IT was interesting to see Bellowhead on stage at the BBC Hyde Park concert last weekend, alongside the likes of Blondie and Jeff Lynne. The folk scene’s own Acoustic Light Orchestra seems to go from strength to strength and cut across the genre barrier with ease. Quite how they manage to organise ten musicians to be in one place at the same time is more of a mystery to me!

Meanwhile, top folk acts of a more manageable size are at venues around the region in the week ahead, starting tonight with a choice between multi-instrumentalist Steve Turner at The Portland in Ashington, and balladeer Martyn Wyndham Read at Blaydon’s Tynefolk, still at their regular Black Bull location.

Tomorrow, one of Bellowhead’s own members, Sam Sweeney, has a production entitled Made in the Great War at Gateshead’s Sage, and then, on Saturday, the choice is between acoustic duo Jiva at The Runcible Spoon, in Redcar, and American duo Dana and Susan Robinson at Washington’s Davy Lamp. Tuesday sees Dave Gibb at The Candlelight Club in Newton Aycliffe, and over at the Borough Park Bowling Club, in Redcar, Beggar’s Bridge are headlining at The Cutty Wren.

On Wednesday Durham’s Gala Theatre has a concert with Cutting, Kerr and Simpson, three leading soloists currently on a joint tour. I’m around locally myself this week, playing solo at The Iron Horse, in Newton Aycliffe, on Monday, and with my Bad Pennies at Gateshead’s Sage on Wednesday, doing our regular presentation of mining songs entitled These Coal Town Days. As a guest we have former Teesside starlet Becky Taylor on pipes and whistle.

Finally, the first instalment of the new Radio Ballads, The Ballad of the Great War, is scheduled for broadcast on BBC Radio2, on November 11, with contributions from myself along with John Tams, Bob Fox and many more.