January 24, 2008

3:49pm Thursday 24th January 2008

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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.

Many folk fans, myself included, have a soft spot for country music, though I suspect that fondness isn't so readily reciprocated by country fans, which is a great shame.

Anyway, American songwriter Gretchen Peters is at the Sage tonight, with Yorkshire's own singer-songwriting star Edwina Hayes in support.

The Sage has a Burns night ceilidh dance tomorrow, and on Sunday presents the somewhat controversial American songwriter, Steve Earle, in concert, as part of his UK tour. Vin Garbutt has three local shows this week, at Reeth Village Hall tomorrow, at Sedgefield Village Hall on Saturday and at Middlesbrough's Knight's Club on Wednesday.

Vin's off to New Zealand soon, so catch him while you can.

Tomorrow also sees a Burns Night special at Bishop Auckland Town Hall with the new lineup of local favourites Nebula, and two other weekend gigs of note are Steve Tilston at Washington's Davy Lamp on Saturday and my own annual visit to Westoe Sports Club at South Shields on Sunday., which is always a highlight of my year. Watch out on Monday when Bob Tuddenham is at The Forester's Arms in Coatham Munderville near Darlington, and on Tuesday when The Ancient Mariners are at Croxdale's Daleside Arms. All in all a grand week's worth of folk entertainment, I'd say.