A melodic lament for a broken-down tour bus gives Jackie Butler a hint of what to expect from this likeable singer

THERE'S humour, astute observation and great warmth in the songs of the country soul folk collective known as Danny and the Champions of the World. Few bands could charm quite so thoroughly with a melodic lament for their broken-down tour bus, but Henry The Van – the opener from their latest album – is typical of the homely, heartfelt and cleverly penned tunes that populate their setlist. Once caught in their net it's virtually impossible to ignore the infectious passion and uniting quality of their sound.

Led by seasoned singer and songwriter Danny George Wilson, this moveable feast of a band, which features up to 10 players, including guest slots by Romeo Stoddard of The Magic Numbers. They are currently on tour with burgeoning young Irish folk singer songwriter Fionn Regan, just in time to promote their terrific new long player Streets of Our Time. Their rousing concoctions are a perfect warm-up for Fionn's poetic lyrics and homespun style, and the Champions will also be doubling up as his backing band.

"There will be four or five of us on the road, although at other times there can be up to 10," says Danny, a seasoned performer who is driven by a need to make music rather than any ambition for megastardom.

Now 37, he did all his early seeking with his brother Julian who toured for years in the critically acclaimed band Grand Drive.

"My folks are from Australia and we moved to England when I was about five to live in Carshalton in Surrey. It's total suburbs there; you grow up thinking about bright lights and the big city," he says.

There was always good music playing in the Wilson household.

"We were brought up on Tom Waits and Bruce Springsteen. There was doo-wap and soul music and my dad made it all exciting. He'd shout out 'who wants to hear a great guitar solo?' I've ended up doing the same with my kids."

Songwriting as a craft has always been at the heart of Danny's musical life.

"Even as teenagers we really studied songwriters. We knew what we were after; we didn't want to write current pop songs, we wanted to write classics. We wanted to write songs that Willie Nelson or Al Green would write."

He says he learned the "easy bits" like form and structure quite early on. "But I wasn't old enough to write anything of any worth lyrically."

That's certainly not the case any more; his tales of brothers in arms, everyday struggle and enduring friendship can have you laughing and crying in a single verse. But it hasn't made him a rich man... yet.

"I've been struggling to keep my head above water for ever. It's always hard. You make a choice at some point – and I'm not good for much else," he muses. "I am an entirely unqualified bloke who has travelled around the world playing music. My two girls think that's exciting. I've known my wife since I was a kid so it was no shock to her. She works for a contemporary dance company – we have always encouraged each other to do what we want to do."

One of Danny's all-time heroes is the late, great Ronnie Lane, who was a stalwart of the Small Faces and The Faces before going it alone. Hugely under-rated, his honest lyrical genius, simple and sweet melodies and delightful gypsy-troubadour spirit captured Danny's heart years ago.

"Ronnie Lane is up there with the best. He was a genius at giving that bit of reality along with a dose of romance. Songs like The Poacher, Ooh La La, Glad and Sorry are just magic and he managed to write about London in a beautiful way too."

Danny and The Champions of the World play at Exeter Cavern on February 19 with Fionn Regan. It's an early show 7.30pm and finishing at 10pm (followed by a Cabaret Voltaire club night) Tickets are £8 on 01392 495370 or www.wegotickets.com. If you don't catch them there, they will be appearing at this year's Port Eliot Festival in July.