MY travels this week take me to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where my partner-in-crime James Keelaghan and I are battling through unseasonably hot and humid weather to entertain the friendly folk at the Susquehanna Music Society.

Meanwhile, just down the road, in New York City, Teeside’s Wilson Family continue their adventures with Sting, which see them hobnobbing with the likes of Paul Simon and Steven Speilberg. Will success spoil The Wilsons? I doubt it, and they’ve given so much to the UK folk scene over the years, how could anyone begrudge them their new-found glory.

Back in Blighty, this Friday sees The New Rope String Band at Reeth Memorial Hall, and The Richard Adams Band are at Sedgefield Cricket Club, with The John Wrightson Band and John Weighill in support. Faustus are at Gateshead’s Sage on Saturday and Sunday’s choice is between Christy Moore at the Tyne Theatre, in Newcastle, Stefan Grossman at Gateshead’s Sage, and The Keelers at South Shields Customs House.

American singer Jeff Davis is at Stockton’s Sun Inn on Monday, and on Tuesday Brian Willoughby and Cathryn Craig are at Cramlington’s Concordia. Wednesday’s choice is between The Jaywalkers and John Weighill at Bishop Auckland Town Hall and Di Henderson at Birtley Catholic Club. Finally, I’ve paid tribute in this column to many folk luminaries that we have sadly lost in recent years, but no loss weighs heavier on me, personally, than that of Judy Dinning, who passed away last week. Judy was simply one of the best singers I ever heard, in any genre, and it was my privilege that she was part of my band for more than five years. Her own band, Real Time, was immensely popular in the UK and Europe, and the tributes are still pouring in from those who, like me, will miss her greatly.