FYLDE Folk Festival in Fleetwood Lancashire has been running every September since the early 1970s and was first set up as a sister festival to the very successful Durham City Folk Festival, which was flourishing at that time.

I’ve played there myself on numerous occasions over the years, and I’m sorry I won’t be able to be there this year, as it has just been announced that this is to be the very last one. Alan Bell, the long-standing festival director, has decided to retire, and in doing so draws a line under one of the seminal folk events of our time. There are lots of other festivals these days of course, but for many of us, a piece of our hearts will stay on that windswept coast in sight of Blackpool Tower, along with many great memories.

Meanwhile, there’s plenty to keep folk fans occupied locally this week, with New Zealand duo My Pennyworth at Darlington’s Copper Beech tonight, Scots balladeer Ewan MacLennan at The Old Cinema Launderette in Durham tomorrow, and some fine good-time Americana from The Hokum Hotshots at Washington’s Davy Lamp on Saturday. There’s a real treat for fans of Irish music on Sunday, when Gateshead’s Sage has a rare outing for Irish supergroup Patrick Street. Monday is busy, with the fine singer and local lass Di Henderson at Stockton’s Sun Inn, Chris Harrison at Newcastle’s Bridge Hotel and Dutch duo Bruno and Ellie at The Iron Horse in Newton Aycliffe. On Wednesday, Bishop Auckland Town Hall has Vin Garbutt headlining, with Teeside duo Judith Haswell and Trish MacLean opening for him. I notice also that Bishop FM’s Monday night folk programme, formerly fronted by the much-missed Terry Ferdinand, was anchored by local singer Rebecca Findlay last week. I don’t know if this is a permanent arrangement, but if so, I’m sure we all wish her luck in this new role.