IT is not by accident that Sari Schorr's debut album is titled A Force of Nature.

The same could be said about the New York singer herself who with her band Engine Room will be at the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Sari Schorr possesses one of those voices which has the capacity to melt you, move you and at times even frighten you with its power and range.

And yet to talk to she's a delight, an infectious laugh punctuating her conversation.

Now she's currently one of the hottest properties in the blues rock world.

"It's absolutely the right time for me now," said Sari, who has previously sung with the likes of Joe Louis Walker.

But, as fans who come to see her in Colne will wonder, what has taken her so long?

"Part of the problem for me was I've never been ego driven," said Sari. "I loved being part of someone else's band, it was like stepping into a pre-formed family and I loved working for other people."

Even now, as a named artist in her own right, Sari (she's named after her grandmother Sarah but her father changed the spelling) still shows a charming lack of ego insisting that her band has its own name and shares her billing.

"I wanted my band to have an identity," she said. "They are so talented, it just didn't feel right to have them just blend into the background."

The Engine Room includes former Robert Plant guitarist Innes Sibun who Sari describes as "my brother from another mother".

"They are all so highly accomplished and highly talented," she said. "We have the same vision and we want this band in its entirety to enjoy being together for as many years as possible. As long as people want us, we will come."

It's the album A Force of Nature which has got the music world buzzing.

The catalyst for Sari's emergence into the spotlight was meeting legendary British producer Mike Vernon at an awards ceremony in Memphis last year.

Vernon, who has worked with the likes of Fleetwood Mac and John Mayall, was being recognised at the International Blues Challenge after officially retiring to Spain.

"Eight people got awards but the only person who was retired and not involved in the music business at all was Mike Vernon," said Sari. "Every other person accepting an award could have been someone to really help me professionally but I just wanted to tell him how much I enjoyed his work."

Later that night Vernon caught Sari performing live and that was enough to bring him out of retirement.

"The stars have definitely aligned for me," said Sari.

Although a familiar face on the New York blues scene for a number of years Sari has no regrets that her arrival in the 'big time' has taken so long.

"Five years ago I knew there was something more to find not only in my voice but also in what I wanted to say as an artist," she said.

"Mike Vernon is greatest producer I have ever worked with and he's allowed me to find things within myself that I hadn't recognised were there."

That's good news for Colne where Sari rounds off the four-day festival, performing on the International Stage on Bank Holiday Monday.

"What I love about a festival is that it allows you to reach an audience that is not necessarily there because they are familiar with your work.

"It's a chance to meet new people and expose your music to a vast new audience.

"In one sense its a bit of a challenge. You have to prove yourself but coming from New York that's how we are. I love being able to bring band out on stage and not hold back anything and give 100 per cent of our heart and soul.

"We hit hard on an emotional level and we take no prisoners."

For details of Sari's appearance at Colne visit bluesfestival.co.uk or contact 01282661234. A Force of Nature is due for release on September 2.