THREE old friends. Three acoustic guitars. A bottle of Cabernet.
When the three performers in question are Nashville singer-songwriters Gretchen Peters, Matraca Berg and Suzy Bogguss, it's a recipe for an an intimate, magical show.
On Thursday, at Basingstoke's Anvil, the trio, all Country Music Award winner, return with their second Wine, Women and Song tour to finish where they left off in 2007.
“Suzy lost her voice two years ago at the Basingstoke show, and was so, so disappointed,” Gretchen Peters says, from her Nashville home.
“She was just kicking herself. She was ill and there was nothing she could do, but she is determined to make a really great showing this time. She will shine like a beacon, I'm sure.”
In the US, the three are known as among the best female folk-country singer-songwriters on the circuit. The list of artists who have covered them reads like a Nashville telephone directory.
Gretchen Peters' songs include the feminist anthem 'Independence Day' made famous by Martina McBride; Matraca Berg's 'Strawberry Wine' became one of the biggest country hits in 1996 for Deana Carter; and golden voiced Suzy Bogguss has had a string of top hits, while attracting constant critical praise.
All three's UK fans have always been eager to hear their songs sung by the women who wrote them.
“One of the things I love about playing in the UK is that there just doesn’t seem to be this concern about what box you need to be put in,” Gretchen says.
“We’re just really excited about this tour. We had such a good time two years ago.
“We didn’t really realise how well it would be received. That was wonderful, and there seems to be a lot of enthusiasm on both sides.
“For us, it's almost like a holiday really. It’s very informal, and we get to really relax, and we get to hear each other, which is no small thing. I always say I have the best seat in the house to hear Matraca and Suzy.”
They all go back with each other years – playing, recording and touring together. And while all three of them have their fair share of hits to play, on this tour, they choose the songs that best with just the singer, her guitar, and her friends' harmonies.
“We go in with a set list and then we don't follow it,” Gretchen says.
“We really have never done the same show twice. You sort of play off what the person just before you did, and you go with the flow. And because it's more informal, the audience are much more inclined to shout out requests.”
That sounds exactly like what what good gigs should be like. And judging by the critical reception for their last tour, boy, should you expect a good gig.
As for Gretchen Peters, whose songs have been covered from everyone to Faith Hill, to Etta James, to Bryan Adams, this week sees the launch of a new best-of album Circus Girl, where fans get the original versions of songs they may best know from other singers' lips.
“I think songwriting gets harder the better you get at It,” she says.
“The target you're aiming for is smaller – you're less easily satisfied. Having said that, I'm more in love with writing now than I have ever been. I feel more accomplished, and with the last few albums I feel I've learnt a lot about writing, about myself, and about what my strengths really are.”
Which are?
“Empathy. I think I have an ability to feel deep empathy with the characters in my songs, with people, and with myself. I think that's my strongest quality, because it is what allows me to get inside their heads, and write a character into a song which is really convincing.”

Wine, Women and Song is at Basingstoke Anvil on Thursday, May 21, at 7:45pm. Tickets £20.