DELLA Mae may be billed as an all-female string band but as they prepare to come to Bury Met, singer Celia Woodsmith warns appearances can be deceptive.

The Nashville-based outfit have just released Headlight their fourth album which, says Celia, reflects a new approach by the band.

“I’m just so pleased able to do this album. It feels like we have grown up quite a bit. That feels weird for me to say that as a 34-year-old woman but we have. It takes a long time to find your sound and really own it and not be afraid of it.

“Since we are typically called bluegrass people have a certain idea of what that is and what it sounds like and for a long time I think we were afraid of stretching those boundaries.

“Now we are not afraid any more. We are just going to make music that we think sounds good and we think people are going to like.”

Judging by the new album, those sounds ranges from blues to rock and Cajun to folk.

“I think we’ll take out fans with us,” said Celia. “I don’t think we are going to alienate anyone.

“I always said that audiences have a really good sense about these things. They can tell when you are doing something that’s unauthentic. When you are watching someone who isn’t playing truthfully it always feels kind of awkward to me.

“I think we have truly come into our own and we are playing the music that we should be playing.”

Della Mae at their core are Celia, two-time national champion fiddle player Kimber Ludiker and mandolinist Jenni Lyn Gardner but for their UK tour - which includes a date at the prestigious Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow - they will be joined by guitarist Avril Smith.

Headlight came be seen as being particularly appropriate for the times - the title track takes a stand against abuse - but Celia did not intend it to be seen as being a political album.

“Headlight is about believing women and standing by them,” she said.

“It’s supposed to resonate with men and women from all parts of life and all backgrounds. If you can’t stand up for women desiring not to be abused what can you stand up for?

“We don’t take being an all-female group lightly. It’s a rarity even now and we are going to speak our minds and stand up for people need standing up for. We hope we can help to inspire next generation of young women musicians.”

Clearly Della Mae have discovered who they want to be and how they want to be perceived.

“The band has through a transformation in last 10 years,” said Celia. “We used to think to really make it we had to stand there in power suits and not smile and stand there like Bill Munroe and his Bluegrass Boys but it doesn’t have to be like that. It’s more important that you act like yourself.

“We now have such fun performing live. We can stretch them out and rock out and be creative with them live. I can pretend I’m in a rock and roll band which is sort of my secret dream,” she laughed.

Della Mae, Bury Met, Thursday, January 30. Details from 0161 761 2216