FESTIVAL fever is still gripping the region, with Whitby’s event still in full flow until tomorrow night, and the Streets of Folk (full details on Page 5) forming part of a big music event in Durham City this weekend, most of which is free, and features The Peatbog Fairies as headliners with the cream of Newcastle’s Folk Works roster, such as Jonny Kearney, Lucy Farrell, Christi Andropolis and Katie Docherty, in support.

At the same time in Durham, there’s the more laid-back, but equally enjoyable Traditional Music festival going on, in various pubs and smaller venues around the city, with singarounds and music sessions being the order of the day.

Looming ever bigger on the horizon is Sedgefield Folk Festival, starting on September 3, with a sparkling list of guest performers including Isambarde, Johnny Silvo, Edwina Hayes, The Doonans, John Wrightson Band, and Cheshire’s finest folk-rock band Full House.

I’ll be there too, and tickets are selling fast, so seek out their website for full details.

While you’re at it, you might want to check out a new website at simplywhatson.com, which offers a comprehensive list of folk concerts, clubs and dances that are happening across the country, and which you can search by both postcode-proximity and by your own particular taste in music. I t looks like being a great source of information for listeners, performers and organisers alike.

Meanwhile, as September approaches, the regular local clubs are gearing up for a new season, and first off the blocks will be Birtley Catholic Club, which has the great Tyneside-based duo Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman as featured performers next Wednesday. I too have some busy months ahead, so please send me all your event details at jez@jezlowe.com and I’ll try to make sure all the information gets into this column from wherever my travels take me.