HERE’S advance warning of some special events that are taking place next month at The Witham, the splendid new venue in Barnard Castle.

They have a week of concerts starting on February 21 with Bob Fox, followed by a real scoop for folk fans on February 24 with a concert featuring John McCusker, John Doyle and Michael McGoldrick, a real supergroup of Celtic Music, two of whom spend most of their time touring in Mark Knopfler’s band. The week finishes with a concert by the Newcastle Folk music degree students on February 27. Tickets for these shows will sell fast, which is why I’m flagging them up now. Looking further ahead at The Witham, I’ll be hosting a two day songwriting symposium on October 3 and 4, with a limited number of places available, and I’d love to see you there. Check out the website at thewitham.org.uk for details of all of these.

More immediately, highlights around the local folk scene this week are an appearance by my close relatives and me in The Broonzies at Washington’s Davy Lamp on Saturday, and on Sunday the new duo of Eddie walker and Frank Porter are at Guisborough Rugby Club, with some fine playing and good time music. The choice on Monday is between the popular Tyneside duo Barrie and Ingrid Temple at Stockton’s Sun Inn, and at Gateshead’s Sage, Shetland fiddler Aly Bain will be leading the annual appearance of the star-studded cast of The Transatlantic Sessions. Among the stars this year will be Tim O’Brien, Patty Griifin, Rodney Crowell, Dirk Powell and the afore-mentioned trio of McGoldrick, Doyle and McCusker. On the album front, Tyneside-based band The Unthanks have a new album out, with an eye-opening array of special guests involved. The band will also be touring soon, so watch out for news of that.