THE long-established quarterly magazine Folk Roundabout, which is packed with information about events and traditions in our region, has had a change of editor, I hear. Mike and Tish Hughes have taken over the running of this worthy periodical from Trevor Lister, and I’m sure we’d all like to not only wish the new regime good luck for the future, but also give heartfelt thanks to Trevor for all the hard work he’s done over all these years.

For those of us who want to have up-to-theminute information about local folk events, there’s also a new website that has been set up by Mike Orchard, at folkmusicnortheast.co.uk, with information on everything from big concerts to small singarounds listed in handy detail. There’s so much going on in our area these days that I’m sure we’ll all find both of these resources more than valuable.

Local live music highlights this week start tonight with Chris Sherburn and Findlay Napier at Darlington’s Copper Beech, and Adrian Nation at The Beamish Mary, at No Place, near Stanley. Tomorrow, Hannah James and Sam Sweeney are at Reeth Memorial Hall, and Vin Garbutt is at Saltburn Golf Club. On Saturday, Vin is also at St Pat’s Centre, Stockton; Jeff Warner is at Washington’s Davy Lamp, and Chris Wood is at The Cumberland Arms in Byker. On Sunday, Vin completes a hat-trick with a show at Whitby Rugby Club, while Jeff Warner appears at Guisborough Rugby Club and Chris and Steve Wilson are at South Shields Customs House. On Tuesday, esteemed Tyneside songwriter Pete Scott is at Cramlington’s Clef and Cask. Finally, I can report that I had a fine time at last weekend’s Morpeth Gathering, a very different style of folk festival, run and patronised by traditional music enthusiasts who certainly know how to have a good time. Worth a visit next year, I’d say.