THE Irish band Planxty were a seminal influence on the folk music scene during and beyond their heyday in the Seventies, especially in the North-East, where they played some of their earliest gigs outside of the Emerald Isle.

Next week Gateshead’s Sage presents separate concerts by two of the band’s founding members, with Christy Moore headlining on Sunday night and Andy Irvine appearing on Wednesday.

Expect big audiences at both shows. Elsewhere there’s much to report, starting tonight with folksinging at its finest from Maggie Boyle at Skelton’s Duke William, guitar supremo Martin Simpson at The Sage and a rare local appearance by The Strawbs at Newcastle’s Cluny.

There’s a choice tomorrow between US-based duo Tania Opland and Mike Freeman at Guisborough Cricket Club and Geoff Higginbottom at Hartlepool’s Pot House, while Saturday offers us Anna Shannon and Garry Jackson at Kirkby Fleetham Folk Club and Dan McKinnon at The Teesdale Restaurant, in Barnard Castle.

Sunday brings popular songstress Miriam Backhouse to Guisborough Rugby Club, Monday boasts Steve Lane at Stockton’s Sun Inn, and on Tuesday I’m among old friends at Cramlington’s Hind.

Wednesday’s offering is Anne Lamb and Judith Murphy at Birtley Catholic Club, and don’t forget that York Folk Weekend is buzzing along throughout this weekend with a variety of concerts and club spots.

The folk grapevine tells me that August’s Saltburn Festival has a special offer running for early tickets, so check out saltburnfolk festival.ukforum.com. I’ll be there along with a fine selection of acts. I’ll be bringing you as much information as I can about all this in the weeks ahead.