7 QUESTIONS; Belfast-born Jill O'Sullivan, lead singer of folk rockers Sparrow And The Workshop, explains how she ended up in Glasgow and how the band's stone skimming could result in a fall-out.

You''ve moved about a bit - how did you end up in Glasgow?

I was born in Belfast and my parents are from Dublin. When I was two or three I moved to Chicago. I did my undergraduate studies in Canada, then moved to London to study gender studies and sociology.

I was struggling to pay bills, work and finish my masters. I thought if I stayed in London I would get sucked in and never afford to leave. So I saved up a little money and came to Glasgow with Nick (Packer).

We had about pounds 100 in the bank, I got a job with a charity, we met Gregor and started playing music.

Did you expect you would end up making a living from music?

No, definitely not but we've all been learning instruments since we were kids and teaching ourselves.

We've been so busy that we didn't realise we weren't working any more.

We're still waiting for a bit of cash but it's snowballed from being just me and my guitar and a couple of songs to a full band and going on tour with Broken Records.

It's really weird. I try not to think of it as job because I procrastinate if I think something is work, so I keep telling myself that it's not work. What's it like being on the road and also touring with Broken Records? Broken Records are so nice and we got to strengthen our sets and try a out a few songs. It's incredible being on the road and living a different existence, becoming a night owl, going to rest stops where kids and truckers hang out and going to individual cities and seeing different crowds.

Sometimes we'd play to five people and sometimes to 500. It's also a little bit freaky and emotionally draining but at the core it's exciting. Where''s the name from? We had the name Dead Sparrow but that was a bit depressing. It came from a song I had been working on about a sparrow that had been shot down by my dad when I was a kid. First, it was me and Gregor doing a few songs and we ended up calling ourselves that for just one show. Then we looked around the bar and saw the name "drum workshop" and it became Sparrow And The Workshop.

It worked out well because Nick and Gregor love to make things, so they are kind of like a workshop. Nick joined the band a week later. We didn't deliberate about the name - we just thought "that'll do" - we didn't think we'd ever be on the phone talking about it. What do the guys like to make?

Nick has this guitar that he has turned into a bass and guitar in one. Gregor has a crash box made of strong steel. He didn't make that but we can't find another one, so he's going to start making more because the sprung steel is getting a bit old.

He also makes some soft drum rises, like little stages out of wood. It's very handy having these carpenters in the band. I say build me a house while you are at it. What was it like to play Glastonbury? It was nuts, an experience like no other. We saw strange things, like a sauna with tonnes of weird people in it and there was a group of people dressed like smurfs.

I really enjoyed the Animal Collective set, Broken Records, British Sea Power and Neil Young. We were probably at the bottom of the ladder as far as festivals go. Probably because it's so popular there's a high demand for artists and you're not really treated as you would be treated at a Scottish festival.

I'm looking forward to Belladrum though. I've been around that area before and I think it is beautiful.

I know you take part in stone skimming, tell us about it. All three of us went over to Easdale Island where the annual championships are held. Gregor has been going for five years and has never been placed, somehow I managed to get placed third. Maybe it was beginner's luck.

We're going to try to go this year, weather and schedules permitting. At least one of us will be there - probably me. Gregor's good, he practises. According to Nick he skimmed better than Gregor but Gregor contests this. It could be the break up of the band if we all end up being too competitive.

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BIRDS OF A FEATHER& Jill, Nick and Gregor, are looking forward to the Belladrum festival on August 8