THERE is a wide variery of live music in the week ahead, featuring the best in local acts as well as some national names.

Tonight’s choice is between Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman at Blaydon’s Tynefolk, and multi-talented troubadour Rory McLeod who’s making a rare visit to the area at The Beamish Mary in No Place, near Stanley. Exiled Teessiders Megson are back in the region with concerts at Gateshead’s Sage tonight and Bellingham Acoustic Club tomorrow.

Also tomorrow, there’s a star-packed charity concert at Burnmoor Cricket Club, featuring Backshift, George Welch, Kathy Palmer, Jack Burness and the Durham Clog Dancers.

On Saturday, choose between fine songwriter Robb Johnston at Gateshead’s Sage and sparkling new duo, Maggie Boyle and Paul Downes at Washington’s Davy Lamp.

On Monday, Barrie and Ingrid Temple are centre stage at Newcastle’s Bridge, and on Tuesday, Cramlington’s long-established folk club has its first night in a new venue, The Concordia Leisure Centre.

On Wednesday, my fellow Pitmen Poets (Benny Graham, Bob Fox and Billy Mitchell) and I are at Whitley Bay Playhouse for another in our short series of shows. You can also check us out on YouTube, filmed at rehearsals in Newcastle last week.

Finally, advance news of next week’s Darlington Spring Thing, the annual folk gathering, which this year relocates to the town’s Dolphin Centre. The huge line-up includes Richard Digance, Steve Hicks and Lynn Goulburn, Willow Creek, Bert Draycott, Bram Taylor, The Wilsons, Pete Abbott, Tony Martin and Dan Hands, Marie Little, Bernard Wrigley, Loose Connections, Barrie and Ingrid Temple, and Flossie Malavialle.