THIS weekend’s Hartlepool Folk Festival looks set to be brim-full of fantastic music and much more besides.

There’s so much happening from Friday to Sunday, I’d advise you to go to hartlepoolfolkfest.co.uk to get an idea of the scale of the event, based at the Maritime Experience.

One thing worth highlighting, though, is the launch of a new CD of lullabies, called Smile in Your Sleep, proceeds from which will go to Operation Smile, a charity for children in the developing world who have problems with cleft palates and suchlike – a very worthy cause. It’s an all-female cast on the album, including Anne Alderson, Ingrid Temple, Anne Lamb, Doreen Henderson, Anni Fentiman, Chris Hendry, Carole Prior and Glad’s Tidings, and there’ll be performances by them all at the festival.

Elsewhere, there’s a double-header tonight at The Copper Beech, in Darlington, with Rebekah Findlay and Los Capitens, while over in Reeth, Morpeth Rising are at the Memorial Hall. On Saturday, The Lindisfarne Story is at Gateshead’s Sage, where on Monday you can catch the amazing Loudon Wainwright and his long-time pal and fantastic singer Chaim Tannenbaum in concert.

Also on Monday, Nine Barrow are at The Sun Inn, in Stockton, and on Tuesday Cathryn Craig and Brian Willoughby are at The Clef and Cask, in Cramlington. Whitby Musicport Festival is also happening this weekend, with a folk presence that includes Kathryn Tickell, Coope, Boyes and Simpson, Maz O’Connor, Mabon and Cath and Phil Tyler, alongside some fine World Music acts from across the globe.

Meanwhile, I’ve finally completed my Australian tour, and I’m now looking forward to some gigs in Canada, starting at The Rogue Folk Club, in Vancouver, with my old pal Tim Readman. Originally from Seaham Harbour, Tim recently swerved out of his usual folk persona to release a nice CD of pop-influenced material called Go Blue that is certainly worth checking out.