Candi Staton's signature tune may be Young Hearts Run Free, but at 66 years of age the American singer is proving old hearts aren't that bad either.

With a new album, Who's Hurting Now, released this year, Staton will be headlining the main stage at next weekend's Croydon Summer Festival, that will also see The Proclaimers perform.

Since launching her career in the 1970s, Staton has recorded hits like Stand By your Man, In The Ghetto and You Got The Love, which made the top 10 for the third time just three years ago, and as far as Candi is concerned, she will be performing until she drops.

"I think it is just the fact that I am still able to give and do this that keeps me going," she says.

"I don't take it for granted and it's such a blessing to me that at my age I am still able to jump, run and carry bags.

"A lot of people my age are at home in a rocking chair and I think it's the love of the music that keeps me doing it.

"I am like Tina Turner, you say you are going to retire and then you are touring again but if I stopped I think I would feel unfulfilled.

"When I am getting ready to go on tour my whole being gets fired up and I think this is going to be fun."

On top of her new album, which she says include many a moody and mellow song, Candi has just recorded a dance track with two top Swedish DJ's she is tipping for big things.

"It's really a good song and I have that uh oh feeling this might just go quite big," she says.

"It's called Bring Out The Wild Side In Me Tonight and I think they are putting it out in Sweden soon."

Despite all her new records, Candi revealed it's the old favourites she is looking forward to playing most at Lloyd Park.

"I'm still doing Young Hearts Run Free, which I will forever do, as well as You Got The Love," she says.

"I will never stop playing them, when the base player starts off You Got The Love people just go crazy.

"I went into a shop in the High Street yesterday and they were playing it in there.

"It's strange when you hear it and it's you and I am thinking to myself, nobody knows I am in here.

"I admit, I did sing along a bit in the corner."

Candi Staton, Croydon Summer Festival, Lloyd Park, August 1 and 2, 1pm to 8.30pm, free, Visit croydonsummerfestival.org.