A CELEBRATION of folk music and dance is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

The Durham Gathering is held in Durham City from Thursday to Saturday (August 14 to 16) and is the culmination of the annual Folkworks Summer School, which is running this week.

A highlight of the festival will be the 25 Years and Counting! concert at Elvet Methodist Church, Old Elvet, on Friday (August 15) at 5pm.

The line-up includes Alistair Anderson, co-founder of Folkworks, and musicians who have taught and learned at Folkworks Summer Schools over the last quarter century, including Bella Hardy, Ian Stephenson, Sam Pirt, Sarah Hayes, Kat Davidson, Dave Gray and Grace Smith.

The Gathering also features a free stage in Millenium Square and ticketed performances from Eliza Carthy, Ian lowthian, Lester Simpson, Mike Vass and Dave Wood, Sylvain Barou, Taffy Thomas, Saul Rose, Nathan Armstrong, John Somerville, Natalie Haas, Jenna Reid, Tola Custy, Angharad Jenkins, Bryony Griffith and Anna Massie.

The full programme is on Sage Gateshead’s website http://www.sagegateshead.com/tour-dates/folkworks-durham-gathering-2014

Tickets range from free to £10 and can be booked by calling 0191-443 4661, visiting sagegateshead.com or in person from Sage Gateshead’s Ticket Office. A £21 festival pass is available.