March 6, 2008

I’M just back from a folk concert in South Yorkshire which was centred around a competition to find the best new young folk performers in the area, with a cash prize and the promise of a concert spot at this year’s Cleethorpes Festival on offer to the winner.

February 28, 2008

I FELT my hackles rise when reading a letter of complaint in last week's Radio Times from a fan of jazz music, objecting to the lack of jazz on BBC radio.

February 21, 2008

THERE was an embarrassing moment for me at the recent BBC Folk Awards when I found myself in conversation with the talented folk singer and comedian Shep Woolley near the end of the evening.

February 14, 2008

THERE'S a typically varied week ahead for folk music fans across the region, starting tonight with my own gig at Skelton's Duke William and an appearance at Darlington Arts Centre from Joan Edmundson and John Wrightson and their popular local band.

February 7, 2008

I WRITE, hot-foot from the BBC Folk Awards ceremony, where I was pipped at the post as Folksinger of the Year by the great Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis.

January 31, 2008

WISH me luck as I head to the big city early next week to the BBC Radio Two Folk Awards, where I'm nominated in the Folksinger of the Year category, alongside Kate Rusby, Martin Simpson and Julie Fowlis.

January 24, 2008

THAT boundary between folk music and country music becomes even more blurred and ill-defined this coming week, courtesy of those nice people at The Sage Gateshead.

January 17, 2007

I'VE found myself at quite a few local folk music gigs since the turn of the year, both as a performer and as an audience member, and it was great to see large and enthusiastic audiences.

Jazz

WHAT'S ON

January 10, 2008

THE great and the good descend on the region's folk venues this week, where audience numbers continue to rise.

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