FOLK music returns to Gateshead's Sage tomorrow with a visit by Kate Rusby, currently the darling of the folk world, and promoting a new album.

Another classy gig is coming up at Washington's Davy Lamp on Saturday with Allan Taylor. Allan, too, has a new album and turning up early is recommended.

The same night, Wolsingham Town Hall presents a charity concert featuring The Judith Haswell Band, and our local version of Han Solo and Chewbacca, the fabulous Nebula.

Sunday night is obviously when rugby players recover from Saturday's carnage, handing their clubhouses over to the relatively sedate practice of folk singing.

That's certainly the case at Guisborough Rugby Club, where Andy Caven is this week's guest, and at Westoe Rugby Club, where harmony experts Cockersdale are hosted by South Shields folksong club in their new regular Sunday night venue.

Newcastle's Bridge Hotel features Steve and Kristi Nebel on Monday night, while Cramlington's Comrades Club welcomes the three popular ladies known as Dangerous Curves, on Tuesday night.

On Friday at 9pm, BBC4 has two hours of television devoted to Loudon Wainwright, who once told me that a concert he did at Peterlee a few years ago was one of the highlights of his career, such was the welcome he got.

Finally, sad to report the untimely death of American guitarist Chris Jones, known to many in the area from his solo gigs and for his work with Kieran Halpin, and on albums by Allan Taylor and Mike Silver. Chris died at his home in Germany last week, and will be greatly missed.