February 21, 2008

4:50pm Thursday 21st February 2008

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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.

We were interrupted by my old mate Tom McConville, who took me to one side and informed me that I was, in fact, talking to that wellknown Shep Woolley lookalike Greg Dyke, former head of the BBC. Ah well, there goes my talk show series I suppose.

But fear not, the real Shep Woolley will be bringing his nautical songs and naughty tales to Darlington Arts Centre tonight.

It's a big night tomorrow, too, with gigs by Northumbrian bluesman Johnny Dickinson at Hartlepool's Studio, local guitar guru Eddie Walker at Hexham's Queen's Hall, and those folkrock pioneers Fairport Convention at Gateshead's Sage.

Saturday's offerings are The Emily Smith Band at Washington's Davy Lamp, girl-power band Bryony at Mickleton's White Hart and a new coupling of Bram Taylor and Roly Hindmarch at the Nine King's Bistro in Barnard Castle.

Lancashire lad Geoff Higginbottom is at Westoe Club on Sunday and Monday's choices are Lace Wing at the Foresters in Coatham Mundeville, Darlington, Broom Bezzoms at Stockton's Sun Inn, both of whom are new names to me, and, at Gateshead's Sage, the evergreen Barbara Dickson, who has been a favourite singer of mine since I saw her at Hartlepool's Nursery Inn in 1973.

I'm at Jezfolk@aol.com for all your tall tales and short orders and the music is out there, waiting for you to lap it all up.