THERE’S a couple of local festivals happening this weekend, both on Tyneside, but vastly different in scale and content. An interesting bunch of new names and locals acts will be gathering at Bede’s World in Jarrow for the Banner of the North-East Folk Festival from Friday to Sunday.

It’s in a lovely setting, based around the old Jarrow Hall, where we used to gather for Northumbrian pipes sessions in the mid-1970s, so it’s a place close to my heart. Meanwhile, further up the river, Gateshead’s Sage holds its annual Summertyne Americana Festival, with some great acts veering from soul music to bluegrass.

The act that stands out for me is The Carrivick Sisters, two young fiddle and guitar-wielding lasses from Devon, who often cross over into the folk scene, and among the best and most original players I’ve heard in recent years.

I’ll have to miss them unfortunately, because I’m playing solo at Washington Arts Centre on Saturday for the Davy Lamp folk club, which is always a highlight of my year, I have to say. Last weekend, due to being at Tamworth Folk Festival in Staffordshire, I also had to miss Durham Big Meeting, though I hear there was an ample folky presence from across the region, and a fine time was had by all. Meanwhile, tonight you can catch one of Newcastle’s finest, The Archie Brown Acoustic Band, at The Beamish Mary in No Place, near Stanley.

Finally, don’t forget that it’s time you were getting your tickets for Saltburn Folk Festival which runs from August 8 to 10, and also for Whitby Festival, which happens the following week. Not long after that, Sedgefield Festival will be upon us, starting on September 4, and tickets for that too should be gathered with the utmost haste.