venues the reformed band has been packing out.

"I love travelling, but North Wales will always be my home. I'm sure I will see some familiar faces in the crowd, and it is great for Steps to be able to perform at a great festival that is for such a good cause," said Lisa.

"To have the opportunity to do this again I feel really lucky, and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I am remembering how fun it is to perform on stage with everyone together."

Lisa said the group are grateful for the fans’ support. "It's funny because lots of our fans from the first time round now have children of their own and are bringing them along – the Steps generation is growing."

After the multi million-selling Steps split in 2001, Lisa embarked on a solo album, but confessed she much prefers to be part of a group again.

She said "It's still so familiar to me, it's like putting on an old pair of slippers."

There was a split between us for a while, but we're all grown ups now and were only teenagers back then. We all have our adult heads on our shoulders and see things a lot differently.

"We consider ourselves very lucky as we have all watched lots of bands come and go, but so far so good, and we hope it carries on."

When Lisa and fellow band members Faye Tozer, Ian "H" Watkins, Lee Latchford Evans and Claire Richards announced they were getting back together, their album The Ultimate Collection soared to Number One. Four-part Sky documentary Steps Reunion pulled in the channel’s biggest viewing figures, while 80,000 concert tickets were pre-ordered for the group’s UK tour.

They will be playing a rare open-air gig at the August bank holiday four-day Gyl Gobaith festival at Northop.

Charlotte Church, Hayley Westenera, Rhys Meirion, the Three Phantoms and Shân Cothi are also performing, raising cash for Wales Air Ambulance, cancer charities and HeadtoHeart.

Lisa revealed Steps are now rehearsing and scaling down their usual larger set ready for a more intimate audience at Northop.

Lisa added: "Whether playing to a sellout arena or a smaller, more intimate audience I always get a buzz when I see the crowd." "North Wales is such a beautiful part of the world and it will be nice for me, and also H who is from there, to perform in a place that is very special to us.

"After living in Dubai for over a year and trying to keep my two young children out of the media spotlight as much as possible, it will be a great opportunity to see my home once again.

"Whether playing to a sellout arena or a smaller, more intimate audience I always get a buzz when I see the crowd."